This couple spent time alone in the woods after their ceremony. Photo by Allison Williams Photography.
There is a lovely Ashkenazi Jewish custom called yichud that I think every couple getting married could benefit from. Yichud translates roughly as “togetherness.” It is a time after the wedding ceremony–15 or 20 minutes–when the couple goes alone to a room and no one is allowed to intrude. You can find more on the tradition here, if you’re interested.
I think it’s a great idea at any wedding. At a lot of weddings, the bride(s) and/or groom(s) are so busy greeting their guests and taking part in all the events of the reception that they barely have time to look each other in the eyes and say, “Wow, we’re married now.” They also never have time to eat, so a little seclusion can do double duty, if the caterer is alerted in advance to the need for a plate of appetizers in the room.
At some weddings, a guard stands outside the couple’s room to keep everyone out. Sometimes this is a serious job if a guest thinks this would be a good time to hug the bride. More often, the guard is ceremonial–or sometimes humorous, armed with squirt guns or some similar thing.
Of course, not every venue has a room suitable for a little seclusion, but if your venue has a bride’s room or some other usable room, think about taking advantage of it. Make sure the room is available; account for the time in your wedding schedule; alert your caterer to the need for some food and drink; ask an usher or another friend or relative to guard the room; and you’re all set.
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