Editing White wedding (section)

==The reception==
{{Main|Wedding reception}}
[[File:Wedding cake1.jpg|thumb|left|Couple cutting a [[wedding cake]]]]

After this, the celebrations shift to a reception at which the newly married couple, as the guests of honor, and the hosts and perhaps members of the wedding party greet the guests in a [[receiving line]]. Although now commonly called a reception no matter the style of party, wedding celebrations range from simple receptions to dinner parties to grand [[ball (dance)|wedding balls]].

Food is served, particularly including a [[wedding cake]]. Wedding cakes are often multi-tiered [[layer cake]]s that are elaborately decorated with white icing. Cutting the wedding cake is often turned into a ritual, complete with sharing a symbolic bite of the cake in a rite that harks back to the pagan [[confarreatio]] weddings in ancient Rome.<ref name=":1">{{EB1911|noprescript=1|wstitle=Bride |volume=4 |page=528}}</ref>

During the reception, a number of short speeches or [[toast (honor)|toast]]s may be given in honor of the couple.

If there is dancing, the bride and groom, as the guests of honor, are expected to be the first people to begin dancing. This is usually termed the ''bridal [[waltz]]'', even if the couple has arranged for a different style of music. Some families then contrive a series of arranged dances between the newlyweds and their parents, or other members of the wedding party, with guests expected to watch the performances.

At some point, the married couple may become the object of a [[charivari]], a good-natured hazing of the newly married couple. The nature depends upon the circumstances. The guests might tie tin cans or a sign saying "Just Married" to the bumper of the couple's car, if they depart in their own car rather than a hired one.

As the guests of honor, the newly married couple is the first to leave the party. From ancient Rome through the Middle Ages in Europe, wheat kernels were thrown at the bride in a wish for affluence; now it is typical to throw rice, as a symbol of fertility, at the couple as they depart.<ref name=":1" />