Wedding Vows & Ceremony Discussions

Who stands in receiving line?

Who is supposed to stand in the receiving line? Is it just bride, groom, and their parents? My sister is my MOH (and my/FH's only sibling--I have no other siblings and FI is an only child.) Should she stand with us as well, or is that not necessary?

Re: Who stands in receiving line?

  • saric83saric83 member
    Ninth Anniversary 500 Comments 100 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited January 2012
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_stands-receiving-line?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:10Discussion:e86c2f79-7adc-447b-9d97-7156b74143f7Post:67dd616f-c18c-4b11-b5b7-bcdc3484761c">Re: Who stands in receiving line?</a>:
    [QUOTE] Just have yourself and husband.  The people above only serve to bog it down, and nobody really wants to make small talk with a bridesmaid they don't know while they wait to get to you. Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

    I couldn't agree more!  I always find large receiving lines to be the most uncomfortable thing at weddings.  Include parents IF both sets of parents are comfortable with it (some people get really nervous), but I would leave at that.
  • I'm almost never see receiving lines, but when I do, it's been the couple and their parents. I don't think I've ever seen a receiving line with attendants.

    But since your sibling is the only sibling of the two of you, she (or you or your parents) might feel a bit odd if she's the only one in the entire two immediate families who isn't involved. Honestly, I'd just ask her if she wants to be part of it or not. I don't think there's really a right or wrong answer.
  • Please don't make your WP (except for maybe siblings) stand in the receiving line. I have had to do this more than once as a BM and it was awful. Most of the time, your WP members don't know that many of your guests, so it is awkward, long, and boring. I would much rather go through the receiving line as a guest even if I'm in the WP.

    You could do just you and your H or you both with your parents.
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  • We had us and our parents, 6 people total.  That was enough IMO.

    Our WP had no interest (well, we didn't actually ask them but I assume they didn't) in shaking hands with all of our guests, mostly people they didn't know and didn't need to know.  The WP mingled and enjoyed cocktail hour instead while we did the receiving line.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_stands-receiving-line?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:e86c2f79-7adc-447b-9d97-7156b74143f7Post:67dd616f-c18c-4b11-b5b7-bcdc3484761c">Re: Who stands in receiving line?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Only the couple is required.  Adding parents, the wedding party, grandparents, etc., is optional. <strong>My recommendation:  Just have yourself and husband.  The people above only serve to bog it down, and nobody really wants to make small talk with a bridesmaid they don't know while they wait to get to you.</strong> Stand at the back of the ceremony venue, or the front of the reception, and shake hands with the guests as they enter.  That fulfills the social obligation, and everyone is free to party.
    Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>This.  Our "receiving line" is going to be just my FI and I.

    </div>
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  • Thanks ladies--I won't ask the bridal party to stand in the receiving line--I highly doubt they would want to anyways, haha. Sounds like the best bet is just have me and my FH.
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