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 bride and groom usually rely on a taxi, friends or family to drive them from the reception to accommodation. We however offer a post reception pick-up for our Bride and Groom at a reduced rate. This service is offered to all our wedding couples.
The grand exit is one of the most classic ways to end your reception, and for good reason. After everyone has danced their hearts out, all your guests line up outside to create a pathway for you and your new spouse to walk (or run) through as you say your final goodbye.
What Is a Wedding After-Party? A wedding after-party is an optional celebration immediately after the wedding reception. This postwedding get-together can be at a different venue than the reception and stocked with food, drinks and fun entertainment.
After your officiant pronounces you wed, you and your wedding party will recede down the aisle in a custom (unsurprisingly) called the recessional. At this time, you will take your first steps as newlyweds and symbolically mark the beginning of your lifelong journey together.
An after-party is a wedding celebration that takes place after the reception (and all the protocol of the big day) to keep the excitement going and fully let loose. Couples are by no means obligated to host their guests for a wedding after-party, but it's hard to resist.
Answer: Traditionally, guests are expected to stay until after the cutting of the cake. This was usually the last thing the couple did before making their getaway.
Stay to the end.
For many couples, the reception only gets the night started. The after-party, which begins once the reception is over, typically goes on into the early hours. In this case, the bride and groom will often be the last to leave.
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.
Bride's Parents and/or Family Members
The bride's family pays for the wedding venue and vendors, and most products and services related to the day.
It's often this conundrum that leads a bride to opt for an outfit change, either at the beginning of the party or mid-festivities. The moment you decide to change is entirely up to you, but it typically depends on a few factors. Some brides want to linger in their first dress and really show it off on the dance floor.
Bride and Groom Seating at Reception
Typically, the bride sits on the groom's left, with the best man on the bride's right and the maid of honor on the groom's right. Head table seating is traditionally boy-girl, but you don't have to follow this tradition.
The big decision lots of couples are asking themselves is whether to spend it together or stick to tradition and sleep apart. It really is entirely up to you. There isn't a rule that says you have to but here's what's most important: that you relax. You'll want to rest up so you're totally prepared for your wedding.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen. Immediate family, usually led by the parents of the bride and groom. Officiant.
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.
The wedding party is announced. Traditionally they are announced in the following order: groom's parents, bride's parents, flower girl and ring bearer, bridesmaids escorted by groomsmen, maid/ matron of honor escorted by the best man and finally the Bride and Groom.
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.
Answer: It's customary to attend the ceremony if you are planning to be at the reception. Typically, it's OK to skip the reception in favor of going only to the ceremony and not vice versa. However, as long as you have a good reason for missing the ceremony and share that with the couple, it's permissible.
A break of 60 to 90 minutes is fine.
If you're moving onto a different spot in town for the party, having an hour between the end of the ceremony and the start of the reception is fine-it'll give everyone time to leisurely make their way to the second venue, or to even go home or to their hotel room for a short break.
Typically, most couples save the first dance until after the sit-down dinner has finished, however some prefer to head straight to the dance floor at the start of the reception, which is quite often referred to as the grand entrance.
“The average gift that people give for a wedding is around $100, and that stays consistent whether they're giving a physical product or a cash gift,” says Emily Forrest, director of communications for Zola, a wedding registry website.
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.