{"id":5577,"date":"2022-04-29T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/espacestudio.ca\/can-we-ask-guests-to-stand-during-our-ceremony\/"},"modified":"2022-04-29T03:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T07:00:00","slug":"can-we-ask-guests-to-stand-during-our-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/espacestudio.ca\/en\/can-we-ask-guests-to-stand-during-our-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"Can We Ask Guests to Stand During Our Ceremony?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nTraditional etiquette<\/a> versus the unconventional: it\u2019s a battle as old as time. And, when it comes to having guests stand at your wedding ceremony, there is a divide between those who believe it\u2019s poor hospitality and those who think it\u2019s a new and cool idea.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\nSince the start of the pandemic, weddings have gone through a myriad of changes\u2014from Zoom weddings to tiny guest lists to no-dancing rules. Couples, planners, and vendors all had to pivot and adjust. One of the ways, Fallon Carter of Fallon Carter Events<\/a>, did so was by planning last-minute standing weddings at public places like parks. \u201cWe started doing it out of necessity as opposed to a trend,\u201d she says. Now, she loves them.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\nShe describes an outdoor wedding<\/a> in which the bride and groom are in a valley and guests are standing on the hills above looking down. No chairs or man-made materials are there to disrupt the natural landscape. \u201cIt creates its own level of intimacy. When people are standing, they\u2019re more alert. It feels more community style. It\u2019s a vibe that happens,\u201d she says. \u201cThe ceremony is a time for your guests to witness your love story come to its brand new beginning. There’s power in creating a circle and [the couple] is standing in the middle\u2014building a tribe and a community. When people stand and rise to the occasion\u2014pun intended\u2014it leads to a powerful ceremony. [it\u2019s like saying] \u2018Stand up and be in this with us.\u2019\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nIt\u2019s a beautiful picture. But, etiquette expert Elaine Swann<\/a> says, \u201cNo. That is not acceptable.\u201d For her, guest comfort is the most important thing when planning a wedding, and asking guests to stand is just poor etiquette, she says. \u201cWe have to think that certainly the wedding is for the bride and groom, but when you bring other people into an environment it’s important for you to take them into consideration. You have now become a host, so your job is to create a welcoming and comfortable environment,\u201d she explains.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe believes the only time it is appropriate to ask guests to stand is during certain parts of the ceremony if religion or culture dictates it (i.e. stand for a prayer or to watch the bride walk down the aisle). She also notes that the wedding party<\/a> often stands, so couples should be mindful of who they include in their party if they are asking them to stand for a prolonged period of time and to make sure everyone is comfortable with that.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\nAnnie Lee, founder of Plannie<\/a> and principal planner at Daughter of Design<\/a>, takes a sort of middle-of-the-road stance on standing weddings. She offers that while it\u2019s not the first choice for a ceremony, \u201csometimes it is the only way but it can be done to create a very intimate and cozy experience\u201d depending on the size and layout of the venue.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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