Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs

MissOwl

What are your favorite/least favorite wedding customs?

LEAST: My least favorite, as a Catholic, is the nearly inevitable gap between mid-afternoon ceremony and evening reception.

MOST: I love how much my family goes out of their way to suprise the person of honor. For example (NWR), my cousin's baby shower was this weekend. She lives in TX and most of the family is in OH. She came up alone and both her husband and her mom surprised her by flying up for the shower.

jerseydevil

LEAST: Garter and bouquet toss.

MOST: The exchange of rings.

MissOwl

these are great. keep them coming!

LauraT25

Least: garter/bouquet toss (especially if the garter toss is raunchy), long/too many toasts, an excess of line dances, drunk brides, gaps, cake smashing

Most: when the groom sees the bride, personalized vows, when people get emotional during toasts, kids dancing at the reception

Edit: actually, the knocking of the glasses, or clinking them with silverware, annoys the heck out of me (in any situation)

kelseydjames

Least: The stigma to the white vs ivory dress. Some virgin brides want to wear ivory.

Most: Unity candles/ sand

dco324

Least:

1-Garter toss

2-Sand ceremonies

Most:

1-First Dance 

2-Father/Daughter Dance

3-CAKE!

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_favoriteleast-favorite-wedding-customs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:fce2efe5-ccff-445a-9da7-e43e8acff225Post:4cdb92d2-2465-42e6-94b9-ec6680cb0c17">Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs</a>:
[QUOTE]Least: The stigma to the white vs ivory dress. Some virgin brides want to wear ivory.
Posted by kelseydjames[/QUOTE]
I've never heard that a virgin bride must wear actual white, white. I always thought ivory was pretty much the same. My skin is very pale so my sister insists that I wear ivory. And I agree without question. 
<div>
</div><div>I have never seen a bride in an off white dress and thought "she must not be a virgin." but then I wouldn't think that of a bride with a colored trim dress either. </div><div>
</div><div>Least: embarrassing the garter and bouquet catchers, wedding party members being forced to give a speech who clearly don't want to speak in public. </div><div>
</div><div>Most: h'oeuvres, an excuse to dress up, catching up with friends and family.</div>

Heather Wood

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_favoriteleast-favorite-wedding-customs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:fce2efe5-ccff-445a-9da7-e43e8acff225Post:efa15ab4-b83d-42aa-a384-288cfbaeac4e">Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs</a>:
[QUOTE]LEAST: I agree with MissOwl on the 3 hour gap between church and party.  Sometimes I dont understand the cahtolic church. MOST: How about 3? 1. The first dance 2. Bride and groom cake topper 3. Veil over face for my dad to lift Oh wait 4.  Knocking glasses for a kiss at dinner. I actually could go on and on.
Posted by DanielleZZ[/QUOTE]

<div>You're too cute!!! I love the way you think!</div>

kaitlyn142

Most: Father/daughter dance, clinking glasses to kiss.
Least: Garter toss- we hate it so much we decided to cut it. Woo! The one we can't cut is the first dance. Boo.

AdeleDazeem

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_favoriteleast-favorite-wedding-customs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:fce2efe5-ccff-445a-9da7-e43e8acff225Post:4cdb92d2-2465-42e6-94b9-ec6680cb0c17">Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs</a>:
[QUOTE]Least: The stigma to the white vs ivory dress. Some virgin brides want to wear ivory. Most: Unity candles/ sand
Posted by kelseydjames[/QUOTE]

On several fronts, I have never heard of this.  An honest to goodness virgin bride should wear white?  A not so virgin bride needs to wear ivory?  But, the honest virgin may want to wear ivory but then give off the wrong impression about the state of her virginity?  Fascinating.

DanielleZZ

Thanks Heather!

sessionswedding

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_favoriteleast-favorite-wedding-customs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:36Discussion:fce2efe5-ccff-445a-9da7-e43e8acff225Post:069d2f5c-4d66-42a8-9cfe-12b0bf0ca4f8">Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs : On several fronts, I have never heard of this.  An honest to goodness virgin bride should wear white?  A not so virgin bride needs to wear ivory?  But, the honest virgin may want to wear ivory but then give off the wrong impression about the state of her virginity?  Fascinating.
Posted by Joy2611[/QUOTE]
In response to all PPs on this topic:

A white dress means it is your <strong>first wedding</strong>, a veil over the face means you are a <strong>virgin</strong>.

<u>Least favorite:</u>  Hands down, "decorating" the bride and groom's getaway car.  It's a personal pet peeve.  I have warned my WP that if they egg, flower, post-it, streamer, or paint on my car, I will never speak to them again.

<u>Most favorite:</u>  The kiss, the bride and groom's first dance, the cake cutting

mandi921vh

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_favoriteleast-favorite-wedding-customs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:fce2efe5-ccff-445a-9da7-e43e8acff225Post:40e3e334-2754-4a87-8695-4a09abbcf70f">Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs : In response to all PPs on this topic: <strong><u>A white dress means it is your first wedding , a veil over the face means you are a virgin .</u></strong> Least favorite:   Hands down, "decorating" the bride and groom's getaway car.  It's a personal pet peeve.  I have warned my WP that if they egg, flower, post-it, streamer, or paint on my car, I will never speak to them again. Most favorite:   The kiss, the bride and groom's first dance, the cake cutting
Posted by sessionswedding[/QUOTE]

<div>Wow I had no idea... would it be weird to wear a veil over my face if I am not a virgin...?</div>

Lisa50

Least favorite:  Garter toss.  Smashing cake in the face.  Announcement of Mr. & Mrs. So-an-So as the couple enters the room.  Receiving lines.  Unity candles.  Sand ceremonies.

Most favorite:  First kiss.  Beautiful flowers.  Bride and groom's first dance.

AdeleDazeem

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_favoriteleast-favorite-wedding-customs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:fce2efe5-ccff-445a-9da7-e43e8acff225Post:2d9cc40d-923c-4512-b055-c9211d7807f8">Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs : Wow I had no idea... would it be weird to wear a veil over my face if I am not a virgin...?
Posted by mandi921vh[/QUOTE]

Uh. No.  The reason you don't know about this is because it's outdated and, quite frankly, ridiculous.

Cynthia1207

Favorite:  Exchange of vows, partying all night long and I LOVE the whole garter thing!  (in the minority here)

Least: The cake, speeches that last ten hours and people clinking for the MOH/BM even if they're not a couple

jemmini6

Least: 
- bouquet/garter toss (especially when there aren't a lot of unmarried people as guests...makes it super awkward)
- cake smashing (I told FI if he smashes cake in my face we are going straight to the court to have it annuled...not seriously, but I'd be super pissed)
- cheesy wedding songs (hokey pokey, chicken dance, ymca, macarena) all of which are on our do NOT play list

Most:
- the actual vows (and not basically just a love poem that you write to each other, I mean really meaningful vows that you are both 100% serious about)
- first kiss as husband and wife
- having people important to you there to share in your day

mrstfuture

Least ~ Line Dances (so much we have it in our contract w/ the DJ not to play any), long recieving lines.

Most ~ The Kiss. Exchange of Vows, Exchange of Rings, catching up with family

Jaxandjosh

Most favorite would be getting dressed with my sister (MOH).
Least favorite - tossing the bouquet.

naomikb

Least: long receiving lines, waiting to get in to get a drink and a snack!  (OR waiting to get out of the hot stuffy church to the outdoors)

Most: vows

pantinkins

Least: bouquet toss, unity ceremonies

Most: when the groom sees the bride

Kate504

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_favoriteleast-favorite-wedding-customs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:fce2efe5-ccff-445a-9da7-e43e8acff225Post:699059bc-5d65-40b4-85dc-b63e53b63097">Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs</a>:
[QUOTE]What are your favorite/least favorite wedding customs? LEAST: My least favorite, as a Catholic, is the nearly inevitable gap between mid-afternoon ceremony and evening reception.l[/QUOTE]

This isn't something that is common down here. The first time that I have heard about this is on the knot. I'm having a Catholic wedding at 7pm and the reception will follow right after.

Least favorite. Line dancing and stigma behind the nonwhite dress. i was just in a wedding where the bride was like 'no one wears a dress that is not white and i will never wear a dress that isn't white' i was like 'why?' what is the big deal with it? i guess i don't get it?!

Favorite. When the bride enters for the first time.

NOLAbridealmost

Least: Garter toss, receiving lines, Cha-Cha Slide

Most: Welcoming cocktails before the ceremony, first dance, father/daughter dance

And Kate504, I completely agree.  Every Catholic wedding I've attended here (3 of them) started at 5 or 6. But I grew up in the Midwest and they tend to refuse to marry people on Saturday evening lest the guests use the wedding ceremony as an excuse to skip Mass Sunday morning. 

SaraD7

LEAST: Ring Bear/Flower Girl

I am so feeling the presure from the family to have these, but every wedding I have seen the children end up walking around like they are lost or start playing with things on the ground.

FAV: Toasts. I always love listening to these. I am odd I know.

DanielleZZ

The reason for the 2pm wedding and gap in the catholic church, at least around Michigan, is that there is 4pm reconciliation and a 5pm mass on Saturdays so the wedding ceremony has to be over before those begin.

ashleywhitsett

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_favoriteleast-favorite-wedding-customs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:36Discussion:fce2efe5-ccff-445a-9da7-e43e8acff225Post:efa15ab4-b83d-42aa-a384-288cfbaeac4e">Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Wedding Customs</a>:
[QUOTE]LEAST: I agree with MissOwl on the 3 hour gap between church and party.  Sometimes I dont understand the cahtolic church. MOST: How about 3? 1. The first dance 2. Bride and groom cake topper 3. Veil over face for my dad to lift Oh wait 4.  Knocking glasses for a kiss at dinner. I actually could go on and on.
Posted by DanielleZZ[/QUOTE]

My brother and his wife put a spin on the clinking of glasses, instead they had bells as favors and they served the same purpose as clinking of glasses. I thought it was too cute and I will always have the bell with their names on it!

jessicakeith07

Does it matter anymore?  Non virgins can certainly wear white... what's the difference? 

jenjen5308

Least Favorite: unity candle

Favorite: Vows. Why don't Catholic churches allow you to supplement the standard vows with your own?

Gellitots

Least - Bouquet toss, garter toss (we're ditching these), first dance whilst everyone watches...want to ditch this

Most - First kiss, taking my husbands name

klc1082

wear whatever makes you feel like a princess for a day. virgin or not, no one tells the bride what is tasteful in her wedding. just have fun, and celebrat the union between two lives and two families.

Macfia

Least:  The garter toss is usually raunchy and the custom is outdated and clueless.  The cake smashing is abhorent and ruins the bride makeup, which she has worked very hard on achieving.  All night drunken parties.

Most: Getting ready with my mom and MOH.

We are skipping many 'traditions' including the cake smash, garter and bouquet toss, ring bearer/flower girl and we are are having an alcohol free brunch reception.