After the ceremony, how do we do this without seeming dorky?!?

Question

For most weddings, after the mass is over at the church, the couple comes down the aisle and greets each guest as they exit the church - then they are "supposed" to exit the church, where everyone awaits outside, ready to throw rice or blow bubbles, then get into a limo and are whisked away to the reception and/or photo location. HOWEVER, at my ceremony, our families want to take pictures AT the church before my fiance and I go to our photo location with the bridal party. So OUR ceremony would have us greet each guest as they leave, then exit the church so that the guests can blow bubbles, then we are going back INTO the church to take pictures with our families. This seems kind of dorky to me (the whole concept of leaving down the aisle, the guests being greeted then leaving, then us going past them again, then going back into the church). How can we do all of this without it being so ridiculous and dorky?! Help :) :)

Answer 1

It does not seem dorky. You may not realize it, but the majority of weddings are like this. The ceremony is over, the guests leave, and the couple & family stay behind at the church to get those group photos with the newlyweds. The only thing I don't understand, is for all the weddings I've attended (like 25), after the kiss, the couple walks down the aisle and into like a side room. The guests leave the church - a few are greeted by the bride/groom, but the majority of socializing is at the reception. The family stays for a few photos (20 minutes tops). Then, the family & bride/groom go the reception. When the couple is ready to leave the reception, all guests go outside and throw rice/bubbles/sparklers as the couple goes through this line & to the car.

Answer 2

you will exit the church traditionally and just go back in with the immediate family and bridal party you wish to take pictures on the altar with. most of the guests will understand the situation.. just be sure to let the people who need to stay that they are to remain at church. ALSO make sure your church will give you time to take pictures. Usually churches plan atleast 2 ceremonies on a saturday. They will need to clean up and the new wedding will need to be set up. Even if you are the only wedding there is someone there responsible for turning off the lights and closing afterwards so ask the church how long you can stay! leaving and coming back is the only reasonable way to get the pics inside the church you will come out and then guests will immediately start to dissipate thye aren't going to stand there and have you walk right back through them. congrats!

Answer 3

I would have the receiving line when you arrive at the reception, and save any bubbles for leaving the reception. The order you describe has always seemed silly to me, too. Also, I was taught that it was not correct to hold a receiving line at a church, since it's God's house rather than yours.

The one church wedding I was a bridesmaid in, we exited down the aisle, the bridal party stayed in a room to the side until the guests had left the building, and then came out and did photos. The receiving line was held at the reception and nobody threw or blew anything at the bride and groom as they left.

Answer 4

This happens at every wedding. If it is that big of a deal for you to have guests see you go back into the church try to sneak in another door. Or get in the limo with everyone watching drive around town and come back like 15 minutes later for the pic.

Answer 5

My cousin just did this exact same thing, it wasnt dorky in the least!

However, if you want you can get into the limo and just drive around the block, no big deal. But truly, everyone eill be expecting you to go back in. I dont think I have ever been to a wedding where the couple and the family didnt go back in and take church pictures.

Answer 6

We did this at our wedding too. We greeted the guests at the back of the church, walked out as they blew bubbles at us (great photo opportunity) then we got into the limo and just drove around town blowing the horn for about five minutes then went back for pictures.

Answer 7

My sister had a similar problem, what they did was have all the pictures that needed to be taken by the family(moms, dads, grandparents, siblings,etc.) before the ceremony. See our church does not allow pictures to be taken during the wedding.
See if you can have it done before the wedding, it might take a little coordinating, but it's worth it. That way you don't have to make that extra trip back to the church for pictures.
I know it ruins the whole groom not seeing the bride before the wedding thing, but it saves time, money and gas.

Answer 8

I would suggest having the receiving line and skipping the part where people blow bublbes. (A lot of people skip this now adays.) Instead have them blow bubbles when you are announced at the reception.

That way you can have the receiving line and greet everyone, then as they leave to go to the reception you go back in for some pictures then go off to the next picture location.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Leave the church, drive around until the guests go to reception area Max: 10-15 min until they are gone, go back to the church for pictures~dont stress over this though~it will make the day easier if you dont!!!!

Answer 10

I would make a note on your wedding program, if you are having one--if not let everyone know as they go through the receiving line, that after you greet your guests that you and your family will be remaining at the church to take a few photos but please proceed to the reception site and you will meet them there. If you just tell everyone then you don't have to do the bubbles right after the service and can wait until the reception is over--that's when we did it for my brother's wedding--to be saluted by your guests.