Post # 1
Member
9544 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Hello bees!!! I need your advice. We are getting married in my dad’s backyard. The ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception will have their own spaces but they are all adjacent to each other. I asolutely love the idea of a modified recieving line where, after the recessional, the bride and groom dismiss each row and greet each person as they leave their row where they sat for the ceremony and head towards the cocktail hour. I like the idea of recieving lines in general because then there isn’t quite so much pressure to make sure you see everyone at the reception. And I like the modified because everyone can remain sitting (rather than standing uncomfortably) while they wait to greet the bride and groom.
My worry is that, because you can see the cocktail hour space from the cermony space, people will get super antsy waiting to get dismissed via the modified reieving line. We will have water, lemonade and tea avalable prior to the ceremony but cocktail hour will have apps and alcohol. So I could definately see being jealous of the people in the cocktail hour if I was in the back waiting to get dismissed.
Anyone else been in this situation? What did you do? Or what would you recommend? We considered doing the cocktail hour first, but my fiance doesn’t like that idea and it would be hard to get all the chairs moved in time. We’ve also considered hanging a fabric strip/ribbon wall between the two spaces – do you think that would help? I need your help bees!!!!
Post # 3
Member
11268 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@JenGirl: how many guest do you plan on having? that will determine how long this line will take and if it’s longer than 20-30 min, yes, some people may get a bit anxious.
Post # 4
Member
9544 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
@mypinkshoes: We’ve inviting around 220 but I’m sure not everyone will come so probably 150-200.
Post # 5
Member
11268 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@JenGirl: that receiving line may take a while. i think you may need to consider your guests and what they will be doing while they wait.
maybe you can have the receiving line during cocktail hour so that waiting guests will be occupied. perhaps between the cocktail hour and the dinner? as guests head towards the dining area, you can receive them.
Post # 6
Member
9544 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
@mypinkshoes: How would you do a receiving line during the cocktail hour? I’ve only ever seen them done before or after an event (after the ceremony or before the reception)
Post # 7
Member
11268 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@JenGirl: it wouldn’t be a “line” but more like a greet everyone during the cocktail hour. very informal. or
your traditional receiving line may take around an hour plus so you can always start it 1 hour before cocktail hour closes and dinner starts. the guests who go through first wouldn’t have to “sit down” at their dinner tables and wait another hour with nothing to do. they can continue enjoying the cocktail hour.
Post # 8
Member
9544 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
@mypinkshoes: Hm. I like the idea of talking to people during cocktail hour but I would worry that I would miss people. But I am definately hoping to get some more quality time with as many people as possible.
I would be open to doing a receiving line between the cocktail hour and dinner but I’m not sure how to set it up. I mean do we have the DJ make an announcement and then go stand by the tent?
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