Post # 1
Member
20 posts
Newbee
Would it be rude not to have one? We will be having a traditional wedding, with the church ceremony at 2pm, and cocktail hour at 6:30pm at the reception hall about 20 minutes away. Around 200 guests. I would love to avoid having one altogether. First off, we only have the antique car and limo for a certain number of hours – it will take us from church to the RH earlier for pictures. So I don’t want to be stuck at the church longer. I would much rather go from table to table during the reception. If anything I feel it’s more personal to at least talk to every guest for at least a minute or two at their table instead of lining them all up, hugging and kissing them one by one then sending them off to greet the next one behind them.
Another thought was to have it at cocktail hour, but then I don’t want our guests to miss out on cocktail hour waiting in line to see us!
What are you guys doing?
Post # 3
Member
12259 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I’ve never been to a wedding without one!
Post # 4
Member
7106 posts
Busy Beekeeper
The idea of going table to table sounds good in theory but I have never seen it done successfully. Also, if your ceremony is at 2pm and your cocktail hour starts at 6:30 I doubt they will miss any of cocktail hour. Most weddings I am at have around 200 guests (including mine) and the receiving line takes 20 minutes tops.
Post # 5
Member
853 posts
Busy bee
@BrandNewBride: That’s funny because I’ve never been to one with a receiving line! We had about 180 and managed to get almost everyone during dinner but there were 2 tables that started moving before we got to them, so I guess in theory we failed, but apparently we had crashers so who knows, it might have been them. I’m glad we did it that way, some of the tables were people that all knew each other so it was fun to talk in a group for a little.
Post # 6
Member
2872 posts
Sugar bee
I’ve never known anyone to actually have a receiving line at their wedding. Just make sure you go to each table and talk to/thank everyone, at least briefly!
Post # 7
Member
2974 posts
Sugar bee
if you’ll be going around to each table, then you’re fine. that’s what we did. i’m not a fan of receiving lines. they always seem so rushedto me. it’s like, “hello, thank you coming. next!” going around to each table gives you a chance to speak with everyone for a few minutes and make proper introductions (if necessary) without having to worry about slowing everything down.
Post # 8
Member
3672 posts
Sugar bee
@Lulu8197: I had never head of that until just now! Normally the bride and groom stop by while we are eating so I ended up voting no
Post # 9
Member
20 posts
Newbee
@MrsBeck:
That’s exactly what I’m worried about! I don’t know if it’s entirely possible to get to everyone at their tables. I’m afraid of even missing just a few people and seeming rude to them.
If I do end up doing one I think I’d rather do it at cocktail hour, as I’d imagine more people showing up to the reception than to the ceremony.
Thanks for the input guys!
Post # 10
Member
1189 posts
Bumble bee
@Lulu8197: You’ve got tons of time between the ceremony and reception. I would personally do a receiving line. When it’s a larger wedding, people know to keep that line moving.
Post # 11
Member
9557 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
The problem with visiting tables is that you’ve got a large guest list and I don’t think you’ll make it to all the tables before people finish dinner (and start getting up and moving around)even if you don’t eat. And I think it would be stressful to try. This is why I like recieving lines. Especially for larger guest lists.
We did a modified receivng line. After the ceremony we came back and dismissed each row so that we could hug each guest and thank them for coming. It takes about half the time as a regur receiving line because it’s just the two of you and people tend t not talk as long if they’re bein dismissed from the row. And guests can sit while they wait. You could even include a little word game on the programs if you wanted.
Post # 12
Member
111 posts
Blushing bee
I went to one wedding where the dinner was buffet style and th couple greeted people going through it since everyone had to stand in that line anyway – might as well let it multi-task for you. But that is dependant on having a buffet line, so would work in limited settings.
Post # 13
Member
388 posts
Helper bee
@Lulu8197: We are doing the same thing as @JenGirl. I think we will be able to say hi to everyone and not slow things down. Also, my bridesmaids and groomsmen have NO interest in standing in a line and saying hi to people they don’t know. I would skip it and do what works best for you.
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