Meeting newlyweds at a wedding is an ancient custom that comes from time immemorial. Despite progress and rapidly changing life, he firmly holds his position. A romantic ceremony of parental blessing touches the soul, brings loved ones closer together and becomes a strong foundation for building a new family. That is why you should not abandon the custom. If it does not fit into the celebration scenario, you can consider modern, adapted options that are no less solemn and spectacular.
Meeting the newlyweds with a loaf of bread
The meeting of newlyweds with a loaf of bread has deep roots. According to historians, the modern custom originates from pagan times. In those days, young people were led around a bowl in which the family placed dough for baking bread. A freshly baked loaf was placed on the lid. After the ceremony, the marriage was considered concluded.
In later times, when the wedding was held in a church, a set of a wooden bowl, a clean embroidered towel and a loaf and salt was also present in the wedding ceremony. The young people were taken around the tub immediately after church. Moreover, this responsibility was entrusted to the groom’s parents, who welcomed the daughter-in-law into the house.
By the 19th century, the custom had acquired completely modern features. The groom's parents baked a festive loaf from valuable wheat flour. In poor families or during a bad harvest, rye flour could be used. The top was always decorated with dough figures - spikelets, pairs of doves. With this loaf, placed on a towel, the newlyweds were greeted on the threshold of the house after church. It was believed that in this way the parents of the newlywed accept his wife into the family and bless their children for a long and serene family life.
After blessing, the bread was handed to the newlyweds. After which the friend divided it - the center for the young, then a piece for the parents and closest relatives, and then it came to the guests. The rest was given to the children.
Modern traditions of meeting young people
Today, weddings are celebrated differently. Not all young people decide to have a wedding ceremony in a church, replacing it with registration. And few people go to their parents’ house, preferring a banquet in a restaurant or outdoors. But changing the wedding scenario is not a reason to refuse to hold a meeting with all its attributes. You can appoint it on the threshold of the registry office or restaurant, and in the case of an outdoor ceremony - under a beautifully decorated arch.
If the groom's parents are not present at the wedding for some reason, they can be replaced by any close relatives: grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters. In exceptional cases, when there are no suitable candidates on the groom’s side, you can use the help of the bride’s parents or relatives, witnesses at the wedding.
Ready script for a wedding
Don't know where to start in organizing the perfect wedding? The portal for future spouses Svadebka.ws advises you to first decide on the program and theme of the celebration: do you want classics or are you closer to funny wedding scenarios? After all, wedding traditions in Russia allow newlyweds to organize a celebration that will fully reflect their tastes and preferences.
An interesting scenario guarantees that your guests will be satisfied and the event will be held at the highest level. On the pages of the portal, brides will be able to choose original and suitable themes for the celebration, receive practical advice and view relevant photographs. Ready to begin exploring the mysterious and hectic world of pre-wedding preparations? More
Preparing for the meeting after the registry office
It’s best to order a traditional loaf from a reliable, trusted bakery or bake it yourself, so as not to spoil the important ceremony with bad bread. In addition to fresh baked goods, you will need other accessories:
- a new towel is a long strip of linen fabric with beautiful embroidery and, often, lace fringe along the edges. If you can’t find one, you can get by with a regular towel made of waffle fabric, with a suitable pattern;
- wooden or ceramic salt shaker with an opening lid. It is recommended to use natural salt;
- two glasses of good champagne or red wine.
When making changes to a traditional script, attributes must be taken care of in advance.
Newlyweds meeting scenario
How is the meeting with the loaf going? The ceremony is attended by the newlyweds, parents or relatives of the groom and all the guests.
- The people line up in two lines, leaving a passage from the gate to the porch of the house. It is often lined with a carpet and strewn with rose petals.
- Parents stand on the threshold and hold a loaf of bread.
- The newlyweds approach, solemnly rise to the porch and bow.
- The groom's mother greets them, says good wishes and congratulates them on their marriage.
- The young break off pieces of bread, dip them in salt and eat them.
- They say warm words to their parents, thanking them for this life, wisdom and care.
- After this, all the guests unanimously congratulate the newlyweds, showering them with small objects provided for in the wedding scenario - petals, grain, coins, dragees.
Then everyone walks together to the table or goes to the restaurant. If one of the ceremony participants gets lost or forgets the words, the leader’s task is to give a hint and smooth out the awkwardness. You can speak in your own words, poems, or find well-wishes suitable for the occasion on the Internet.
How to meet young people?
The leading role in the ceremony is given to the mother-in-law. She holds the bread and salt and is the first to speak. The groom's father enters after his wife, blessing the newlyweds for a prosperous life with the icon in his hands. Traditionally, the oldest, most prayed icon in the house was chosen. At a modern wedding, it is permissible to use a new, consecrated one.
It is necessary to maintain a solemn and, at the same time, welcoming mood. The words are spoken from the heart. In order not to get lost during the ceremony, it is worth writing down and memorizing the text in advance.
Mother's words when meeting young people
There are many options for welcoming and blessing speeches for the groom's parents or relatives who perform their functions. You can make the ceremony as close as possible to a Russian folk wedding, or simply express your joy and happiness for the children in a few words.
You should not prepare large texts. Three to five sentences are enough, consisting of the warmest and brightest wishes for love, happiness, and a long life.
Example words:
Our dear children! Please accept my sincere congratulations on your wedding day. Let this salt be the last in your life, and from this moment the honeymoon begins for the rest of your married life.
***
My dears, be happy in the union you created today. Cherish the warmth of this day for the rest of your life. Save your happiness and increase it many times over! Advice and love to you!
***
My children! Congratulations on your wedding day and the birth of a new family. I want to bless you for a long and happy life by presenting this loaf as a symbol of prosperity. Advice and love to you!
The father of the groom and parents of the bride join in the congratulations:
Our children! Congratulations on the birth of your new family! We bless you for a long, happy life and present you with a loaf of bread as a symbol of love, prosperity and prosperity. Advice and love to you!
***
Dear children! Please accept my sincere congratulations on this significant holiday, your family’s birthday! We wish you to carry in your hearts throughout your life those bright feelings of love for each other that brought you together. Live in abundance and happiness!
*** Children, we are incredibly glad that in this huge world you found each other and were able to create a new family. Take care of your feelings and your love, appreciate everything that exists between you and trust each other. We hope that your home will be a full cup, and that grievances and adversity will always bypass it.
*** Dear children! We are glad for your conscious choice! We bless you for a happy marriage with sincere mutual feelings of love! Show respect and care for each other. Share all the ups and downs, joys and sorrows together! Advice and love to you!
The newlyweds' response
How to accept the generous gift of blessing from your parents? There are several options:
- traditional, when the newlyweds take bread along with a towel from their mother-in-law, and the groom’s friend cuts it and treats everyone in turn, starting with the newlyweds and their parents;
- modern, with pieces breaking off from the edge of the loaf. The young take turns dipping their pieces in salt and treating each other, showing the first concern in their lives for their beloved half;
- Another option is associated with popular belief. The bride and groom take turns biting into the loaf, trying to grab as much as possible. Independent experts determine whose piece turned out to be the largest - who will be the head of the house.
Alternatively, the young people can cut the bread themselves, eat it and treat everyone.
Ready-made wedding script for the toastmaster
A wedding is a very important day for both newlyweds. I want it to be remembered for a long time both by the young people themselves, and by their friends and relatives - by all those invited. In order for the wedding celebration to be a success, they invite a toastmaster, who will be the host. He always has something and how to amuse his guests. Many congratulations, original toasts, competitions and games will bring a lot of positivity and help the newlyweds share their joy with loved ones. The best option for the toastmaster would be to prepare a new, original scenario for the wedding celebration, so that none of the guests could say that a gala evening had already been organized in a similar way for other newlyweds. [geoadvert]
How to meet young people without a loaf
It is not always possible to find a suitable loaf for a wedding, and the art of baking good bread is not accessible to everyone. Someone may consider the custom to be outdated, irrelevant, or breaking the whole idea of the wedding. If you decide to hold a meeting of young people without a loaf, you can use other options.
What to replace the loaf with?
You can bless the newlyweds not only with your own baked loaf. At a modern wedding, a wide variety of baked goods and culinary products are used. They are much tastier, look amazing, and go perfectly with any wedding style:
- fish and meat pies, fruit, berry, mushroom pies;
- biscuits with cream, natural jelly and glaze;
- printed gingerbread cookies in the shape of doves or hearts;
- luxurious sandwiches with caviar, meat products, herbs, vegetables;
- fruits and berries with cream;
- croissants, cakes, shortcakes.
For supporters of vegetarianism and a healthy lifestyle, we can recommend whole grain bread baked according to special recipes.
A modern encounter with champagne
A meeting of young people in a restaurant can be arranged as follows:
- after registration or wedding, the newlyweds and guests enter the restaurant’s banquet hall;
- along the way, the newlyweds are showered with flower petals, sweets or rice;
- at the end of the solemn procession, a cascade of champagne glasses awaits them;
- the newlyweds are served open bottles of champagne (or the groom opens them himself), and they pour the contents into glasses, starting from the top;
- gradually overflowing, the glasses are filled one after another.
At this time, guests applaud and give humorous recommendations, and music plays. As soon as the cascade is filled, relatives and guests approach the newlyweds, according to the established hierarchy, and, receiving a glass of champagne, wish them happiness and long years of family life.
Broadcast video
If a crowded, large wedding is planned, the problem of accommodating guests during the wedding or wedding ceremony arises. The ceremonial hall of the registry office and the church are not able to accommodate several dozen or hundreds of people, and most of the guests are forced to wait on the street or at the venue of the feast.
With modern technologies, you can find a brilliant way out of the situation: arrange a live broadcast of the ceremony on screens or quickly edit a film while the newlyweds visit memorable places in the city and arrange photo sessions. A good specialist will create a magnificent video in a matter of minutes, and all guests will be able to enjoy the colorful spectacle.
At the end of the broadcast, the newly-made spouses solemnly enter the banquet hall or any chosen place for the feast, accompanied by special effects. This could be a Mendelssohn march, any suitable music, fireworks, cold fountains, heavy smoke, a laser show.
Satin ribbons
The tradition of cutting satin ribbons has been practiced for a long time, and modern newlyweds have picked up this idea, using it in their wedding scenario. The symbolism of the action is simple: by cutting the ribbon, the newlyweds enter a new life and start a family.
Usually the ribbon is pulled at the entrance to a house or restaurant. You can use any posts or racks. To go further, the couple needs to cut the obstacle. The scissors are handed to them on a tray or pad by a trusted person - a relative, friend, parent. Cutting the ribbon, the spouses enter family life, leaving behind the carefree single years.
Ribbons can be supplemented with flags with letters or beautiful inscriptions, embroidery that form words - family, love, trust, respect and any other suitable meaning.
Butterflies for newlyweds
Another interesting meeting option is exotic butterflies. A box with elegant, multi-colored flyers is placed on a table or stand at the end of the path. The young people go to her to the accompaniment of solemn music and applause from the guests. The groom's parents or the host say warm words. For example, parting words: “may your journey together become as easy as the flight of butterflies.” At the end of the phrase, the box is opened and hundreds of butterflies are released to beautiful music.
Meeting the newlyweds after registration at the registry office?
The newlyweds can be blessed for a new life immediately after registration or an outdoor ceremony. Often the ceremony is held right on the steps of the Wedding Palace.
Confetti fireworks
The meeting after the registry office with confetti fireworks will leave a bright mark in the memory of the newlyweds and guests. Standing on both sides of the path along which the young couple walks, guests and relatives shower them with clouds of multi-colored circles.
The type of confetti can be absolutely any. The main rule is that they must correspond to the style of the holiday. For example, these could be New Year's crackers, sparkling circles cut out of foil, depicting snow. Absolutely any shape of products is acceptable, from a traditional circle to creative cars, hearts and butterflies.
Parade procession
You can meet newlyweds after the registry office in various ways:
- distribute flags to guests. Products can be of various shapes and sizes, with images, photographs, inscriptions, coats of arms;
- provide the assembled guests with colored satin ribbons attached to long sticks.
Waving accessories and shouting out good wishes, those present will ensure a bright, memorable meeting for the newlyweds.
Showering petals and leaves
Showering young spouses with rose or lavender petals is a custom whose roots go back centuries. The ceremony is full of romance and incredibly beautiful. Guests and relatives lined up in two lines shower the solemnly marching couple with clouds of soft white, burgundy or lilac petals. Touching photo and video footage of the ceremony will be an excellent addition to the family archive.
If the wedding is being held in the fall, flower petals can be replaced with bright leaves of various shades.
Meeting with Swords
Swords are a symbol of protection and courage. For a romantic wedding in an old or fantasy style, the scenario of the newlyweds meeting with blades is perfect. Guests and relatives line up in two lines, forming a corridor along which the newlyweds must pass. And swords or sabers are crossed over their heads. Such a ceremony is incredibly spectacular, full of hidden meaning.
Banners
Guests can prepare a pleasant surprise for the newlyweds: draw or order posters and banners with touching inscriptions, hearts, and well wishes. The invitees hold the paper by the corners, and the spouses must break through the obstacle.
showering with rice
The tradition of showering the newlyweds with rice, wheat or other grains is present in the wedding customs of many nations. Thus, the guests wish the newlyweds a prosperous, well-fed life, many children and good health. It is worth listening to the wisdom of your ancestors, and not regretting a few cups of cereal, giving the spouses a surprise at the exit from the registry office.
Air balloons
Balloons have long become an invariable feature of any celebration. A wedding cannot be complete without these colorful, lightweight items. To meet the newlyweds, you need to choose bright balloons with suitable designs and inscriptions. It is advisable to fill them with helium - in this case, the balloons are released into the sky, beautifully completing the ceremony.
Bubble
A meeting between spouses and soap bubbles is very romantic. It is enough to provide all those invited with bottles, and a magnificent, solemn procession of the newlyweds will be ensured through a cloud of weightless balls shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow.
Serpentine and pom-poms
For a meeting, you can use colored serpentine or fluffy pompoms. The constant attributes of noisy parties, twisted shiny ribbons, will perfectly set off the solemn procession of the newly-made spouses. And pom-poms floating in the air will provide chic, festive shots.
The meeting of the newlyweds after the wedding or registration is a classic attribute of wedding celebrations. Modern customs allow for many different options for carrying it out, from traditional bread and salt to creative scenarios. It is not difficult to choose exactly the meeting that will ideally fit into the overall idea of the celebration and will give the newlyweds and guests a lot of positive emotions.
Modern wedding scenario
A lot has changed in wedding fashion over the years: styles of brides' dresses and grooms' suits, requirements for the design of the formal hall and banquet table. Modern trends have not bypassed wedding programs. Coming up with and organizing an unusual wedding scenario for 2021 is perhaps the main goal of every bride. After all, you really want the celebration to truly stand out and be remembered by every invitee!
The professionalism and charisma of the wedding host are of great importance. Therefore, the choice of toastmaster should be approached with maximum efficiency. It is from him, from his jokes, that the mood of the guests and the atmosphere of the event as a whole depend.
Professional toastmaster:
- Can offer ready-made wedding scripts. This option is perfect for couples who don’t know what they want or are completely confused by the variety of programs;
- Will always make concessions to future spouses. A professional in his field always wants to develop, so new and unusual ideas of the newlyweds are always met with a bang. For example, you can offer cool scenarios or dilute the host’s option with your own competitions;
- She can always recommend competitions and entertainment programs, regardless of the theme of the celebration. The scenario is fully agreed upon and discussed with the bride and groom in order to avoid embarrassing situations.
When looking for a toastmaster, always take into account the reviews of your friends, check out the presenter’s website, responses from other brides, ask for ready-made wedding scripts and video clips from past celebrations.
