Wedding Etiquette Forum

can I skip the bridal party entrance?

I have always hated bridal party entrances since my first time as a bridesmaid when I was 18. It is so awkward. The way it has been done in my area is the whole party waits outside of the ballroom, and the DJ introduces each pair of bridesmaids/groomsmen one by one. Basically you just wait nervously to hear your name mispronounced, and then you are supposed to sort of dance your way into the hall. All the while you are in locked arms with a groomsman you met the night before. You are then suposed to wait for the couple to enter, and form an arch for them to run under. Then you stand around and wait for them to do the first dance.

So, if you weren't familiar with that, now you are, and I hate it. It is awkward for everyone involved, mostly super embarrassing and uncomfortable. The arch of bouquets is stupid, and as the bride I do not want to run under one. I also think my friends are "off-duty" after the ceremony and pictures, and should get to be inside the ballroom hanging out with their own SOs and not be forced to do this thing that I hate. I guess my only issue is if anyone will think I am not giving enough attention to the BP by skipping this. I also have never been to a wedding where they didn't do this.

Obviously, it is not a huge deal, and me and my husband (eek) can just be announced on our own as Mr. and Mrs. and we can just walk out and go do our first dance without the BP, but I don't want them to seem unimportant.

Thoughts?
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Re: can I skip the bridal party entrance?

  • I think it's totally fine to skip it. I agree that it's usually awkward. H and I were the only ones announced at our wedding.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_can-i-skip-the-bridal-party-entrance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4f35f570-7842-47ed-84e8-17d0c61ec99cPost:95a88cf9-904c-4c67-9c57-2005812200ba">can I skip the bridal party entrance?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I have always hated bridal party entrances since my first time as a bridesmaid when I was 18. It is so awkward. The way it has been done in my area is the whole party waits outside of the ballroom, and the DJ introduces each pair of bridesmaids/groomsmen one by one. Basically you just wait nervously to hear your name mispronounced, and then you are supposed to sort of dance your way into the hall. All the while you are in locked arms with a groomsman you met the night before. You are then suposed to wait for the couple to enter, and form an arch for them to run under. Then you stand around and wait for them to do the first dance. So, if you weren't familiar with that, now you are, and I hate it. It is awkward for everyone involved, mostly super embarrassing and uncomfortable. The arch of bouquets is stupid, and as the bride I do not want to run under one. I also think my friends are "off-duty" after the ceremony and pictures, and should get to be inside the ballroom hanging out with their own SOs and not be forced to do this thing that I hate. I guess my only issue is if anyone will think I am not giving enough attention to the BP by skipping this. I also have never been to a wedding where they didn't do this. Obviously, it is not a huge deal, and me and my husband (eek) can just be announced on our own as Mr. and Mrs. and we can just walk out and go do our first dance without the BP, but I don't want them to seem unimportant. Thoughts?
    Posted by nycrose2013[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>They are already in special dresses, everyone saw them stand next to you at the ceremony. They know that the BP is important :) Introductions like that are absolutely not an etiquette thing, especially with running through the arms-arch, they are a personal preference. If you don't want to, then don't! </div><div>
    </div><div>Perhaps you could get some suggestions on another, less spotlight-y way to showcase the people who are close to you? I'm a little brain-dead today, but maybe others could offer :)

    </div>
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  • Not necessary at all.

    We did introduce our WP, but they just walked in (no dancing - sorta or full out) and stood along the side of the dance floor while we did our first dance and then we all sat down and ate dinner.  It was NBD.
  • lisabeatslisabeats member
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    edited March 2013
    I think it's fine overall, but I would try to double check that your WP won't be offended. Some of them might really look forward to this (especially the new trend of having it be funny/funny intro songs etc). Really I think it's your choice, but just make sure they won't be slighted by not getting their 3 seconds of spotlight.

    ETA: I'm not saying that's necessarily "required" by etiquette, but I would personally be asking my friends.
  • Yes, please!
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  • Dear god I HATE the WP entrance as a BM. I didn't even do a grand entrance as the bride + groom. It's totally fine to skip.
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    • Related to this thread and bridal party entrances. I am so glad that I was not at this wedding or it were me, because I would have been truly embarrassed for the bride/her family and/or peeved to say the least if I were the bride.
    • My friend from college went to, at the time her FI's cousins wedding. He was a groomsman. Anyway, they are going about the bridal party introductions and they get to the Bride and Groom.
    • Groom is another story in itself, but he got entirely way to drunk during cocktail hour and most are convinced that he had to have been taking shots all day before the ceremony began.  He enters in first and his new wife comes in a few paces behind him.  He thinks it'll be a good idea to "sweep her off her feet" and carry her the rest of the way onto the dance floor.....totally DROPS her on her side and is left on the floor. He laughs...maybe helped her to get up, I don't even know. My friend said that the look on her face was just awful and she could tell she was super embarrassed/angry that he did that.
    • To say the least, I have never been a fan of the, "Let's try and be funny when we enter routine." I am so glad that my friends wedding we just all casually walked in and clapped, stood off to the side and was done with it.  I envision some of my BP wanting to be funny and do goofy stuff too. We will see what happens.
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  • I think that we're doing it, but no funny songs or anything because FI and I are boring like that. Shouldn't take longer than 30 second and they'll just go to their seats or stand by the dance floor while we do our first dance.
  • I think it's fine to skip, or change to make it more your own.  I've never seen the making a tunnel part, so I think it's always just about what you want.

    One of my friends married a Baseball enthusiast (much like my FI).  Instead of dancing in, each came in with their "at bat" music, like in a baseball game.  It wasn't nearly as corny as the dancing because it fit their situation.  My FI just thought that was the coolest!
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_can-i-skip-the-bridal-party-entrance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4f35f570-7842-47ed-84e8-17d0c61ec99cPost:8bd774ff-791b-419d-b775-a15172d63381">Re: can I skip the bridal party entrance?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I think it's fine overall, but I would try to double check that your WP won't be offended. Some of them might really look forward to this (especially the new trend of having it be funny/funny intro songs etc). Really I think it's your choice, but just make sure they won't be slighted by not getting their 3 seconds of spotlight. ETA: I'm not saying that's necessarily "required" by etiquette, but I would personally be asking my friends.
    Posted by lisabeats[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>I wouldn't. I asked mine for input on their dresses, obviously, but I'm not going to ask for input on my cake, colors, or seating chart. Why would I ask them if they want to do the Dougie when I don't want a stupid WP entrance in the first place? If they want to tear it up for attention, they can do that on the dance floor later in the evening.</div>
  • I am introducing my wedding party as one big group with a little music in the background, they get to their seats then H & I will get introduced and go right into the first dance. I might separate the BM and MOH into their own introduction, they've been friends for years so no awkwardness there.
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  • You can skip it.  I'm not a fan of all that either.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_can-i-skip-the-bridal-party-entrance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4f35f570-7842-47ed-84e8-17d0c61ec99cPost:08166c7b-07fc-4c0e-9382-46c18b74c1d4">Re: can I skip the bridal party entrance?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I am introducing my wedding party as one big group with a little music in the background, they get to their seats then H & I will get introduced and go right into the first dance. I might separate the BM and MOH into their own introduction, they've been friends for years so no awkwardness there.
    Posted by Jessalyn2013[/QUOTE]
     
    I think this is a great idea to avoid awkwardness!  I personally hate when I am forced to walk out and do awkward dances.
  • We didn't do any kind of grand entrance. I'm not a fan of that stuff.
  • We didn't do it. Mostly because the bridal party got there before us, and were busy partying.
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  • Skipping it!  Bridal party will join cocktail hour with the guests while FI and I have our first meal together as husband and wife, alone!  Looking forward to it!
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  • Literally had this conversation yesterday and my fmil kind of lectured me about skipping traditions before my parents had a say lol. I agree it's embarrassing.
  • Hope it's OK to skip it bc I plan to as well!!!
  • We skipped it.  Our WP just wandered into cocktail hour after their photos were done.  We wandered in ourselves about 15 minutes later, no announcements.  

    My brothers wedding did an entrance, and we hung out in a hotel room while cocktail hour was going on.  We missed the entire cocktail hour to sit in a hotel room and wait.  :(  It's no problem if you don't do an entrance, especially if you don't want one

  • If you don't want to do one, that's fine and wouldn't be breaking any etiquette rules.

    I honestly think my bridal party really enjoyed the entrance. I didn't tell them that we wanted them to do anything special and each of them came up with what they did on their own. I hadn't been to a wedding in awhile and didn't even know about the whole arch thing. Our bridal party came up to me to ask if we wanted it. It was fun for everyone and they were excited about walking out. We have a really nice picture of my bridesmaids standing arm-in-arm swaying to the music looking super happy as my husband and I are enjoying our first dance. It's one my favorite pictures from the night. So to each their own I guess.
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  • I'm planning on doing bridal party entrance but just walking in not dancing so simple.  BUT I do not want to do a "BIG EXIT."  Everyone is trying to convince me to do it and i really really really do not want to.
  • Although it seems cute in your mind to have it your guests are there mostly in anticipation for you & future hubby. If just cuts reception time and I have never seen the big deal about it. I didn't have them announced. 
  • Like I have said before this is my second wedding after being a widow for 14 years. In my first wedding my bridal party were all announced and then they walked in and stood before the stage where the DJ was. My husband and I walked in and went right into our first dance, at a certain point in the song we had all agreed upon,the bridal party join us.No awkwardness.No dancing upon their entrances. They were our closest friends we would never want them to feel embarrassed.At wedding rehearsal we all discussed options that would make them feel good.They all agreed upon what we did!
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  • We will be the only ones who will be annouced, I don't think the ENTIRE bridal party should be announced...
  • We aren't doing it.  I've always felt uncomfortable when I was a bridesmaid doing the sprinkler while half of the people watched with pity and the other half mentally checked out!  Not to mention sitting with a bunch of people you don't know in a tiny cramped room for over an hour while everyone else starts on cocktails, just so we can make an 'entrance'. . . aack!  I'm having my bm's and gm's stand at our 20minute ceremony.. . then they'll need to do a couple minutes of pictures, and then just join the party. 

    Totally Ok to not do this tradition. . . esp if it's not your style!
  • I dont want to miss anything, we are doing it all. lol I feel to each its own
  • I plan on having the wedding part announced, however ONLY THE WEDDING PARTY. I am not including the parents. My mother is really upset, and i know my inlaws will be but honestly, its not about them. Do what YOU WANT.
  • My fiance and I feel the same way! And from our side, we have a couple in our wedding party that struggle with anxiety and they really don't want the attention. What we are planning is to just have us announced and walk in, then do our first dance. After our first dance we want to invite the wedding party plus their dates onto the dance floor for a wedding party dance. Then we'll cut to father/daughter mother/son dances (shortened, because we really don't like the feeling that it's a "program"). That way they get included but it's more natural (i.e. dancing with their dates instead of walking in on the arm of someone else). Hope this helps! The most important thing is that YOU like it - anyone in your bridal party will just be happy to be there to support you!
  • In our area the tradition had become to give a little intro/bio about each bridal party member as they walked in.  It was cute at first, then after the 287th wedding it was getting too long and boring.

    My daughter put a twist on that tradition- she put the wedding party bio, with a funny pic of each of them, as part of her program.  It gave guests something amusing to read while they waited for the ceremony to start.

    And there was no Grand Entrance - or exit, for that matter.  They all just kind of wandered into the reception tent when pics were done....and immediately gathered around the candy buffet!  LOL
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