When a Family Tradition Takes Over the Reception

There are songs you choose because you love them.

Then there are songs your family already knows exactly what to do with.

For one bride, that song was The Rattlin' Bog.

It had become a big part of her family's celebrations, and she wanted to bring the tradition into her wedding reception. Of course, getting married also meant her family had just gotten a little bigger.

And the new family was about to learn how this worked.

First, the Rules

The Rattlin' Bog is a drinking game, but alcohol wasn't required. Before things got started, we made sure everyone knew they could participate with whatever they were drinking. Water, soda, or something stronger all worked.

Together, we explained the rules to the room. Then the bride and groom went first, showing everyone how it was done.

When their turn was over, they pointed to another table.

That table was up.

Everyone at the chosen table stood, drinks in hand, and took their turn. During the long part of the song, they kept drinking. When their turn was finished, they quickly pointed out another table.

And off went the bride.

From One Table to Another

There was no order to which table came next.

One group might point across the room. The next could send her somewhere completely different.

Each time, the bride ran to the table that had been chosen, helping keep everyone on track as the song continued.

Plenty of her family already knew the game. They knew when to stand, when to drink, and when it was time to send the challenge somewhere else.

For everyone else, it didn't take long to catch on.

Soon the fun wasn't only watching the table taking its turn. It was watching to see who they were going to choose next.

Then came the pointing.

And the bride was off again.

Keep It Going

The longer it went, the funnier it became.

The bride kept moving from table to table while the guests kept the game going. Some drank alcohol. Others had water or soda. What was in the glass really wasn't the important part.

Everyone was participating in something her family had enjoyed together before the wedding.

By the end of the song, the bride had been all over the reception.

A Family Tradition Gets a Little Bigger

The Rattlin' Bog wasn't added because somebody decided the reception needed a game.

It was already part of her family's celebrations.

But this time was different.

She had just gotten married. Her family was bigger now.

And as the song jumped randomly from table to table, people who already knew the tradition were joined by people experiencing it with them.

Sometimes some of the best moments at a wedding don't come from starting a new tradition.

Sometimes they come from making room for more people in an old one.