The fee quoted to you is for a 20-minute prelude while the guests arrive and a 45-minute service (which includes: processional, recessional, and any music within the ceremony such as a meditation, solo, or candle lighting), but no wedding rehearsal attendance. If I play the cocktail hour or dinner music (jazz or classical piano), that would be negotiated separately.

From time to time, special conditions unfortunately arise, and we need to spell these out ahead of time as a good business practice.

I'm sorry to have to spell this out, but there have been quite a number of "situations" over the years that are awkward not to have written down ahead of time.

• If there are severe delays for the start of the ceremony such that the length of the service extends past two hours (see above overtime fees),  I may have another performance or commitment scheduled after your ceremony. Unless you ask me to reserve more scheduled time, I would need to leave to honor my other commitments if your service is severely late.  With that said, I rarely have back-to-back commitments, but this situation did happen to a colleague so I want to spell out everything up front.
  Update (2005): A "1:00pm" wedding I recently played was late getting started due to the limo driver locked himself out of the limo. I had to play in a concert at Mechanics Hall that began at 4pm (travel time between was less than 10 minutes). My solo in the concert was rescheduled to around 4:45 (after intermission), at great embarrassment to all involved.

• Rehearsal attendance for the organist is not necessary unless there is something very unusual about the choreography of the service. If your want me to attend the rehearsal, the extra fee is $150 for one hour, and each additional (overtime) half hour (or part thereof) is $50. For instance, if the rehearsal begins one-half hour late, and you get done in a half hour (thus one hour total), then no additional overtime fee would be charged.
• If you have a soloist or instrumentalist that you'd like for me to accompany, I am happy to do this without additional charges for my accompaniment if:
• The repertoire is standard (i.e., I don't have to learn a new piece).
• The soloist can review the music with me in a 15-minute period that ends one-half hour prior to the start of the ceremony (i.e., only one trip for me). If an earlier time (or more time) is needed, add $50 per half hour or part thereof; and if a separate rehearsal time is needed, the fee is $150 per hour.
• There is no additional charge (for me) for a soloist or instrumentalist with whom I frequently play with, and it's standard repertoire.
• I can arrange for an instrumentalist (trumpeter, flutist, cellist, etc.), or soloist (soprano, etc.) - they would have a fee for their services. Instrumentalists and soloists almost never attend a rehearsal.
• A travel fee is charged if the ceremony is held outside of the Central Mass area. There is no travel fee for venues in Worcester.
• An additional fee is charged if I am required to perform emergency maintenance on the pipe organ other than a simple cipher or couple of pipes to be tuned.
• An additional fee is charged if the instrument I play is non-standard, not a pipe organ (or good-condition piano), or requires specially arranged music for playing.
• You are responsible for acquiring music that you request that is "non-standard" for classical/religious wedding ceremonies.
• Returned/Bounced Check Fee: $35 (my bank wallops me on this one!)
• Cancellation fee:
  • Prior to 4 weeks before the ceremony: $100.
  • 2-4 weeks: $200.
  • Less than 14 days: full fee.
  • (My reason is the same as other musicians:  I turn down gigs to hold your date on my calendar.)
• Late Payment fee: $25 is added if I do not have your funds in hand by the end of the ceremony.