Super Awkward Send Off Plan

If I was a guest I wouldn't either. I'm just not sure what is proper etiquette since I am not paying for the loads of other helpful work the day of coordinator is doing for us. I don't know if I should make a big stink or not.

We did that at my friends wedding, it was weird.

I also think its weird to do a "send off" to get you from the church to the reception. that's just.. odd. A send off to me is the end of the night.

Bad plan since I would guess it will be hot and sunny in June. Send the guests off to the reception and have them ring the bells at your entrance to the reception or at night's end when you leave the reception.

When I saw "send off" I was thinking at the end of the reception. If you really want to do something at the church, do it right away and then go back in and take pictures. Your guests will not want to wait 30 minutes to ring a bell, and I have a feeling if you have that many people just standing around while you're taking pictures it'll cause distractions for you as well.

Can you do the exit before pictures? I've been to weddings where all the guests filed out, waited a few moments at the doors for everyone to make it out then the bride and groom came out and we did the exit activity (ringing bells, blowing bubbles etc etc). Then guests were then free to go to the reception and the bride / groom / anyone needed for pictures went back in the church to take pictures then.

I think it's weird. This is why we have cocktail hour. I only want one exit and I don't want my guests to stand around unentertained for 30-45 minutes. We are walking out of the church, hiding in a room and coming back into the church to take pictures. No exit at the church.

Can you not just do the send off and then go back in for pictures? It's typical in my family to do the bubbles or whatnot after the church wedding so I don't think it's weird to ring bells, I actually like that and might steal it lol. I would just do the send off thing and don't actually get in a car then. It's mostly for walking out of the church.

I feel like it's normal for guests to go directly to the reception location and enjoy cocktail hour while the wedding party takes photos. That's my plan, anyways. Most of the weddings I've been to the couples have walked out of the church and people blow bubbles, throw confetti, etc. and they got in a car and drove around the block or something and that was kind of the sign that guests were dismissed to the reception venue. The couple then came back to take wedding party photos.

I really like the idea of send off immediately after the recessional before photos. I think that's something we can compromise on. Esp if it's a pretty day, I want to have photos taken outside of the church- more natural light and not as 'churchy' lol so that could take a while. Thanks for affirming this is a wacky idea guys.

I went to a wedding where we waited on the front steps for 30-45 minutes for them to exit the church. I got sunburned and my feet hurt and it was hot and I felt like a prop.

To avoid this at our wedding, we did our exit right after the ceremony, got on our trolley with the wedding party, drove around the block and went back in the back door to do church photos before leaving.

^ this is a solution I'm seeking. There's been some weird ideas and I feel like the weirdness stems from my parents not having their wedding in around 50 years, where many traditions have changed.

When we did this (younger son's wedding), we did it immediately after the ceremony, as soon as all the guests gathered on the church steps, we did the bubbles and the bride and groom went off to do pictures. Those were some pretty great pics.

I personally wouldn't wait 30 minutes just for that, as it does seem awkward. I agree with a previous poster, can you do the exit before and THEN go take pictures?

Yaaaa..... super awkward and boring for the guests! I'd be itching to get out of there.

eta: If your mom REALLY wants that shot, you could fake exit out of the church right away, then go back in and take pictures with the BP

I would say hey can't we do the send off drive around back and do photos while the guests mosey over.

Tell her the bitches over here said they wouldn't wait!

Been to one like that except they did the send off and then went back inside for pictures while the guests headed to the reception. It was maybe a 10 minute wait, much longer than that and it would gave gotten boring.

I would leave with my bell.

I'm uncooperative.

Maybe you can all exit and take the pictures with the little bells and then as your guests leave to the reception take all the pictures you want with your WP. That way you don't make your guests wait long . It's a win - win in my eyes...