Invite the Priest to the Reception

leeserd Posted: Aug 17, 2008 02:33 PM

Invite the Priest to the Reception

FH says that it is traditional to invite the priest who is marrying us to our reception. This is the first that I have heard of this. This is not our parish and we do not know this priest well. FH says this is a must...I say if everyone else does it then we will but if not, the priest is out. Please let me know if this is tradtional and therefore a must.

mackjj Posted: Aug 17, 2008 02:55 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

I've never heard of this either. I will not be inviting my priest... Is this wrong? lol

Hope not...

FutureMrsCarrieri Posted: Aug 17, 2008 03:00 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

I don't know if it's a must but I think it's just good manners. If not it's like saying you're good enough to marry us but not good enough for the party. I think most will decline anyway -- mine did because he has other wedings after mine.

bridej9 Posted: Aug 17, 2008 03:05 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

I think it is customary to invite the priest. Our priest is not someone I have known for a long time, I was thinking about inviting him to the rehearsal dinner after the rehearsal. I think it would be a nice way to get him to know our family before the wedding day. Plus it is around the corner from the church, he does Saturday evening mass so he wouldn't be able to make our reception.

donegal419 Posted: Aug 17, 2008 03:31 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

Posted by leeserd

FH says that it is traditional to invite the priest who is marrying us to our reception. This is the first that I have heard of this. This is not our parish and we do not know this priest well. FH says this is a must...I say if everyone else does it then we will but if not, the priest is out. Please let me know if this is tradtional and therefore a must.

I absolutely agree with FH! it is a must. the priest is part of the most IMPORTANT part of the day, therefore he shoudl be asked to the reception.

however, just to let you know, most priests decline just aobut every invite they get...otherwise they would be at several weddings every weekend. they just can't go to them all. i say be polite and invite, but realistically he may not attend and if he does it may only be to the cocktail hour.

our priest attended, but only because he is a good friend of DH's.

prinses777 Posted: Aug 17, 2008 03:54 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

We invited our priest, and he came! I was so happy to see him, some of my friends even danced with him!

Jess and Jon Posted: Aug 17, 2008 04:00 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

It is customary to invite the priest to the reception. It is in good manners/taste to do so and they normally sit at the one of the parents tables at the reception.

You should also invite them to the rehearsal dinner as well.

We are inviting my priest to both as I used to work in the church rectory in high school!

Kricket212 Posted: Aug 17, 2008 04:10 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

I never heard of inviting the priest either...but FH is Greek Orthodox so we will invite the priest because its' customary for Greeks.

ttdiff11 Posted: Aug 17, 2008 04:31 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

well my cousin is a priest so im hoping he can do the mass so he would be invited, but if its another priest then that one isnt invited lool

JSG10506 Posted: Aug 17, 2008 04:37 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

the only reason our priest is coming to the wedding is because he is a part of John's family & will be the one to marry us. Otherwise, we would not be inviting him either lol, I have never heard of that.

DiamondPipa Posted: Aug 17, 2008 04:40 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

Posted by Kricket212

I never heard of inviting the priest either...but FH is Greek Orthodox so we will invite the priest because its' customary for Greeks.

yup, the greeks invite the priest to the reception. I'm so happy our priest can make it....we invited his wife too but he'll let us know last minute if she can make it...i hope she does....i would like to get to know them better b/c that is going to be our new parish.

WinterBride10 Posted: Aug 17, 2008 05:53 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

I just met my preist and I love him! He is a really really great guy...so we are going to invite him. He is so wonderful I just know we will grow close to him during this time.

It's really a personal choice...if you don't have a bond with your preist and he has to read your names off of a piece of paper, then I don't see the purpose of it.

marriedinmontauk Posted: Aug 17, 2008 06:30 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

The two catholic weddings I've been to both the priests were at the reception.
Our rabbi stayed for part of the reception, and it was great, older relatives had someone to keep them busy for a while, it allowed me to spend more time with our younger guests.
These folks are pro's at mixing, if there are guests who don't know anyone, clergy can help them to feel more welcome.
I actually made friends and emailed for a time with a nun I met at my friends wedding. Her family got a kick out of the fact the Jewish girl and the nun were buddies.

That being said, if it someone you have little connection to, they probably won't feel slighted not being invited. It's really work for them, they have to be 'on'.

squeekietoy Posted: Aug 17, 2008 06:31 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

It's customary to invite your officiant to your reception. More than likely, they will decline. It's just good manners.

PegaLega Posted: Aug 17, 2008 08:14 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

Most priests decline the inviation but it is the right thing to invite them. We invited ours and we got married at our parish and he has been a part of alot of our families sacraments and he declined.

mandab Posted: Aug 17, 2008 09:25 PM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

Yea, I think the Italians invite the priest as well. My FH's family said we should invite him too.

CMBove Posted: Aug 18, 2008 09:27 AM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

We are inviting our priest- Brian worked with him a lot at college in the Cathoic community. He said he only usually stays for the cocktail hour.

JenBill61210 Posted: Aug 18, 2008 09:29 AM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

we will not be inviting our priest only because we don't really know him well

sareejoh Posted: Aug 18, 2008 10:05 AM

Re: Invite the Priest to the Reception

We invited our priest despite the fact that we don't know him well. As far as I know it is customary to invite the priest and ask him to say the blessing before the meal even though they usually decline.