Etiquette Question - Church

PhoneCardLady

I know that centuries ago, people would 'publish' their marriage banns in the church bulletin.  If I am correct, this would allow the people from the church to attend the marriage.

If I go this route, I am obligated to invite them to the reception?

I know that if the ladies of the church decide to throw me a shower, I am not obligated to invite them. (this also includes showers thrown by office or organizations that I belong to.)

rlavach

Nope, you don’t & we didn’t. There were actually quite a few people at our ceremony that we had no idea about until I saw the video. Places of worship are public places, so events there are public. Sometimes they may post a notice about it & other times (like for us) it’s announced during the meetings there. I don’t know how it works elsewhere, but we didn’t have control over that. That’s how it’s done. 

pkontk

Ditto PPs.  My Dad is a pastor and I'm getting married at his church - I'm positive quite a few church people will attend and I think he is going to either put it in the bulletin or announce it at some point.

[Deleted User]

Wedding Banns are published in bulletins to make sure no one has any objections to the marriage. It is part of the freedom to marry process that every couple goes through (paperwork) in order to get married in the Church. Banns should be published three times in the three weeks leading up to the wedding. By publishing your names and saying you are getting married it give others an opportunity to alert the parrish if you are not free to marry in any way (ie: already married).

ETA: This in no way invites anyone to the ceremony or reception. However, Churches are public places so you may have some parrishoners come just to see you.

JessAndTrav

I am actually surprised that if the ladies from church throw you a shower, you aren't required to invite them.

We invited all 17 of our church-shower hostesses to the wedding, because IMO, it's rude not to. 

Maybe that's just me, but I coudn't have not invited them and been ok with that.

Kate61487

ditto PPs that you don't have to invite them.  Like schlagetermari said, at least in the Catholic Church you don't have a choice - it's a requirement to publish three banns before you can marry.