Officiant ettiquite

heatherneil1013

We are having a civil ceremony with a magistrate as the officiant.  It is being held at the same area where we are having the reception.  The officiant is someone who I know (went to school together), but we've never been close friends.  More of a "small town, so everyone knows everyone" kind of thing.

So A) what is the etiquette for offering them the option stay for the reception?  Send him an invite?  Send him an email?

And paying/tipping.  He is not charging for his services, but he is coming to perform the ceremony outside of his normal court hours?

NYCMercedes

I would send him an invitation as his not charging you implies to me that he thinks of himself as your friend. I would tip him generously as he is more than a vendor. Sometimes cash is crass, so I'd give him a gift card to a fine restaurant.

lc07

I would send a proper invitation and give a generous gratuity. 

AddieCake

I would send an invitation and tip him well. I like the gift card idea.

southernbelle0915

Invite + Tip.

If you have any kind of rehearsal and he attends, I'd also invite him to your RD

SomethingBeautiful08

I would also add that that if he has a SO, invite them too, out of respect for what he is doing going above and beyond and in all likelyhood taking time he would have otherwise spent with SO for your wedding.

heatherneil1013

Thanks for the advice.  I've got the big details nailed down...it's all of these "little" details that are going to turn my hair gray.   

lc07

There are ladies here who would be happy to give you hair dye recommendations, too. We are full service.

Jen4948

Send him an invitation and give him a gratuity that is comparable to what you would pay a vendor you have no relationship with outside a strictly professional one or a gift of comparable value.

heatherneil1013

lc07 said:

There are ladies here who would be happy to give you hair dye recommendations, too. We are full service.

Haha,  I needed that laugh.  Thank you!!!