Why I Made My Wedding Party Ride Bikes to the Reception

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Just your average wedding-day bike ride through West Philadelphia. (Photo: Tracie Van Auken)

Spanx have few redeeming qualities outside of sucking in your tummy. But I discovered a new one on my wedding day — they make excellent bike shorts.

When I told people I was going to ride bikes the 2 miles from my wedding ceremony at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology to my reception on the city’s famed Boathouse Row, they told me I was crazy.

City bike shares have been a big part of my relationship with my new husband. We’ve explored all over the world on two wheels. What could be better, we thought, than using Philadelphia’s Indego bike-sharing program as transportation at our wedding?

Riding bikes became a factor in choosing my dress.

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“Can I ride a bike in this?” I asked the stylist at the BHLDN bridal shop. To her credit, she didn’t blink.

“I think you can. Let’s try some squats.” Nothing ripped; the dress had a little give. I’d have to hike up the train, but brides have had to do worse.

We wanted to ride bikes in our wedding for so many reasons. My husband, Nick, is deeply committed to sustainability. He runs a publication called Triple Pundit about that very topic. And not only do we love riding bikes together, but wedding transportation can get incredibly pricey. Was it worth thousands of dollars to move humans less than 2 miles in a bus or a blinged-out trolley?

Philly’s Indego was wonderful in coordinating the bikes for us. The program would drop off 30 bikes at the museum and then pick them up at the Boathouse.

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Bridal bikes are easy to adorn with the help of Etsy. (Photo: Tracie Van Auken)

Some of our friends and family refused to ride.

“I don’t ride bikes in traffic.”

“What about my hair?”

“No.”

That was fine. When the day came around, Nick and I planned to ride even if no one would join us.

And then the thunderheads rolled in. It was pouring rain when I arrived to say our “I do’s.” Our vows were moved inside (which was better because inside involved a 3,000-year-old sphinx). The rain was coming down so hard that we couldn’t even stand outside for post-ceremony pictures.

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My new husband was gung ho on making this ride work. (Photo: Tracie Van Auken)

We had to make the call. Should we just call an Uber?

Then, for a moment, the clouds seemed to clear up and the driving rain turned into a light mist.

“We’re going for it!” I yelled and grabbed my bouquet, lifting up the train of my dress to keep it out of an oily puddle. Most of our wedding party and 15 intrepid guests joined us, hopping on the bikes. Nick and I led the pack. We honked horns and banged tambourines and all manner of other noisemakers. As we rode along the South Street Bridge, cars honked and yelled their congratulations.

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This is what a determined new bride looks like. (Photo: Tracie Van Auken)

Of course, we got a little wet (and a little sweaty!), and my hair was no longer picture-perfect by the time we reached the reception, but none of that mattered. Riding bikes was the perfect way to usher in our married lives.

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