On your wedding day, the world seems to stop.
Nothing else matters but you, your spouse, and the eternal covenants you are about to make.
It is a day filled with love and joy. It can be easy to forget you are likely not the only couples getting married.
If you have ever been on temple grounds in the summer, especially in Utah, you will know brides come through the doors one right after another. The sheer amount of people can add unwanted stress to your special day.
Here are a couple of ways you can respect all of the other couples at the temple while still focusing on your own wedding.
Get a Photography Shot List & Review It
One of the hardest parts of having multiple couples on the temple grounds is trying to get all of the photographs you would like. Chances are you will have to wait your turn. While everyone is generally happy to wait, you can speed up the process by creating a shot list ahead of time.
Work with your photographer to discuss what shots mean the most to you and where you’d like to take them. If you’d like, you can even give different shots an order and go through them on a list.
Check out our free photography shot lists here.
Focus on Group Shots First
Get your group shots done first. Then, members of your party who need to head over the reception can. This will help keep the crowds and noise on the temple grounds to a minimum. Plus, it will much easier to get all of your couple shots done once your party has dispersed and you can focus on your new spouse.
You should take no more than 20 minutes in a single spot if there are other couples waiting.
Keep Your Party Entertained
Keep your wedding party entertained on the temple grounds as they wait for you to exit the temple or as they wait for photos to be completed.
Have someone taking photos of the crowd or recording good wishes for the couple. Consider coming up with a questionnaire so your videographer or photographer can capture the thoughts you’d most like to remember.
Avoid Cheering, Rice Throwing, & Other Messy Traditions
It is appropriate to clap for a couple as they exit the temple. However, try to avoid cheering in other places on the temple grounds. The temple is a sacred place and many are striving to have a reverent experience.
Rice throwing, streamers, and confetti are not allowed on temple grounds.
Featured Image by Brenna Hoffman Photo
I’ve been disheartened at the near carnival like spectacle of cheering and shouting as couples exit the temple. It seems such a contrast to the peaceful, serene, and spiritual atmosphere inside the temple. Very disappointing when you can hear the cheering from inside the temple as well. Our son and dil were married in the Salt Lake temple 3 years ago. It felt like Disneyland as we waited for pictures. It was very disappointing to me. I really hope the current trend stops. It feels irreverent and disrespectful.