how long to spend at each table thanking guests and when?

hyechica81

so at what point during reception should we be going around and thanking our guest for coming? how long should we spend at each table and do we need to go to each and every person at the table ex there are two families on each table do we thank each family or do we go to each individual person on the table?

we have 116 guest at our wedding my side has the most and his side has the least so i think we will do his side first then my side 

RebeccaFlower

hyechica81 said:

so at what point during reception should we be going around and thanking our guest for coming? how long should we spend at each table and do we need to go to each and every person at the table ex there are two families on each table do we thank each family or do we go to each individual person on the table?

we have 116 guest at our wedding my side has the most and his side has the least so i think we will do his side first then my side 

It'll take less time than you think. Ours took about 45 minutes with 17 tables. We did half the room, cut the cake and then did the other half. 

Maggie0829

We started table visits after about 30 minutes into dinner (after H and I finished eating and made sure that everyone else had plates of food and had time to eat some before we interrupted them).

We just went around to each table said hi and thanks for coming and gave hugs, etc.  We really didn't linger at any table for very long because we wanted to get it done so the party could really start.  We had 13 tables and I think it took about 40 minutes or so.  Some people wanted to get some pictures so that takes up some time as well.

But don't over think it.  If you have a DOC there then they can help to keep you moving from table to table.

winelover123

We did table visits during cocktail hour (we had a first look) and then again after we finished eating. Our venue served us our food so we could eat sooner and go visit during dinner. I'd say it took maybe 20 minutes with 90 guests. I think it's normal to visit after you've eaten. 

annathy03

We did table visits during dinner (hitting the first table or two between courses) as soon as we'd eaten.  Most of our guests were out of town, and table visits took WAY longer than I thought, all of our OOT family tried to "catch up" with us and monopolize a few individual minutes rather than being able to talk to the table which added up fast.  I'd say our family tables and H's boss's table took about an hour and a half, and I rushed through friend tables and danced/photoboothed with our guests at the end for about 20 minutes.

It was good to chat with people, but that was the only thing I wish I'd had a true DOC for.  I felt rude pointing out to people that we had to move on and then doing it, but we really needed to.