Closing Traditions for Your Wedding

So the wedding reception is over and you're ready to leave the building and go on your honeymoon. Having a great closing ritual can be the perfect way to cap off a memorable evening. However, with so many different options available how do you choose which one is right for your wedding? Here are just a few ideas to close your wedding out with a bang:

Releasing objects into the air.

When I was a little boy I remember walking into my front yard only to find a balloon on the ground with a personal message from a new bride and groom. The message stated the date and location of the wedding, and it turns out it was from a city half way across the state from where I was. I couldn't help but feel excited for them. Releasing items into the air, whether it's butterflies or balloons, is a visual statement and symbolizes the journey of the bride and groom as they take flight into their world together. It's a beautiful statement and a way to spread your joy with people that will stumble across it. Releasing two doves is another ancient tradition and people say that if the doves fly in the same direction then it is considered good luck. My advice is to train the doves before you release them!

Saying goodbyes and thanks to the guests.

This tradition is often referred to as the receiving line, and involves the bridal party to stand in a line near the exit of the church or entrance hall to receive well-wishes from those that attended the wedding. This can take a long time; however, it allows the guests that took the time to come to your wedding to share their feelings on the marriage, as well as the ceremony. This makes for a great photo opportunity with each person that came to your wedding.

Light up the sky.

At my wedding, my wife and I chose to have our guests hold sparklers in the air as we made our way through the mass of people to our getaway car. It was beautiful and made for a great photo opportunity. This is especially beautiful if your wedding takes place on a clear night. The sparklers are bright, bold, and beautiful. However, I highly recommend checking with the church or reception hall to see if they allow sparklers at the building. They can easily be extinguished.

Another bright idea is to have fireworks at the closing of your wedding. I'll warn you now, if you're doing fireworks then please don't release doves at the same time! That can ruffle some feathers, to say the least. Again, I would check with county officials to see if there are any permits you need in order to get this done, as well as checking with the reception hall or church. This would be more appropriate at a less formal wedding, but could make for a beautiful close to the night.

Throwing Rice.

Having guests throw rice after a wedding reception was a longtime tradition, until 1996 when Ann Landers made the claim that rice poses a danger to birds. For those of you who have heard this claim then it's important to know that it's merely a myth. In fact, the National Wildlife Federation debunks the myth and even adds that birds are often times pests in rice fields. Bring the tradition back and you could even have a little note in each bag of rice with a statement from the National Wildlife Federation assuring people that it's safe to throw.

Bubbles and Rose Petals

For those of you that want to be a little more creative, blowing bubbles is a fun option that looks great in pictures and won't stain the bride's dress. The children will love the idea of blowing bubbles, and you can get hundreds of bottles at a fairly inexpensive cost.

If your budget allows, opt for rose petals. They're beautiful, and you could get them in the same floral pattern as your other floral arrangements from the ceremony. What would make the bride and groom feel more beautiful than flower petals being thrown in every direction? They'll feel like a regular king or queen!