Before you tell me, friends, I know it isn’t Wednesday! But I have 2 sessions to share with you this week and am trying to give you some VARIETY here after yesterday’s post, so my Wedding Wednesday post is happening on Tuesday today!! 🙂 Forgive me, please!

I’m really excited about this tips for brides and planning families, because it is something that I think is SO special.  Today I am writing about the ceremony tradition of greeting your parents during the ceremony. This usually happens after vows, and during some sort of special music.  For our wedding, we knew we wanted 2 special songs during the ceremony (as music people!), so during one we had out wine ceremony (similar to a unity candle, but with wine- we did get married at a winery after all!), and during the other we greeted our parents.  It was one of the sweetest memories of my wedding day.  The first time we hugged them as husband and wife. A moment for congratulations and love.  And a moment that often packs quite a bit of emotion.

There are no real rules for this tradition- it can happen at various times throughout the ceremony, and you could greet grandparents and/or siblings as well, as we have seen.  Some brides are nervous about this due to the number of steps involved and depending on dress size, but it is such a special moment that I don’t think anyone should hesitate to add in!  Here are some of our favorite images from this sweet tradition.

Dad’s hand on mom’s back…
A particularly meaningful hug…Followed by a very verklempt moment from a loving father.

This is the sibling greeting I mentioned, followed by a prayer…there wasn’t a dry eye around.

Brides, we love these moments of paying a little tribute and hello to the ones who got you there.  It can be such a quick and meaningful addition to a beautiful ceremony filled with love and tradition- a ceremony that creates a new family! These 3 are my very favorite, from Michael’s and my wedding (captured by the amazing Beth Laurren).

And this. You can’t even really see it because my mama was one of the main instrumentalists in my ceremony. But she is back there,  on the left, crying for one of the 4 times I have ever experienced in my life, squeezing me tight.  And you can see sweet Michael back there as well.  It was one of the most special moments of my entire wedding day, and I will cherish it forever.  

To see other Wedding Wednesday posts, click here!