WEDDING RECEPTION
In Mangalore, Catholic Wedding receptions follow a fixed sequence of events. However, it is advised that the wedding reception be short and sweet within the time limit, and the luncheon or dinner should be served on time. So, when one makes any changes to the events, it should not prolong or cause a delay in serving the dinner.
The Parents of the bride and the groom stand at the entrance and personally welcome the guests to the reception hall.
The Master of Ceremonies commences the Reception Program on arrival of sufficient number of guests in the Hall. The newly wedded couple will be ready at the entrance of the Hall. The M. C. will then greet and welcome the gathering. On introduction, the bridal party will enter the Hall escorted by the bride, the bridegroom, the bridesmaid, the bestman, flower girls and the page boy. The bridal party is welcomed by the guests with showers of confetti and the D.J./ Live music band will play the wedding songs.
The bridal party will form a semi-circle and stand around the 2 or 3 tier Wedding Cake, which is nicely decorated for the occasion. Then the M.C. will introduce the guests to the august gathering. After cutting wedding cake, the bride and the groom will share a piece of the wedding cake by offering it to each other and their parents. After cutting the cake, the guests are now served with the piece of wedding cake and the toast wine.
Traditionally, a toast is raised on the occasion to introduce the two families. A member of the family, or a close friend or relative of the couple can also raise the toast to the couple. Even ladies and younger members of the family can also raise the toast. The groom, the best man and other gentlemen in the crowd stand during the toast. Sometimes the family members or close friends will sing a song or recite a poem or share a special moment with the guests during this time.
This is an opportunity to the couple to express their feelings, thoughts, gratitude to the near and dear one’s. In their speech they can thank the toast master, their family members, friends and the dear one’s. Preparation of the speech is given elsewhere in this guide.
The M.C. invites the parents, relatives and the guests to join the couple for a wedding march. The wedding march symbolizes the support and solidarity to the newly married couple by their family members, relatives and the close friends. After the wedding march, the guests join and walk together for a wedding dance in the middle of the Hall.
The guests on the dance floor will form a circle with the couple in the centre. The Newly wedded couple will dance with their first steps together as man and wife to a romantic song sung by the band. This is a most memorable dance in the life of the couple. The guests on the dance floor join the couple and dance for the next song.
The first dance is followed by two or three songs with romantic love songs. The band will sing the latest songs in order to encourage the young dancers to join the couple on the dance floor.
The M.C. will then announce the dressing of traditional sado to the bride. The bride is escorted by the groom’s mother or sister and ladies of both the families to dress the SADO to the bride. If the Drinks are served in the reception, the Bar will be declared open or drinks will be served to the guests.
The Band/D.J. will sing lively songs and attract the crowd to come to the dancing floor with their partners. The band will sing song till the bride is ready to return after wearing the traditional SADO. Then the couple will once again enter the hall escorted by bride’s maid and the best man to the tune of the music.
The couple then stands at the centre of the stage along with the Best man and Bride’s maid. The groom ties the Traditional Indian Mangala Sutra, the Kariamani and accepts the bride as his wife. (Soon after blessing the Kariamani, the groom can tie the Mangala Sutra in the Church. It is more meaningful. But most of them prefer it in the Hall after changing the nuptial dress and wearing of traditional SADO). Then there is the exchange of flower garlands.
Dinner is usually a buffet and is commenced by a short prayer ‘GRACE BEFORE MEALS’ said by a priest, nun or a family member. During this time M.C. invites the guests either to wish the couple or proceed to dinner. Sometimes this time is utilized for carrying out customs like `Maain Mudhi shivnchi’, exchange of flowers by the parents of the bride and the groom etc.,
After Dinner everyone is invited to join the bridal couple at the dance floor. The band plays variety of polka songs with popular lyrics. The baila dance is followed by the popular Birdie song.
After the baila dance the guests will lift the bridal couple on a chair with the musical tune. `He is a jolly good fellow’. The reception celebration ends with the bridal couple kissing each other. The compere, on behalf of bridal couple, thanks all present. This is the time for the photographer and the videographer to take family pictures.
The above steps are normally followed by M.C.s when there are no timing restrictions on winding up a wedding celebration. But where there are time restrictions and strict deadlines like ‘to stop music and vacate the premises, the M.C. has to plan every minute. When the programme in the hall delays by 15 to 30 minutes, the M.C. has to alter or skip a few sequences with the consultation of the hosts.
The above sequence is a guideline. You can alter or omit any sequence depending upon you requirement.
IMPORTANT TIPS
Beware of professional pick-pockets and thieves at the reception venue. It is advisable to hand over the gifts and envelopes to an appointed person for safe keeping.
BRIDAL SPEECH
Earlier, only the bridegroom used to express his thoughts and thank each and every one who had helped him make the wedding function a grand success, and the bride used to only say “Thank You”. Now, the times have changed. Today, both the bride and the groom join together and express their thoughts publicly in front of family members and friends. Remember that you will be speaking in front of the people you know and love, and they will be eager to hear what you have to say. So grab this opportunity and make the most of it.
WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY:
You can begin your speech by expressing how you feel about your Big Day and what it personally means to you. If yours is a love marriage, you can explain how you met him or her, your first date, and how your love blossomed. You can also express your feelings towards your parents, brothers, sisters, and other members of the family. Finally, to conclude, you can thank the people who have helped you make your wedding function a grand success. Please also remember with respect the elderly members of your family, like grandparents, grand-aunts, grand-uncles, and others. Co-ordinate the speech with your fiancée and avoid repetitions.
PREPARE YOUR SPEECH:
Don’t prepare the speech at the last moment. Start jotting down early whatever you want to say on that day, so that you will have more time to practise it. Develop your thoughts and keep adding ideas. When you have collected and jotted down sufficient thoughts and ideas, write down your speech as mentioned above. But make it short and sweet. The bride makes her speech after the groom’s speech. You can also coordinate your speech in such a way that you can talk in turns, one after another. Don’t be serious. Smile and speak. Use your notes only when you need them. Be confident, relax, and enjoy your speech. It’s your day, and you have the time to express your thoughts on this day.
BRIDAL PARTY
The persons escorting the bride and the bridegroom are:
BEST MAN:
He is a bachelor, by right the younger brother of the bridegroom or a very close friend of him. He carries the Bride’s Ring and the bouquet to the Church. He takes care of the groom and assists him throughout the reception.
BRIDE’S MAID:
She is by right the younger sister of the bride or a close friend of hers and her duties are similar to that of the best man. She assists the bride and carry’s the groom’s wedding ring. She assists the bride during the reception and looks after the gifts received from the guests.
FLOWER GIRLS:
The flower girls are between the age group of 3 to 7 years. They carry the flowers and walk ahead of the bride and the groom down the aisle and accompany them.
PAGE BOY / RING BEARER:
These boys are in the age group of 3 to 7 years. They walk along with the flower girls and carry the wedding rings on a velvet cushion. Flower girls and Page boys are small kids. They look prettier if they are young and cute. It is better to train them well in advance, with a rehearsal on how to behave in the church and the hall. It is better to leave them on their own instead of enforcing strict discipline and regulating them. Besides this, you can also have escorts of young boys and girls to look after the guests at the reception.