Where to seat Preist at Reception???

caseyhaynes429

He doesnt know anyone because our families go to other parishes, but my fiance and I have become have close with him over the last year or so, so I'm sure he would accept the invitation. Anyone have any good ideas on who I should seat him with???

Calypso1977

we had planned to seat the priest at my mom's table, but unfortunately he could not attend as he had to do a baptism after our wedding.  we also made sure that table was away from the police officer tables which we knew would most likely have some inapprorpriate language, especially after  beers were flowing!

if there are others at your wedding who belong to his parish, an optoin would also be to seat him with them.

dont just stick him at a table that has an empty seat. 

mica178

I'd put him at a family table, maybe at the table where grandparents are sitting.  One of our priests was family, so he sat with family.  The other couldn't attend. He would have sat at the same table as the co-officiant.

plato79

Just curious because we weren't planning on inviting the priest (because we don't know him well), but should I invite him? Is this customary? 

SoHappyToBeMrsC

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_seat-preist-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:565157f5-a033-4d10-affd-4969516db370Post:9f4f5d6e-0f1c-4caa-86d2-26d2511ee2c4">Re: Where to seat Preist at Reception???</a>:
[QUOTE]Just curious because we weren't planning on inviting the priest (because we don't know him well), but should I invite him? Is this customary? 
Posted by plato79[/QUOTE]


Yes, and he should be invited to the rehearsal dinner also.

I would put the priest with whomever you think he would have the most in common with.

mica178

It's customary to invite the officiant to the RD and wedding.  If he does not know you well, he'll likely decline the invitation, but at least you'd be doing the correct thing from an etiquette standpoint.

caseyhaynes429

Thanks for all the advise! And great point about sitting him somewhere not close to the ones who may become a little inappropriate after a few, that didnt even occur to me.

plato79

Thanks for the tips and advice ladies. I feel kind of embarrassed, not knowing that. Prior to a few days ago when my family priest had to back out of saying the wedding mass we were planning on inviting the family priest to everything RD & ceremony, but I didn't think about inviting the new priest. Glad I asked! 

MopsieB

We had a visiting priest to our parish over Lent and in one of his homilies, he talked about how much he dislikes going to receptions- that he always gets stuck with the old people who ask him the same boring questions. That never occurred to me before, but I definitely think you should seat a priest the way you would any of your guests- according to his age and interests. The visiting priest was in his early 50s and very wise and funny. In other words, too cool to sit with the old folks all night! Don't forget that priests are people, too, and want to have fun at your reception.