Weddingbee boards

we didnt have the receiving line at all b/c we couldnt figure out where to put it.

you could toast around the tables instead. at one daytime wedding that i went to, the room had to be cleared by 3pm and the bride and groom had the receiving line at the end of the wedding. might not work for a nightime wedding though, since some may leave early.

We didn't do a receiving line either.  We did our ceremony & reception in the same place, so everyone was already mingling in the reception area before we got there -- seemed too weird to ask them to come past a line after that, plus I just hate receiving lines.  I always feel uncomfortable talking to the parents of the half of the couple I don't know as well.  And they look so blank and quizzical at me...

Anyway, we went table to table and made sure we greeted everyone.  If you're the ones "hosting" and it's not a huge wedding, this works out pretty well. (If your parents are hosting, it's a little more problematic since they're supposed to see everyone too...)

An idea I had, but then dropped, was to make our entrance and ask the emcee to have everyone gather in two "lines" to hold up a canopy of silk -- I saw this in a magazine somewhere -- to represent the love of family and friends that shelters us -- and then we were supposed to walk under that canopy and could take time to say hello to everyone as we walked past.  But then I decided it was too complicated and weird. 

I say skip it.  It's an outdated  tradtion that (from my experence) just makes everyone uncomfortable.  And irritable (I have to wait in a line?!?!)

Just make a concerted effort to say hello to everyone in a more warm and casual fashion - whether it's making the rounds to everyone's table (I think during cake might be a little late, because people tend to "move" at that time.  During dinner is usually best) or whatever you choose.  Make it right for you.