5 Wedding Traditions to Keep (Volume #4)

Yes, the smearing of the cake on your spouse’s face is a wedding cliché but the cutting of the cake is a fun tradition that concludes the happy couple’s “first meal” of their marriage.  Whether it’s cupcakes, buttercream icing cake, or baklava give the couple one final tradition of the evening for them to share a moment with their friends and family.  Put the phone down and just enjoy the subtle interactions between the two as they tease each other with the threat of a frosting-tipped nose, it’s hard to catch that genuine exchange on camera anyway.

Speaking of cameras, we definitely support hiring a photographer for the event.  Some couples will try to save money by asking a close friend to take the photos but we recommend utilizing not-so-close-friends in such instances so that the critical task of preserving your wedding memories doesn’t fall on a close friend; that way he/she can enjoy the special occasion with the bride and groom.  Encouraging photos from your friends during the reception is highly encouraged but a keen photographer will find the most candid and endearing moments, so just focus on creating those moments with those closest.

We addressed this already in one of our Wedding Traditions to Ditch blog posts, but that was in regard to the genders associated within wedding parties.  A “maid of honor” can certainly be a man.  We merely posset that a wedding party should be assigned.  These are your closest friends who helped you get from a lonely heart to where you are today: marrying to love of your life.  You owe them the honor of standing at your side on the big day.  You probably also owe them a few drinks for keeping you sane over the years so that you were relatively normal enough for your spouse to fall in love it, after all.

Likewise to wedding party, we think that the “giving of the bride” is an important tradition as well.  The purpose of this ceremony is a traditional approach to protecting those nearest and dearest to oneself.  The father of the bride symbolically shows his trust of his soon to be son-in-law by presenting his daughter to the groom’s care.  It’s a powerful moment, and establishes an important bond between groom and father-in-law.  With all of that said, once again, gender is not the important piece here.  Mom can give daughter away, or the groom is given, or both brides, etc.  The point is that trust and respect is exchanged during this tradition.

A wedding is a hurricane of a week filled with hair appointments, airport runs, last minute changes, plus ones, and extended family.  It’s hard to take in all of the emotion that family members and friends will bestow upon the couple all in one night.  Therefore, a signature book (or frame, or plank, or wall, or whatever!) is a wonderful way to capture the love that your loved ones have for you for future enjoyment and appreciation.  And don’t worry, you’ll get the last word in your “thank you cards” a few weeks later.