As usual I have been scouring the net, bridal guides, and talking to recently wed couples for new “tradition ideas”. Here are a couple of things that I really like (and have used on occasion) to make an event just that more memorable……
The 2nd Kiss
In most wedding photos, you see the bride & groom walking down the aisle (after the ceremony) amongst the on-looking faces of their applauding guests….wouldn’t it be great if at that moment (midway down the aisle) they stop, as if stricken by love’s irresistible clamor, turn toward each other and kiss again??
This second kiss will send all the right messages and it is a great way to have your love accentuate the ending of your ceremony. Having fun incorporated into your ceremony will delight you and your guests alike.
Your photographer and videographer will capture these moments, filling your wedding album & video with timeless imagery.
Entering with Roses
For a non-traditional approach, as the bride begins her walk down the aisle with her escort, the guests have risen, the music is playing, and numerous cameras are focused on her approach.
As she passes them, two or three aisle side guests will give her a rose. When she reaches her place among the bridal party, she will pass these roses to her maid of honor. A bride could also form these roses around the bouquet. These same roses can be used later in the ceremony during the presentation of roses to female VIPs or placed in an act of memoriam to honor loved ones deceased.
Accepting side roses from guests shows the connection of the bride to her guests as well as allowing them to symbolically contribute to her. An entrance with roses adds to the pageantry of the brides approach as well as providing great photo ops!
Doves and/or Butterflies
What better way to end your event than on a high note! That’s what a dove or butterfly releases is – a grand finale!!! Though many couples are still showered with rice or bird seed, others opt for doves or butterflies. Dove and butterfly releases are very dramatic indeed.
As dramatic as they both are, butterflies offer their own unique advantage. Whereas an audience watches a dove release….the audience can actually participate in a butterfly release. First the guests are invited to come gather around the both of you, then a delegated person (minister, coordinator, close friend, etc) gives a special reading followed by the instruction to release the butterflies. Imagine the surprise as your guests open their boxes to reveal a beautiful butterfly and the sound of a collective gasp as the butterflies take flight. The sight of the sky filling with color and activity – the memory of that moment – always associated with the two of you and your special day.
A dove or butterfly release dramatically brings a ceremony to a very memorable and photogenic conclusion. They are both most well suited for daytime ceremonies, concluding before dusk.
Hope these have given you some ideas….as always in parting…..
~ Happy Planning~
