Bride and Groom sit during a Catholic ceremony?

okay, this may be dumb question, but I am Jewish so I don't know what proper etiquette is in a Catholic church. My fiance is catholic and we are getting married in his church. We were going over the ceremony and the priest mentioned us sitting down during the ceremony? I asked my fiance about it later and he said that this was normal during catholic ceremonies because they were so long and because they wanted everyone to focus on what the priest was saying rather than the bride and groom. Now, I don't mean to sound selfish and vain, but isn't it supposed to be our day? It just seems weird to me to be sitting? And I'm afraid of how this will look in pictures? Am I being really shallow and not respecting his religion? It's just that I've never heard of such a thing and I really don't like the idea of it but I don't want to offend the priest if I ask if we can stay standing during the ceremony.

Re: Bride and Groom sit during a Catholic ceremony?

This depends n the church. Some have the couple stand, others sit. We sat. There's a picture posted in my review.

Re: Bride and Groom sit during a Catholic ceremony?

At all the Catholic ceremonies I have been to, the bride and groom sit during parts of the ceremony. I don't know if it's necessarily to focus on what the priest is saying, but depending on what type of ceremony you are having, it is appropriate to sit (or kneel) during certain parts. But every Catholic ceremony I've attended, the bride and groom sit front an center, so all the focus will still be on you both

Re: Bride and Groom sit during a Catholic ceremony?

You sit at certain points but stand at others. We were sitting on the altar so everyone was looking at us anyway...

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Message edited 7/27/2005 5:49:31 PM.

Re: Bride and Groom sit during a Catholic ceremony?

You will be LUCKY to get to sit. I was at a wedding a few weeks ago where the bride and groom had to kneel any time the rest of the congregation either sat or kneeled. Ow!

Re: Bride and Groom sit during a Catholic ceremony?

You sit and stand, the ceremony take an hour or longer so trust me you dont want to be standing still in one spot that long.
is your fiance having to sign papers that the kids will be raised catholic?

Re: Bride and Groom sit during a Catholic ceremony?

All the ceremonies I have been to the B&G sit at times. I think it is much better off. Standing in one spot for to long can actually cause you to pass out. That would be awful.

Re: Bride and Groom sit during a Catholic ceremony?

In a regular mass there are parts when you sit (readings are example) and parts where you stand and other parts where you kneel. In the wedding ceremony you usually sit or stand at the same parts but you sit on the altar so everyone can see you. You also stand during the vows.

Re: Bride and Groom sit during a Catholic ceremony?

It's pretty common to sit during parts of the ceremony, but you will be standing for most of the moments when you want photos taken - after entering, while you are reciting your vows, we had a blessing of hands & stood for that and for a final blessing before exiting.