Wedding Etiquette: Officiant's Invitation, Necessary Or Not?

Wedding officiants play a very special role in the ceremony, guiding couples through the traditional steps towards saying I do and pronouncing them married. They can be friends or family members, or paid professionals. But what about after the ceremony? Do you send a wedding invitation to the officiant?

Inviting an officiant who is a stranger

If you don't know your officiant well and have hired them for your wedding, you may be unsure about inviting them to other wedding events. However, it is customary to invite them to your wedding, and it would be awkward to force them to leave after the ceremony when they have just played an important role in your life.

It is also proper etiquette to invite your officiant and their spouse to your wedding reception. If your officiant is married, the spouse should be included in the invitation. Sending a formal invitation is a good idea, as it avoids any misunderstandings or awkwardness. It is also a sign of appreciation for the person who played an integral role in your wedding ceremony. However, you are not obligated to invite them, and they will likely politely decline unless they have a special relationship with you.

If you are having a plated meal, you will need to know their menu preferences. It is also proper etiquette to seat the officiant at a prominent table if they accept the invitation. The traditional approach is to place them at the same table as the parents of the bride and groom.

If you are inviting your officiant to your wedding, you may be wondering if they should also be invited to the rehearsal dinner. It is not necessary to invite them to the rehearsal dinner unless you have a close relationship with them. However, if you are inviting them to your wedding reception, it is a nice gesture to invite them to the rehearsal dinner as well.

Inviting an officiant who is a friend or family member

If your officiant is a friend or family member, they should definitely receive a wedding invitation. In fact, it is customary to invite the officiant and their spouse to the reception, especially if you have a close bond with them. This is a sign of appreciation for the person who played an integral role in your wedding ceremony.

There are a few ways to go about inviting an officiant who is a friend or family member. One option is to send them a Save the Date and then a formal wedding invitation, just like you would for any other guest. Another option is to verbally invite them and follow up with a printed invitation. If you are close to the officiant, you can also include them in the rehearsal dinner.

It is important to note that even if you invite your officiant, they may decline the invitation, especially if they don't have a close bond with the couple or have other commitments, such as another wedding to officiate. However, it is still considered good etiquette to extend the invitation.

When it comes to seating arrangements, the traditional approach is to place the officiant and their spouse at a prominent table with the parents of the bride and groom. This is especially appropriate if the officiant has a relationship with the couple's parents. However, use your best judgment and seat them with people they know or might enjoy talking to.

Inviting an officiant's plus one

When it comes to inviting an officiant's plus one, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it is important to distinguish between a religious officiant, such as a priest or rabbi, and a hired or professional officiant. In the case of a religious officiant, it is common courtesy to invite them to the wedding reception, especially if they are known to the couple or are a close religious figure. As such, it is also polite to offer a plus one to their spouse or significant other.

For hired or professional officiants, the decision to offer a plus one is more flexible. If the officiant is a friend or family member, they should definitely receive a plus one. If the officiant is hired and not personally known to the couple, it is still a nice gesture to invite them to the reception, but a plus one is not necessary, especially if budget is a concern. Ultimately, it is up to the couple's discretion, and they can decide based on their relationship with the officiant and their budget constraints.

It is worth noting that some officiants may decline the invitation to the reception, especially if they don't know the couple well or have other commitments. In some cases, they may stay for the cocktail hour to offer congratulations before departing.

The officiant's RSVP

The Officiants RSVP

If you've decided to invite your officiant to your wedding reception, don't be surprised or dismayed if they decline. Officiants are often busy people with other commitments, and unless they have a close bond with the couple, they may not want to stay for the rest of the event. They may also have another wedding to officiate, especially if you're getting married during peak season.

If your officiant does accept the invitation, it is considered proper etiquette to seat them at a prominent table. Traditionally, this would be with the parents of the bride and groom. However, it is more important to use common sense and seat them at a "good" table with people they know or might enjoy.

When inviting an officiant, it is important to send them a formal invitation, rather than a last-minute verbal invitation. This is a courtesy extended to someone who plays an essential role in the ceremony. It is also a way to ensure they keep their schedule free for your event.

If your officiant is a friend or family member, it is customary to invite them to the reception, and they should be offered a plus one. If your officiant is a religious figure, such as a rabbi or pastor, it is polite to offer them a plus one so they can bring their spouse. If your officiant is someone you have hired for the event and don't know well, it is still considered good etiquette to invite them, but whether you offer a plus one is up to you and may depend on your budget.

In some traditions, inviting your religious figure is still the norm, and you would be welcome to invite them to your entire wedding, including the reception. However, in modern times, it is becoming less common to invite professional officiants to stay for the reception, so don't feel obligated to do so.

If you do invite your officiant to the reception, it is also appropriate to invite them to the rehearsal dinner.

Seating the officiant

If the officiant is a friend or close family member, they should definitely be invited to the wedding reception, along with their spouse or plus one. If the officiant is a hired professional who the couple doesn't know well, it is still customary to invite them to the reception. However, they may politely decline, especially if they have other commitments or prefer to spend time with their family.

It is important to send the officiant a formal invitation, just like other guests, to avoid any misunderstandings or awkwardness. This invitation can be given to them in person or sent via mail.

In addition to the reception, the officiant should also be invited to the rehearsal dinner, as they play a key role in the event. However, they do not need to be invited to other activities or get-togethers, unless the couple wishes to do so or the officiant is particularly close with the family.

Frequently asked questions