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As you walk back down the aisle after your ceremony, the big adventure is beginning. But first, there's a wonderful celebration to be had with your community. If you've done your home work, and kept the focus on the importance of your wedding ceremony and your wedding vows, now all you have to do is enjoy the fall out from what everyone just experienced. You'll be ecstatic, but your guests will be ecstatic as well! They'll be honored that you spoke so frankly to them in your wedding ceremony about why this is the right relationship for the two of you. They'll be touched that your wedding vows are so appropriate and tender. And they'll be thrilled to have been asked to witness this ceremony. So what's in store? The Roar of the Crowd: There will be applause as you enter the room because people are excited to be part of your important commitments to one another. The Wedding Toasts: Your friends love you. Let that sink in as they wish you well. If there are certain people you've asked to give toasts, let them know why you chose them. The Wedding Meal: This is important. Do not forget to eat! (Particularly some protein!) It's sometimes a good idea to sit and eat at a small table and then rejoin your attendants. And ask the serving people to put plates aside for you to take home after the wedding. You're going to be starving. You'll want to enjoy everything all over again. (or maybe for the first time if you were too excited to eat even though you were supposed to!) And you went to a great deal of trouble to choose this food. So enjoy it. At least twice! And if it's a buffet, consider filling plates for each other. The First Dance: This should not be a horror show. If you've learned a dance, great. But even if you're just holding your beloved in your arms and rocking around the floor, this is the person you've married and with whom you're going to live happily ever after. The Parents' Dances: Mix it up. Dance with everyone. Tell your parents how happy you are and how much you love them. Tell your partner's parents how much you love your partner and how incredibly happy you are to be a part of their lives. The Rounds: If you haven't done a Receiving Line, you'll walk from table to table. People are going to say wonderful things to you. Before you wander off to talk to everyone. Take a moment, get centered and get connected. Then off you go to hear them tell you how much they love you. Pretty great. The Party: Whatever you've planned, whether it's music or croquet, enjoy it! Dance with your sweetie. Dance with your attendants. Dance with the 4-year-olds. Have a ball. However, keep your drinking to a minimum, because you really, really, really want to be present at your party! The Garter and the Flower Toss: If you're going to do these, be kind to one another and to the people who will catch the bounty. The Wedding Cake: This is an opportunity to promise one another sweetness in your lives. Be gentle and respectful. Think of this more as lovemaking than as a pratfall. Do not EVER smush cake in your beloved's face. The Leavetaking: After the cake is over, it's time for you to say good night. You may want to make a formal announcement that you hope people will stay on and enjoy the party, but that you're retiring. Make sure you organize someone to pick up your presents and make sure you've gotten your bags back to your room or in your car, or wherever it needs to go, so you can sweep out the door arm in arm rather than hobble out, carrying about 6 plastic carrier bags of stuff. It ruins the moment.
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