Is anyone else having a Dessert-Only reception?

I can answer that! Even if it is for MrsWade.

The two hour trip is to a temple, which is a special place where the ceremonies for LDS weddings take place. Those who are worthy members of the church can enter the temple, so not everyone invited to the wedding will take this two hour trip.

Also, it is important to add that generally, you only have about 20-50 people in the temple with you when you get married (think parents, siblings, really close friends) and everyone else comes and joins in at the reception. So, not everyone would make the trip and those who did would know they were doing it for a worthy cause. Plus, take my home for example. The closest temple is 1.5 hours away, so everyone is just used to the fact that that is how long you will drive for a ceremony!

ETA: She replied. Ignore me.

"My kids don't even get to come in with me....". I know...it's a part of your faith, but I still have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.

Ahhhhh, thanks for the explanations Swin and FutureMrs. I feel like I'm learning so much about LDS weddings

This seems so sad....

I think this thread is cool. I know very little about LDS traditions and I have enjoyed reading about them. Since things happen the way they do, I think a 7pm dessert reception is great. It sounds like your invitation will clearly deliver that message and no one should be upset that they didn't get a meal. I think you could do a display of bite sized desserts on each table, but have cakes, pies, and other larger items on the larger display table in the back.

This sounds like the most confusing wedding day ever. Please don't do this. REAL food is your friend...

Yeah my advice for the desserts at seven is adding some apps if possible? Then it's a little more hearty but still light.

I should have read the comments before I replied. Ignore my previous comment. I don't know much about this so I have no advice. But good luck!

Centerpiece- I know, I get what you're saying. I actually considered a civil ceremony, and because my FH is a convert we could still get sealed (what the LDS refer to as a temple marriage) in December. However, I have an almost 12 yr old, who is about to begin the Young Women's program in church. To her, seeing her mom get married in the Temple is VERY important. She is all about getting to sit outside (about a 20min wait), and then getting to be our personal cheer section when we come out. My older kids, who grew up in the faith, are "whatever" about it. My 13 yr old son, doesn't really care or have an opinion. My 9 yr old was a little sad, but she's the flower girl and will get to have duties at the ring ceremony, which is kind of like a normal wedding ceremony. We exchange rings, read something we've written for one another, have a flower girl, and ring bearer, etc.... She was ok then. This is a remarriage. I've been waiting to go to the temple since I was 18. Their dad never got himself straight so we could go, so for me this is a pretty big deal. A lifelong dream realized. Also, I want my kids to see that we valued the blessings that come from obedience and sacrifice to go the temple to make it a priority, because after having failed in so many ways I would like them to have a life better than I have had.

Lunch before or after the wedding? You haven't decided that??? Girl. Get a timeline and serve some food.

MrsWade... that's so awesome to finally go in. You will LOVE it.

Also, I must add that the idea of a ceremony "aisles, dad walking with you, flowers all around, etc" are not present in the temple. It is a very simple short ceremony. Often times, if people cannot enter the temple for the ceremony, the bride and groom will have a ring ceremony afterwards that incorporates all the traditions!

It IS very special to us. But honestly, it's not a big deal to not witness it.

Yes, I know. It's pretty simple and straightforward. I have prepared my groom for it, because it was not what he's been building up for for the last 5 years... LOL BUT, after he gets to have me for eternity, so I think we're both okay with skipping all the hoopla till the ring ceremony

It's nice to know I'm not alone....

Celia, I normally agree with everything you say and I really respect you, except I can't really get behind "Your religion is failing you."

You are basing all evidence of "failing" just because of one sentence she made. That's a little extreme. I always feel like you are pretty level headed, but I don't know about right now.

Guys, this thread is not about judging her religion. You may not understand or agree with the way the LDS church does their wedding ceremony, but you don't have to. It's not your ceremony or your belief system, so it doesn't matter whether you like it or not.

@Celia you may be a pastor, but you are not an LDS member, and you have no right to judge what they do or say their religion is failing them.

My religion does wedding ceremonies in a similar way. You may not understand it, but you don't have to. My church is welcoming, it is forgiving and it is joyous. It is not failing me in any way.

FutureMrsWade. it might be helpful to update your post so people who haven't bothered to read through the thread understand where you're coming from with your question

What kind of human constructed faith would separate a mother from her children on a day as important as this? I'm sorry if I offended you or the OP, but when you really think about that, can you give me any logical reason for that?

I'm not so much judging but LDS certainly is. Why shouldn't those children be there? Why can't specifically "approved" members see her get married?

Someone let me in on the secret.

Okay, maybe failing was the wrong word, but what kind of religion separates families on a day like this? Are the kids not good enough? Not pure enough?

Again, enlighten me. Because it sounds about as far from welcoming as it can get.

Is everyone at the reception LDS?

So, this isn't something I really like getting into on forums or anything, but I'll try to explain it clearly.

You can not attend a temple wedding unless you have a temple recommend. Temple recommends are issued to "worthy" members by their bishop under several conditions: a) they are about to embark on a mission, b) they are about to be married, or c) at the bishop's discretion once they have reached adulthood, generally in their 20s.

So yes, that does exclude unendowed members from temple weddings, including young siblings, but also parents who are nonmembers or who do not have recommends.

However, we believe that families are central to God's plan. And in the temple, and why Mormons get married in temples, people can be sealed together for eternity. So, in a bit after her wedding, MrsWade can go back with her children and they can go through a similar ceremony where they can all be sealed together forever.