Here's some traditions FI and I are NOT entertaining:
1) Bouquet/Garter Toss
2) Dollar Dance (oh boy, was my mom pushing for this one, but IMO, it's tacky and our band advised against it if we were on the fence)
3) The whole "don't see each other until the ceremony". Basically, we will be doing a first look- but my mom doesn't even know this yet... I'm afraid to tell her.
4) The fact that you have "children" as a flower girl/ ring bearer. FI's 2 cousins that we couldn't fit as bridesmaids will be 'Les Femmes de Fleurs", or full-grown women flower girls.
5) Equal number of bridesmaids to groomsmen
6) Ceremony in a church (this one doesn't seem to be a big deal)
7) 50% of music being played at reception being ethnic/cultural dances (we will have a few thrown in here and there, but apparently IT'S NOT ENOUGH)
8) A singer for the ceremony (didn't know this was a tradition, but my mom let me have it when we said no)
Here are the traditions we WILL be entertaining:
1) White dress (well, it's ivory- it counts)
2) Unity "Candle" (Unity Sand: because the venue doesn't allow open flame)
3) Something old, new, borrowed, blue (almost didn't do this one, kind of fulfilled it on accident)
4) Rehearsal dinner
5) "Just Married" joy ride
6) Father/Daughter and Mother/Son Dances, also First Dance
My mom thinks that FI and I are snobby for nixing the traditions in the former list. I'm just not really thrilled about "traditions" that are really just superstitions. Or things that cause unnecessary drama (see List A #4). I don't think it's snobby, I think it's strategic. Many of those interfere with the flow of the night and we liked our twist on some things. I'm offended that my mom is so pissy about this and FI has been doing a great job of holding his tongue.
HELP!!