Are Wedding Traditions Worth the Hassle?

If so, which ones should I do?!

When planning a wedding, it’s important to have conversations with your partner AND your family about wedding traditions you may or may not include in your wedding. Sometimes these expectations are hard to deal with, but the goal is to stay true to you and your love. This can also be a great conversation to have before touring or considering wedding venues! You want a venue that will accommodate those traditions you are firm on having and one that doesn’t prioritize the traditions you could care less about. Below are some of the more common traditions we see, and the venues that best accommodate those traditions.

The Barn at Riverbend wedding party taken by Nick and Lexie Photo + Film

First Looks

This seems to be one of the more commonly held traditions at modern weddings. Couples choose to do first looks for many different reasons! Some just want to see each other before the big ceremony, others want those cute and intimate first-look pictures. A lot of wedding photographers suggest doing a first look, just to get the bulk of the couple’s portraits done before family and friends arrive at the wedding. This way you have more freedom after the ceremony to talk and mingle with all the people who came to see you instead of taking photos while everyone is eating or dancing.

Doing a first look can be great for people who really need or want that one on one time before the day starts flying by. This can also be a great time to read personal vows to one another if you aren’t doing so at the ceremony! But, don’t let this tradition deter you from having the day you want. There are plenty of couples who opt out of a first look, some wanting the ceremony to be the first time they lock eyes on each other during their wedding–which is also a fun wedding tradition. Either way will be a magical moment for you and your love.

First look or couple’s portraits are a great thing to keep in mind while shopping for a venue. Find a place on the venue property you think would make a good picture and show your photographer some so they know where to bring you for your first look! Below is a first look at 8th&Main. Each of our venues has great first look locations because we know how important this is for couples and their big day!

An emotional first look at 8th&Main

First Dances 

First dances are a great way to slow down and have some intimate time with your parents and your partner. Not to mention, some a great photo opportunity with some of your most loved people! The Barn at Riverbend is our venue that hosts the most picturesque first dances. Couples have danced beneath our beautiful veranda: the wood beams and string lights accent the dances beautifully while tables of family and friends surround the couple. The Barn at Riverbend has also hosted many first dances on the bar patio, also underneath glowing string lights, but surrounded by gorgeous forestry and the country night sky.

A first dance at The Barn at Riverbend courtesy of Jill Caren Photo

Send-Offs

Some traditions are meant to change and evolve with time–send-offs being one of them! Traditionally, couples would have family and friends send them off to their honeymoons by throwing rice at the couple as they leave. This is something that, rightfully, is not allowed at many venues today including ours. When the rice is left on the ground it can actually hurt or even kill birds when they try to eat it. If you love the old-timey tradition and look of throwing rice, we suggest throwing bird seed instead! Still cute, but helpful to nature instead of harmful. Our Mission Theatre location is a gorgeous send-off spot with a marquee that can read whatever the couple wants. The marquee and a few dozen sparklers make for a perfect end to a perfect night.

It’s important to consult your venue about send-off guidelines before buying a bunch of fireworks or silly string. A good rule of thumb is to avoid anything that would be harmful to the venue or hard to clean up. We don’t allow confetti bombs because it ruins the venue, but we do allow a sparkler send off and we actually offer to provide sparklers for each couple for a small fee! Smoke bombs are also a great and colorful option for early or mock send-offs. 

A Mission Theatre send off captured by Hallie Fry Photography

Rehearsal Dinners

Colorful smoke bombs at The Barn at Riverbend taken by Enlow Productions

Believe it or not, rehearsal dinners at the venue are a wedding tradition that does not have to happen! Many couples and families of the couple think it is necessary to get everyone to the wedding venue the night before the wedding to practice when realistically, getting a rehearsal dinner booked at the venue can be a logistical nightmare. Today’s venues are often booked Friday, Saturday even Sunday so a “traditional” rehearsal is not realistic. Also, it’s a hassle to make your entire bridal party show up at a venue to practice walking down the aisle when attending a rehearsal dinner is much more important. It’s the planner’s job to get the bridal party down the aisle and she can do this in her sleep. Even young flower girls and ring bearers can practice this on the day of the wedding.

The 8th&Main Reception Area taken by Caitlyn Cloud Photography

But, if this is a wedding tradition that you plan on having, make sure to talk to the venue early on to secure a time slot the night before your big day. 8th&Main is a great spot for a rehearsal dinner! Lots of space inside to sit at our large custom-made tables, and a beautiful courtyard to practice walking with your closest friends and family. Though almost every couple chooses to get everyone together the night before to eat and be merry, don’t feel pressured to book your wedding venue an extra night.

When planning a wedding and considering wedding traditions–always ask WHY do we think we have to do this tradition? The goal is to feel like the day is a celebration of your love, and if there is pressure to commit to wedding traditions that don’t mean anything to you, why do them? Be willing to create your own traditions that are meaningful to you and your day will feel all the more special!

After the sun sets at Barn at Riverbend taken by Alyssa Brooke Photography