The 10 Minutes After Your Ceremony That Most Couples Forget
You’ve just walked back down the aisle, hand in hand, newly married. The music is playing, your guests are on their feet cheering, and the adrenaline is pumping.
And then?
This is the part so many couples overlook - the 10 minutes immediately after the ceremony. In my experience as a Sydney marriage celebrant, it’s one of the most joyful, heart-bursting parts of your wedding day… if you give yourself the space to enjoy it.
Why These 10 Minutes Matter
Straight after the ceremony, everyone wants to hug you, kiss you, cheer for you, and tell you how amazing you looked and how much they loved the ceremony. It’s pure, unfiltered joy - the “we did it!” moment.
These are the hugs that make your cheeks hurt from smiling. The candid photos where you’re laughing, crying, or both. The glass of bubbles that tastes better than any other drink you’ll have in your life.
And yet, a lot of couples miss it because they rush straight off for formal portraits or a room reveal.
The Biggest Mistake: Rushing Into Photos
It honestly saddens me when I see this… Couples walk back down the aisle, the energy is electric - and then, within minutes, they’re whisked away for portraits. Or worse, the photographer starts yelling for groups: “We need Auntie, Uncle, cousins for photos!” Group wrangling right after the ceremony is an instant buzzkill (see my blog post on why first looks are a game changer).
Yes, photos are important. But the truth is - the magic of those first 10 minutes can’t be recreated later. The emotion is fresh. The joy is electric. And if you skip it, you lose some of the best candid memories of your day.
Hanya enjoying the congratulatory hugs - see how beautiful these moments are!
How to Make the Most of It
✨ Plan for it. Talk to your celebrant, photographer, and planner so everyone knows you want this moment. Super simple.
✨ Soak it in. Hug, mingle, cry, laugh, sip your champagne - be present.
✨ Then sneak away later. You can still duck out at golden hour for those dreamy couple portraits (with much less pressure and way more time).
You can’t pose this. Magic.
The Payoff
By giving yourself this pocket of time, you:
Actually feel the joy of the moment, instead of rushing past it.
Get candid photos you’ll treasure forever.
Share that first wave of excitement with your guests instead of missing it.
Start your reception on a high - because you’ve already connected with your people.
✨ Final Thoughts
The ceremony isn’t over when you say “I do.” The 10 minutes after are just as important - maybe more. Don’t miss them. Plan for them. Bask in them.
Because when you look back, it won’t just be the styled portraits you treasure - it’ll be those messy, joyful, emotional, unforgettable first hugs.
You can thank me later and of course, thanks for reading!
