Weddingbee Blog

I hinted in my last post that Mr P and I did a reverse receiving line of sorts. Instead of greeting each of our guests as they left the ceremony (or entered the reception) in the traditional receiving line, we greeted our guests as they arrived at the Church. Yep you read that right, no hiding away for the Pretzels. We were out in the narthex mingling and mixing it up before the wedding. Mr Pretzel and I read about this novel idea in our Celebrating Marriage, Preparing the Roman Catholic Wedding Liturgy: A Workbook for Engaged Couples, Third Edition while we were preparing our ceremony. The book presented the option of greeting your guests as they entered the church in order to build hospitality and create a joyful and friendly atmosphere. We wanted to build an atmosphere that reflected us as a couple and how we celebrate our faith. For us, our faith is lived out in a vibrant, joyful manner, and it was important to set that tone from the time our guests entered the Church. Instead of a formal line we just made ourselves present and made an effort to greet everyone who walked in the door.

The first person that I greeted was perhaps one of the most important, Papa Pretzel. My dad was running a little late and didn’t get to the Church until right before guests arrived. He is my rock and my best friend, and I was anxious for him to arrive. Of course I had to make sure his bout was properly affixed.

Doesn’t he look handsome?

Both my dad I and took dance lessons before the wedding. He lives in Phoenix and we hadn’t practiced together until earlier that week. He requested one last practice in the Narthex and I obliged, much to the delight of some of the early arrivals. I can’t help but be all smiles and giggles around my dad.

Being out there mixing with everyone really helped me relax and I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be hidden away before the ceremony. While the guests started to trickle in a dear friend of ours started the prelude music in the Church.

Mr Pretzel welcomes our guests

I can’t count all the hugs that I got.

But this hug took the cake. Even though my nephew was with us while we were getting ready, this is the first time he saw me in my full get-up and I saw him in his dress clothes. He told me that I looked pretty.

I caught up with my dad and brother. Sadly, this is one of the only non formal photos that I have with my mom, dad, and brother.

I love the photos of Mr P’s parents seeing him for this first time. The raw emotion gets me every time.

As our guests made their way into the church they were greeted by my cousins, K, R, and S. These beautiful girls gave our guests each a program and offered the women a hankie for their tears of joy.

The hankies were inspired by this post of Mrs Cheeseburger’s and were a perfect touch.

Our ushers escorted our guests to their seats. Oh look! I spy a Cherry Pie!

With our guests seated it seemed like time to get the show on the road.

Pretzel bridesmaids grabbed the paper and fabric flowers that I made for them and we headed to the other side of the church via the front parking lot.

A couple late comers saw us exiting and thought they had missed the ceremony. Nope—we were just getting in place. The processional lined up, and I took my place by my dad’s side.

Next up: The processional.

Need to catch up?

Twisted Together, aka Pretzel recaps:

• In the last week we got a little help from our friends
• Take a closer look at our favors
• Take a closer look at our programs
• We welcomed our guests to Seattle
• We took in a ball game
• Sipping tea and bridal party pampering
• We rehearse, I stress
• Nom, Nom, Rehearsal Dinner on the beach Pt 1
• Giving Gifts, Rehearsal Dinner on the beach Pt 2
• I was Sleepless in Seattle (suburbs)
• We Primp (hair and makeup)
• We got dressed
• Old New Borrowed Blue
• At first sight - our first look
• The Quiet before the Ceremony