Send off/exit

I feel like a sendoff from church is far more traditional than the big reception send off. Rice/birdseed, bubbles, petals, etc. It was traditionally all done at the church.

Our send-off was just applause. But it was from the synagogue, not the reception. Most people aren't going to stay until the very end of the reception, anyway, so you're best off doing it from the church.

As a matter of history, traditionally the couple was the first to leave their own reception. The theory was that they were never supposed to have had sex before the wedding--or at least, they couldn't admit that they had--so they were supposed to be wildly eager to go off and have sex for the first time. If the couple were the first ones to leave the reception, a reception send-off made sense. But most couples today want to stay and enjoy their own reception. And the pretense they have never had sex before is pretty much gone. So a send-off after the ceremony makes more sense.

I think of a church send off as “the” traditional move! We left our reception on the shuttle with everyone else. No fanfare, but we didn’t care. It would’ve been weird to dredge up fanfare at the end of the party anyway haha.

I've seen really pretty bubble sendoffs at churches. FH and I aren't planning to do a grand exit, but if we had to I'd choose some pretty balloons

This is what I'm planning on doing! This is what is typically done at the church that I belong to. I had never heard of a reception send-off until now

We did a rose petal exit after the ceremony at the church 😊 I really wanted a sparkler exit but our ceremony was at 4:30 and it wasn't quite that dark yet.

I love how the bubble exit looks. I think it's more special to do it after the ceremony. I always like looking at the grand exit pictures but it feels so fake when you're there. Ive been a bridesmaid twice years ago and we had to gather up people like 2 hours before reception ended to take these grand exit pictures. I found it really odd then.
Ok. It's over. Now go back to dancing. Lol. I know it's the norm now.

I want people to throw rose petals or, maybe now, blow bubbles after the ceremony.

The bubbles look like so much fun!!!

View Quoted Comment

The petals look beautiful! The color really stands out!

The chapel I’m getting married at does the send off as you exit. We decided on sparklers since we have a later ceremony. I can’t wait!!

I'm going to try and do one weather permitting. My plan is to have my ceremony officiant make an announcement once my FH and I exit saying "The bride and groom ask you to please stick around and see them off to their limo in front of the church." Then when my wedding party has finished taking pictures i'm going to ask them to have whomever is outside to part ways a bit and have my wedding party stand on either side of the door. Then when we exit everyone will be there cheering us on.

Just make sure if you are taking pictures before you leave the church you only request that people stay because sometimes people don't like waiting around especially if they're from out of town or they just don't like mingling. Also if it's raining I would skip the church exit entirely.

If you do bubbles consider the a few of the toy bubble blowing “guns”. I’ve seen people have bubbles but there weren’t as many as picture because not everyone blew them or the quality of the wands bought made it difficult. You could have a few trusted people stand in the “second” row of well wishers in either side with the bubble “guns” to insure maximum bubbles for pictures and romance!

I don't think a big exit from the reception is what most brides do... In fact in my area none of my friends or weddings we have been to has done a grand exit from the reception. Even in the movies, it's more common right after the church ceremony especially since it's daytime and makes sense since you'll be leaving to the reception venue then.

View Quoted Comment Beautiful photo!! Did you do any kind of send off from the reception site?

View Quoted Comment Thank you! I really wanted a sparkler exit at the reception site but unfortunately they don't allow it 😐