The Farewell Circle is a thoughtful way to say thank you to every guest that has attended your wedding.
At the end of the reception, wedding farewell songs can be 2 or 3 of the Bride and Grooms favourite whilst they move around a circle formed by the guests to say goodbye.
The music played at this point is usually a nice selection of slower ballads and easy listening music rather than anything too rowdy. The mood should be gentle and loving.
If over 100 people have attended your reception, your entertainment should have at least 4-5 songs available so there is enough time to go around the circle.
It can be difficult to create a circle greater than 150 people so a bridal archway can be a more effective and quicker exit for the Bride & Groom.
Once you’ve said your farewells, you might take one or two quick turns around the dance floor to your wedding song or a song that’s been chosen as your very last exit music, then exit arm in arm through the circle, waving to your guests, who will be applauding and wishing you well as you leave.
Popular Slow Wedding Farewell Songs
2010’s
Angels – XX
2012 | Youtube
2000’s
Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
2002 | Youtube
L-O-V-E – Michael Buble
2007 | Youtube
This Old Love – Lior
2005 | Youtube
Time of Your Life – Green Day
1997 | Youtube
1990’s
Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
1998 | Youtube
Everything I Do, I Do it For You – Bryan Adams
1991 | Youtube
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakiwiwo’ole
1993 | Youtube
1960’s
God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
1966 | Youtube
More about the Farewell Circle
The Farewell Circle is a charming way to end the reception and wrap up the evening’s festivities. It’s a custom that seems to have originated in Australia and is now spreading to other parts of the world.
Whether it is common in your area largely depends on what part of Europe and the United States you reside in. The practicality and beauty of the custom seems to guarantee, however, that it will become more prevalent over the years.
A Farewell Circle is formed at the end of the reception, when all of the wedding guests gather in a circle on the dance floor around the bride and groom.
As the guests encircle the wedding couple, the bride and groom each begin working around the circle in opposite directions, saying good-bye to each of their guests and exchanging embraces with friends and relatives.
At one point, the bride and groom will cross each other’s paths and work around the other side, then meet up again where they began so that both of them will have the chance to say good-bye to each guest in the circle.
Who Stands in the Farewell Circle?
Some couples include their wedding party or their parents in the circle with them.
It’s nice to include your parents in the inside of the circle with you if they helped pay for and host the wedding so that they, too, can say good-bye to relatives and friends they haven’t seen in a while, but it is a personal decision as to who will be in the circle with you on your big day.
If you have a large wedding party, it’s not really practical and can make the process of saying farewell to everyone rather lengthy.
The Guard of Honor
A more informal alternative to the Farewell Circle is the Guard of Honor or Bridal Archway.
For this, the guests form two lines and form a long arch overhead with their hands linked for the bride and groom to walk under as they leave.
This looks charming and is much quicker if you have a small wedding and both the bride and groom have already had an opportunity to speak personally with each of their guests. You could also adapt this and simply have two lines of guests and move slowly down it saying your good-byes if the size of your reception hall doesn’t allow for the forming of a Farewell Circle.
Whichever form of farewell you choose, your guests will appreciate the opportunity to send you and your new husband or wife into the future with a proper good-bye and best wishes for your happiness!