Photo by Kaitlin Noel Photogprahy
The list of wedding traditions that have been going on for generations now can be pretty long. So, it’s time to think about which traditions you would like to include in your wedding day and which you’d like to ditch…because it is OK to ditch some! It’s easier said than done, but try not to let the opinions of your friends and family impact you too much when it comes to these, after all, it’s your big day! Here are a few traditions that we think many couples are opting out of and why we think it is ok to change things up a bit!
Bride/Groom Seating sides
Typically in Christian ceremonies the bride is on the left, groom on the right
and it is the opposite in Jewish ceremonies. For that reason, traditionally the bride’s family sits on the same side as the bride is positioned and the groom’s family on the side the groom is positioned.
Why it’s ok to change it up:
You’re about to become one big happy family! The reality is that regardless of what side of the aisle your guests sit on, they’ll still be able to catch a glimpse of you. Many couples have chosen to display a sign suggesting people “choose a seat, not a side”. Pinterest is full of fun sayings for this one! Photo by Marie Labbancz
Receiving Line
The receiving line gives you a simple and efficient way to greet all of your guests individually before the reception. The receiving line can be comprised of just you and your husband or it can include your parents and even your wedding party.
Why it’s ok to change it up:
Whether the timing is tight and you need to get pictures in or you just want to get to attend your full cocktail hour, it’s ok to skip a receiving line. The bottom line is though, it would be rude not to greet all of your guests at some point. To avoid running around like crazy, we’d suggest taking time to walk around to each table while guests are eating. This is a more casual greeting option and there isn’t someone waiting in line behind the person you are Photo by Marie Labbancz
talking to, allowing you to spend a little more time with each person.
Seeing the Groom for the first time at the ceremony
Tradition says it is “bad luck” for the bride and groom to see each other before the ceremony and a lot of couples like to stick with this tradition to make their walk down the aisle extra special.
Why it’s ok to change it up:
You can still create that special moment in a very intimate, private way with you and your fiancé during a “first look”. Seeing each other prior to the ceremony allows couples to take more photos together before the ceremony. This leaves a minimal amount of photos for after the ceremony and ensures that the couple gets to attend the cocktail hour that they paid so much to have ;-)
Bouquet Toss & Garter throw
Many, many years ago it was believed that having a piece of the bride’s dress would bring you luck, which turned into women grabbing at a bride’s dress during the reception. This is how both the wedding bouquet and garter toss tradition began- as a piece that the couple can give others for good luck rather than being attacked!
Why it’s ok to change it up:
A garter and bouquet toss can be really fun for some couples, but for others, it is just breaking up the flow of the reception and interrupting the dancing! Some guests get a kick out of these traditions while it may make others cringe. We’re pretty sure that your single friends will forgive you if you opt to skip these traditions and instead keep the band playing Bruce!
Wedding cake
The wedding cake has become a beautiful display of art and can be used to express a couple’s
personality. It is the traditional dessert for weddings and part of the cake is
given to the couple to bring home and eat on their first anniversary.
Why it’s ok to change it up:
The cake gets cut up by the catering staff and distributed to guests who are likely up dancing. At this point, a lot of people are full and the cake that you put a lot of effort into picking goes to waste. A lot of couples are opting for something more portable and bite sized like a cupcake bar, donut bar or even a candy bar. You can still have a small cake made for you and your partner to cut into. If you do decide to go with cake and you are worried about people not eating it, consider providing guests with to go boxes so they can enjoy their cake on their drive home or the next day.
Photo by Marie Labbancz
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