Wedding Traditions - Going Away

Learn about the tradition of making a grand exit

In almost every culture it is traditional to farewell the newlyweds with some sort of parade or procession – either past the guests, down the street, or through the town. To signal their departure newlyweds would change out of their wedding clothes and into a new outfit – in Western cultures it was smart travelling clothes such as suit for the groom and a dress or skirt and jacket for the bride.  In western cultures, the bouquet toss occurs shortly before the couple depart, to signify the passing of marriage from one bride to the next.

Today many couples dance the night away with family and friends, not leaving the celebration until their guests do. Some couples also make a weekend or week of the festivities, so there is no significant departure at the end of the reception.

What ever you decide to do, it is a nice idea to mark the end of your marriage celebrations and the start of married life with some sort of occasion. It allows for closure of the big day, and encourages you to move your attention to life beyond the wedding.