The first kiss shared between a newly married couple is a highly anticipated moment at every wedding. While the idea of locking lips in front of an audience may be nerve-wracking for some, there are ways to make the experience more enjoyable and memorable. From the hand placement to the duration, practicing beforehand can help ensure the perfect kiss.
For those who want to get creative, there are numerous fun ways to encourage the bride and groom to kiss, such as having guests perform a song or a dance, sharing a story, or playing games. Ultimately, the couple can choose to make their first kiss as unique and special as their relationship.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
First kiss location | In front of guests, in private or with a smaller group |
First kiss timing | At the end of the ceremony, after the vows and rings |
First kiss duration | 5 seconds or '3 Mississippi's' |
First kiss choreography | Practiced or natural |
First kiss body language | Eye contact, hand placement, approach, dismount |
First kiss type | Peck, smooch, dip, tongue |
First kiss alternatives | Hug, invite all guests to kiss, kiss children on the cheek |
First kiss games | Hula hoop, ring toss, roulette wheel, twister, scavenger hunt, trivia, sing a song, etc. |
Practice beforehand
While some couples may be tempted to choreograph their first kiss as newlyweds, a practiced kiss can come off as stiff and inauthentic. However, this doesn't mean you can't practice at all! Here are some tips to help you prepare for that special moment:
Hand Placement
Decide where your hands will go during the kiss. Some popular options include holding hands, a partial embrace with hands on each other's waists, or a passionate 'face grab'. Choose what feels comfortable and natural for both of you.
Approach and Distance
Practice approaching each other slowly and intimately. If there is a significant height difference, the taller person can bend down slightly, or the shorter person can stand on their tiptoes to meet halfway. This ensures you don't have to hinge at the waist to kiss, like Mickey and Minnie Mouse!
Head Tilt
A slight head tilt is necessary to avoid bumping noses, but don't overdo it. Normally, the bride tilts her head to the right, but do whatever feels natural and comfortable for you as a couple.
Duration
Keep the kiss short and sweet – around 5 seconds or '3 Mississippi's' is a good guideline. This gives your photographer enough time to capture the moment and allows you to be intimate without making your guests uncomfortable. Remember, you have the rest of your married life for longer kisses!
No Tongue
Save the passionate kisses for later! A wedding kiss should be G-rated, so keep your tongue in your mouth. Your guests will thank you for it.
Eyes Closed
While it may be tempting to keep your eyes open to look at your partner, closing your eyes will make the kiss more passionate and less awkward in photos. Besides, you'll have the rest of your lives to look at each other!
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Plan hand placement
Planning the hand placement for your first kiss as a married couple is an important consideration. You want your wedding photos to look perfect, so it's worth putting some thought into how you will hold your hands and bodies as you lean in for the kiss.
There are several options for hand placement that you can choose from. The first is holding hands, which can add a sense of sweetness and innocence to the moment. Another option is a partial embrace, with your hands on each other's waists, which can convey a sense of intimacy and passion. A more intense option is a 'face grab', where one or both partners place their hands on the other's face as they kiss. This can add a sense of drama and intensity to the moment.
You can also get creative with your hand placement and try something more unique. For example, you could hold hands with your arms stretched out to the sides, symbolising your unity and commitment in front of your family and friends. Or, you could place your hands over each other's hearts, representing the love you have for each other.
Remember, the most important thing is to choose a hand placement that feels comfortable and natural for both of you. Practising your kiss beforehand can help you feel more confident and ensure that your hand placement and body language look effortless and authentic in your wedding photos.
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Keep eyes closed
Keeping your eyes closed is a fun way to make the bride and groom kiss at a wedding. Here are some ideas to achieve this:
The "Keep Your Eyes Closed" Challenge
This idea involves a challenge where guests must keep their eyes closed for a set period to make the bride and groom kiss. For example, the emcee can announce that guests have to close their eyes for one minute. If anyone opens their eyes, the timer resets. This creates a fun and interactive experience for everyone involved.
Blindfolded Guests
Another idea is to have blindfolded guests perform tasks or answer trivia questions. If a blindfolded guest successfully completes the task or answers correctly, the bride and groom share a kiss. The tasks can be simple and fun, such as finding their way to a particular spot or identifying objects by touch.
Musical Kiss
A musical twist can be added to the "Keep Your Eyes Closed" challenge. Guests must keep their eyes closed while a song plays. If anyone opens their eyes or laughs, the song restarts. The bride and groom kiss when the song finishes.
Kissing Box
A kissing box can be passed around with guests putting money in it while blindfolded or keeping their eyes closed. The box can be decorated with a fun message or theme. When the box is full or a set time has passed, the bride and groom share a kiss.
"Eye Contact" Challenge
This idea involves guests pairing up and challenging each other to maintain eye contact without laughing or looking away. If a pair successfully maintains eye contact for a set time, the bride and groom share a kiss. This creates a fun and intimate atmosphere among the guests.
These ideas all incorporate the "Keep your eyes closed" theme while adding interactivity and fun to the wedding reception. They provide creative ways to involve the guests and build anticipation for the bride and groom's kiss.
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Avoid rushing
The first kiss as a married couple is a big deal. It's a moment you'll want to be intimate and romantic, but also one where you'll have an audience of family and friends. While you might be tempted to choreograph the perfect kiss, a practised kiss can come off as stiff and inauthentic. Instead, talk with your partner about what you both want the kiss to look like.
Practice
If you're comfortable kissing before marriage, you can use your "first kiss" as husband and wife as an excuse to get in plenty of practice. Hand placement, time duration, approach, and dismount should all be considered. Practising will help you feel more confident and relaxed when the moment arrives.
Don't approach each other too quickly
Make eye contact with your partner, smile, and slowly move towards each other. This will make the moment more intimate and create better photographs.
Plan your hand placement
Decide in advance what you want to do with your hands. Some popular options include holding hands, a partial embrace with hands on each other's waists, or a passionate 'face grab'. Choose whatever makes you feel comfortable, but definitely have a plan!
Close your eyes
You've been looking at each other during the ceremony and will have the rest of your lives to gaze into each other's eyes, so for the sake of your wedding photos, close your eyes when you kiss! It will be more romantic and less awkward.
Keep it short and sweet
A quick peck may seem insincere, but a full-on make-out session will make your guests uncomfortable. Most photographers recommend a kiss of around five seconds—long enough for them to capture the moment, but not so long that your guests start to feel awkward. Remember, you have the rest of your married life for longer kisses!
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No tongue
Kissing at a wedding is a time-honoured tradition that adds a special touch of romance to the big day. It is a symbol of love and commitment between the newlyweds. While the couple has likely kissed many times before, this kiss is special as it is their first as a married couple, surrounded by loved ones.
If you are looking to make the bride and groom kiss without making things awkward, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to keep the kiss brief and sweet. Avoid any full-on make-out sessions or using your tongue. The goal is to show love and affection without creating an uncomfortable situation. A simple embrace or a brief kiss will suffice to signify love, commitment and happiness.
You can make the moment more intimate by having a slow approach. Make eye contact, smile, and slowly move towards each other. This will also make for better photographs. It is also a good idea to plan the hand placement. Holding hands, a partial embrace, or a gentle hand-behind-the-head pose are all popular options.
To make the bride and groom kiss during the reception, there are some fun ideas you can try. For example, you can have two types of Hershey's Kisses candy in a jar, and if someone picks one colour, the couple kisses, and if they pick the other colour, they have to kiss someone else! Alternatively, you can ask guests to sing a love song, perform a dance, or act out a kiss to encourage the bride and groom to lock lips.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to make the bride and groom kiss besides the traditional glass clinking. Here are some ideas:
- Sing a song with "love" in it.
- Have guests ring bells instead of clinking glasses.
- Include a game, like a putting contest, roulette wheel, or Twister.
- Have guests share a memory or story about the couple.
- Do a hula hoop contest.
- Make a donation to a charity chosen by the couple.
Some unique ways to make the bride and groom kiss include:
- Creating "I love you because" cards for guests to write heartfelt messages that the couple can read aloud before kissing.
- Using Hershey's Kisses candy: if a guest brings one to the couple, they kiss and then eat the chocolate.
- Having guests pop balloons with instructions inside and following the (often silly) directions.
- Doing a ring toss or hula hoop toss.
Some fun dinner-time activities to get the bride and groom to kiss include:
- Kissing Couples Drawing: provide the DJ with a list of couples at the reception, and when a glass clink is heard, the DJ randomly selects a couple to stand up and kiss, and the newlyweds do the same.
- Scavenger Hunt Kiss: the DJ can help develop a short scavenger hunt during dinner, and every time an item is found and brought to the head table, the bride and groom kiss.
- Kissing Trivia: guests come up to the head table and answer a trivia question; if they get it right, the bride and groom kiss.
- Hula Hoop for a Kiss: set up some hula hoops and make couples hula hoop to earn a kiss from the newlyweds.
Some musical ways to get the bride and groom to kiss include:
- Song requests: guests request a song from the DJ, and when it's played, the newlyweds kiss.
- Napkin waving: guests wave napkins in the air while the DJ plays some music to get the crowd pumped up.
- Serenade: each table has a different song, and when the emcee calls out a table number, they sing the song as a group to serenade the newlyweds, who then kiss.