Leave early. Whether it's to get a jump on the wedding night, to catch some sleep before an early-morning honeymoon flight, or to follow tradition, the bride and groom often slip away from the reception before guests leave.
It's inevitable that at least one guest will have to leave the wedding early. You are certainly allowed to leave a wedding reception early, whether it's because you are tired, need to get up in the wee hours for work the next day, need to catch a ride, or, should we dare to say, don't like weddings.
The married couple go first! If the officiant has any announcements to make, the couple can walk down the aisle, the officiant can make the announcement, then the bridal party can start making their way back down the aisle. Here is a quick suggestion for a recessional order: Bride & Groom.
The tradition of spending the wedding eve apart is when to-be-weds refrain from seeing one another the night before their wedding, often until the ceremony. The superstitious consequences of not abiding include a failed, unlucky, or unhappy marriage.
Typically, the wedding party will exit in pairs even if they enter separately, followed by the Flower Girl and Ring Bearer and then the parents and grandparents. It's important to make sure that each couple that exits the ceremony leaves enough room between themselves and the couple in front of them.
Whether it's to get a jump on the wedding night, to catch some sleep before an early-morning honeymoon flight, or to follow tradition, the bride and groom often slip away from the reception before guests leave.
Traditionally, after the last song of the reception is played, guests usher the bride and groom off on their honeymoon. Since it is typically at night, sparklers, glow sticks, lanterns, and even fireworks are popular options to make this exit more formal and grand!
The wedding night, also most popularly known as 'suhaag raat', is when newly-weds are expected to consummate their marriage and for many couples, who had never had a physical relationship before, this night might be the first time they would be having sex with the partner.
Our company data from a 2018 survey shows that less than 40% of couples actually have sex on their wedding night. There are lots of reasons why a couple might wait until after the wedding night to get physically intimate, but often it's down to one simple thing: tiredness.
Stay Over with the Groom
Traditionally, the best man may stays with the groom the night before the wedding. Prepare for this with drinks and lots of snacks, but make sure the groom doesn't drink too much or eat anything that could cause an issue the next day.
Wedding Recessional Order at Christian Ceremonies
At a Christian ceremony, the newlyweds are traditionally followed, in order, by: The flower girl and the ring bearer, if they remained at the altar during the ceremony. The maid of honor and the best man. The bridesmaids and groomsmen.
In a traditional wedding ceremony order, the vows are followed by the ring exchange. The groom usually goes first, though we invite you to be progressive. He puts the wedding band on the bride's finger while repeating a phrase like, “I give this ring as a sign of my love.” Then, it's the bride's turn.
In a traditional wedding ceremony, the processional begins with the bride's mother before the groom, best man, wedding party, flower girl, and ring bearer follow. The bride, who is escorted by her father, is the last to make her way down the aisle.
The After-Party
Many wedding venues have a curfew of 10 p.m., and some are even earlier, depending on zoning restrictions. For most couples, 10 p.m. is not nearly late enough to stop the party. Thus, the inclusion of an after-party has become a widely endorsed practice within the greater wedding community.
One of the most important things to remember is that if you have RSVP'd to a wedding, it is not polite to cancel at the last minute. Unfortunately, this happens more often than it should and can cause significant stress for couples planning their special day.
And yes, bridal lingerie is perfect to pack for your wedding night! But, if lingerie is not your style...or you also want a second, more comfortable option for sleeping, consider some cute pajamas. A special pair, that's new and maybe even personalized with your new married name or monogram!
You might be aware that the bride's family is expected to cover the majority of the wedding day costs, while the groom's family pays for a variety of extra activities, like the rehearsal dinner and the honeymoon.
The recessional begins immediately after the first kiss and usually follows the reverse order of the processional. The newlyweds lead the way back down the aisle—but not before the maid of honor hands back the bouquets and straightens out the bride's gown and its train if needed.
Grand Exit | 10-15 Minutes
After the last dance, have your DJ/MC usher everyone outside for you to make your grand exit to your getaway car. Then, it's honeymoon time… and we will just leave that timeline up to you.
Whilst many brides prefer to stay in their stunning bridal dresses for the whole day and night, others opt to change into an entirely new outfit for the evening's celebrations.