Where does the officiant sit at the reception?

Question

I am having a sit down dinner at my reception. my fiance and i aren't exactly "close" with the pastor. We've only had 3 counseling sessions with her plus of course the rehearsal and service. I know not all Officiants come to the receptions but we are asking and if she say's that she will, where would be a good place to seat her and her husband? I don't want to seat them with the other venders(photographers, videographer, Dj). You get the idea. Oh, that brings up another point, where do they sit?


I marry my sweetie October 20 07

Answer 1

Hi there, I am a Chaplain and Wedding Officiant. When I
am asked to attend the reception, mostly I am seated with the brides parents. However, there has been quite a few receptions that as yourself, have no idea where to seat the pastor! It is quite a honor to be asked to the reception, I really do not care where I am seated! I have a great time where ever there is room! That should be the response, anywhere is just fine!

Answer 2

Profession vendors always include the DJ, the band, the photographer, and the videographer. These vendors should be a meal provided by the caterer or the reception hall. The meal may be the same dish served to your guests, or a special meal can be prepared that is less formal and at a lesser cost.

Complimentary drinks should be served to all professional vendors. These drinks though should be non-alcoholic. At no time should a vender be drinking alcohol while working. If any vendor contract requests the alcoholic beverages to be served, then the vendor is not a professional and should not be hired.

Staff provided by the reception hall and by the caterer shall not be provided a meal at your expense. Meals are only reserved for Vendors that are independent contractors, not workers who are provided either by the hall, caterer, or agency. Instead of meal, these workers are compensated by a gratuity that a DJ or photographer would not receive.

In most cases the relationship between the vendor and the wedding is strictly professional. The best option is to discuss where to seat them with the reception hall coordinator. If a reception is outside, provide a table off to the side for your vendors and notify them where their proper places are.

The officiant and their spouse should sit at the host's table. This is typically the parents' table

Answer 3

Sit him at one of the parents tables, but I've never seen a wedding where the minister stayed unless they were a close friend of the family.

Your vendors eat in the kitchen or a designated place that your site has for them, they are not seated with the guests. Also, they dont get the normal guest plate, its usually either a childrens meal or a nice sandwich, they dont eat the surf and turf! This should have been specified in your contract, if it wasnt, speak to your site and ask them the drill for feeding your vendors.

Good luck!

Answer 4

You can seat the officiant any where you want. I would suggest some where close to the head table preferably with family.

On another note it is good etiquette to invite your officiant, but your DJ, photographer and videographer are there to work and you have no obligation to extend a formal invitation to them. They know they are expected to work and would not necssarily be looking for a seat.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Fairly close to the head table, as you will want her called up to say Grace and a prayer after the meal. If you are having designated seating, place them with maybe the grandparents or aunts and uncles. They are NOT in the same category as the vendors.

Answer 6

My vendors were fillers! I didn't count them when I put in my final count for my plates, because there will be people that say that they are coming and they don't! Also I had my pastor sit w/my parents.
I have been to a couple weddings lately that didn't have a seating chart, just a couple of reserved tables for family. I think that it is a great idea, I spent days doing mine!