While I love table visits, I know it will take forever with my family (and 150 guests). I'm thinking a receiving line will be the way to go to keep people moving, and to allow my parents to properly thank guests (they are the hosts), considering mom is in a wheelchair and might have a hard time seeing everyone anyway. While talking to my FI and DOC about the timeline, we got stuck at when to do it. Ceremony @ church starts at 6, ends at 6:30, cocktail hour starts tentatively at 7 (but servers will be ready for when first guest arrives) and venue is 15 min away.
#1: Church only allows 30 min after ceremony to take photos in church. DOC states a good point that we will want as much time as we can within the church to take photos (which this is also the only time they allow flash) and suggests we do not do the traditional, after ceremony receiving line.
#2: I think, then, the best time to have the receiving line would be as guests are entering the reception, then we could do the formal introductions by the MC.
#3: BUUUTTTT....Fi loves the whole idea of the formal introductions at the reception, and that people will see us for the first time as H&W as we make our entrance into the ballroom. He thinks having the receiving line at the reception will make the introductions seem kind of silly.
Thoughts?
TL;DR: do I have my receiving line cut through my limited picture time or do it as guests enter reception?
Re: Be our deciding factor on receiving lines.
I know you didn't want to do table visits but I would really consider them in this case since it might be the most practical option. And honestly with 150 guests you will probably have around 11ish tables. It shouldn't take an inordinate amount of time.
But I agree. You might need to do table visits to do everything you wanted to do with enough time. I appreciate table visits, because I know as a guest I am cared for and thought of.
A wedding I was just at, the bride did not do a receiving line, OR table visits. She was hid up on a stage with her bridal party tables, and I hardly saw her. Then she danced with her bridesmaids in a circle the rest of the time. I felt like she didn't care that we were there. I had to chase her down on the dance floor and pull her out to say hi and bye - and that made me feel rude and like she didn't care about me.
Eta: typos
Actually you could have your parents do their welcome as a kind of brief "speech" before the toasts get started.
I vote for table visits.
You know, I don't know the answer to the hosts going around thanking the guests because I've never been to a wedding where it happened. I've always seen the bride and groom do it.
You'll never be subject to a cash bar, gap, potluck wedding, or b-list if you marry a Muppet Overlord.