Earn cash as you plan. Get a $20 gift card for every 200 points with The Knot Rewards
Wedding Customs & Traditions Forum
Entrance to Reception
We are having an evening ceremony and reception and we are not sure about how our timeline and ideas will work.
We will have a one hour cocktail hour and we are not sure if we should have our photos taken then or do first look. If we do the first look/ before the ceremony pictures we will be able to enjoy some food and drinks with our guests during cocktail hour (also I've heard from some that an hour is not enough for photos?!). However, we want to do the big/ traditional/ fun entrance into the ceremony space after cocktail hour. Would it be dumb to be around for that whole hour and still do the "grand entrance"? Is it a one or the other type situation?
We will have a one hour cocktail hour and we are not sure if we should have our photos taken then or do first look. If we do the first look/ before the ceremony pictures we will be able to enjoy some food and drinks with our guests during cocktail hour (also I've heard from some that an hour is not enough for photos?!). However, we want to do the big/ traditional/ fun entrance into the ceremony space after cocktail hour. Would it be dumb to be around for that whole hour and still do the "grand entrance"? Is it a one or the other type situation?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Entrance to Reception
We did our photos before the ceremony, but that was when pictures were more posed and structured than they are today. It worked well to relax DH, since he is a photo nut. He got so busy asking the photographer technical questions that he forgot he was having his picture taken and relaxed. Our reception was simple cake and punch in the church.
If you really want that grand entrance, I don't think you should already be with your guests at the cocktail hour.
I'm thinking of asking the DOC to bring refeshments up to the bridal suite for us so we can at least make sure we eat something and hydrate for the hour, since I've heard lots of stories about couples not eating, and so we can have the best of both worlds.
We enjoyed a glass of champagne with my dad (officiant) and my MOH and H's BM, signed the marriage license, and then the DJ introduced us. We joined the cocktail hour, and then when it was time to start dinner (a buffet), the DJ just announced it.
SO - if you get some photos done before the ceremony, you can do some after and then be introduced during the cocktail hour, or if you get all your photos done beforehand, you can have your intro at the beginning of cocktail hour. At least, it worked for us. I don't see any reason you cannot be introduced whenever you join your guests, whether it's during cocktail hour or at the start of dinner.
Alternately we could be present for the first half of the cocktail hour and then leave for the second half to have some time alone and maybe a few more photos of just us, but again we would have the whole leaving and coming back thing kind of
Re: first look or not, I would still have as many photos taken before. You can always take most of your bridal party pictures before and then during cocktail hour take some of the whole wedding party, family and you and your H.
He and I had an "entrance" where we went out and came back in and I did feel pretty silly. We should have just made our way to the cake table for the cutting, but we listened to out coordinator instead. We didn't have any WP introductions but I did feel weird leaving the space and coming right back into it.
The going out and in definitely does seem like it would be kind of awkward and redundant
Q1: For the ceremony, my thoughts are (I'd love any input):
Grandmother of Groom/Usher, Father/Mother of Groom, Officiant*/Usher, Best Man, MOH, Flower Girl, Bride/Grandmother of Bride.
*I've personally never seen the officiant be a part of the procession, but she's done this before and it solves the issue of having an odd man out usher. She's also a family friend.
Q2: For the reception: Grandmother of Bride/Usher, Grandmother of Groom/Usher, Father/Mother of Groom, Best Man/MOH, Bride/Groom. Is it okay that we aren't including the flower girl at the entrance? I have reasons, but I'm trying to avoid writing a novel here.
Q3: I feel the need to include my MOH's fiance. It's not because of him/her, it's because of me. I've been the SO of a groomsman and knew NO ONE. The 2 hr "cocktail hour" was extremely uncomfortable for me. I planned on giving her fiance the option to hang with us for post ceremony photos, then during the "grand entrance" have him walk in to the reception through the back. Is that rude? Ideally, he'll be an usher (and problem solved), but I think my fiance already asked a childhood friend.
2. Assuming you're making the decision in the best interest of the flower girl, it's okay to not have her formally introduced at the reception.
3. The fiance of may walk into the reception and take his seat before or after the introductions. I assume he will be seated with the MOH at the reception, since you know how awkward it is to be separated from your date.
Plus, I think cocktail hour is a natural part of entertaining. If I went to a ceremony and was immediately sat down to dinner, I'd feel weird. Cocktail hour is also for your guests to mingle, hopefully get a drink or two and some appetizers. Then people can settle down at a table and dine.
I see people saying an entrance after the couple being at cocktail hour is weird. I get it, but DH and I didn't give two fucks about that, haha. We mingled at cocktail hour. The DJ then announced it was dinner time. We and our parents and bridal party stepped outside the door, and he just introduced everyone. Our party sat down and we went to cut the cake. Seemed to work just fine!
By contrast, once I was at a cocktail hour and spotted the bride/groom/bridal party eating in a private room. They weren't taking pictures. They were just having, like, their own little private event. Now that was weird. It's like they did it so they could be "formally announced" into the reception. If you're not taking pictures, spend time with your guests!
Since the reception was in a different area (cocktail hour in the castle, reception in the tent in the courtyard of the castle) we did still do an entrance. Everyone was gathered into the tent while DH and I stayed back a few minutes and then we went in and had our first dance. Then dinner was served.
I agree with PP that if reception and cocktail hour and in the same room it'd be strange to leave and then come back. If you are planning for joining the entire cocktail hour maybe just hang back for a few minutes after the ceremony and be announced at the cocktail hour. I find it a little odd to have a cocktail hour in that case though as I'm pretty sure cocktail hours are meant to give guests something to do/eat/drink while the bride and groom are taking pics.
We did this at our wedding, it wasn't weird. It is weird (to me) when the couple disappears for an hour or two just not be 'seen' at the cocktail party. All your guests know who you are - the whole point of the introductions isn't that you're unknown, it's the celebration of being announced as husband and wife.
I'm recently married and we did the first look in order to get bridal party photos and so we could enjoy cocktail hour and I know the struggle you're having as I had the same one. After the reception, we took some family photos in the garden and I went back to the bridal suite to touch up my makeup. We had about 20 minutes left in the cocktail hour and I wasn't about to hide away in the bridal suite while my family/friends were having fun without me! We paid for cocktail hour and we wanted to enjoy it with our guests so we did. I got to mingle with family and friends, take some candid photos with guests, and eat the hors d'oeuvres that we had chosen. It was so nice to see family/friends in a casual setting prior to the reception. I would have regretted not going to cocktail hour and missing out on the food/drink in order to get a "grand entrance" that my guests really didn't care about.
My advice would be to do what will make you happy and don't worry so much about the details. It will all work out and be beautiful.
If you ALSO want a fun grand entrance into the reception ... this can also be accomplished, as many previous posters described. If it's all in the same room, just step out from the socializing at some point and get ready to return! If it's in a different area, it's much easier. When it's time to be seated for the dinner, let your guests go ahead of you (all), and then once your guests are seated, you all can be introduced into the party! After all, this part of the day is the party, so it should be fun!
I would MUCH rather have any of this ^, then to be waiting around wondering if the bride and groom will ever be joining the celebration. (As I have at a few receptions where the pics took TOO LONG)
We were present for the last bit of our cocktail hour. We were announced into the reception, along with our WP, as we walked to our seats for dinner. We also did our first dance before dinner was served (WP sat down, we went to the dance floor).
I also agree that unless you are busy doing photos, and while it's fine to take a few minutes to be alone with your new spouse, don't hide from your guests! Go join them, enjoy the party you are having!
P.S. Do people really have trouble eating at their wedding? I did not have this problem at all. Ok, we missed out on much of the cocktail hour food, but that's because we were taking photos. But we had a receiving line, did some table visits, and mingled with our guests all night while sitting down for all 3 courses at dinner and enjoying the late night buffet. I just love food.