Clapping During the Ceremony

I have a confession to make. Even Matt doesn't know my dirty little secret (I guess he will after I post this).

I, Sara Cotner, planted secret agents in the crowd at my wedding ceremony.

Let me back up and tell you the whole story.

At most weddings I've been to, there have been guests from the audience who get up to do a reading. When they are done, no one usually claps. Instead, the performer finds his/her way back to his/her seat in complete silence. It's so awkward! And it always makes me feel horrible because I have the overwhelming urge to clap but no one else is clapping and I don't want to be the one to violate the sanctity of the ceremony.

At our wedding, I wanted it to be different. I wanted our speakers to feel valued, loved, and appreciated by the audience. So, I sent out a super-secret e-mail message (yes, it was manipulative and sneaky) and asked four of my friends and family members to clap after each speaker. Then at the rehearsal, I also asked the wedding party to participate in the plan.

It worked beautifully. And it lightened the mood (I am a big fan of anything that lightens the mood at a ceremony, including a barfing dog who has to be excused because he ate too much grass).

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