How to forgo a receiving line?

ElyseE25

First off can I just say did anyone think you wedding would be this close! I can't believe it's almost a month away... seriously I remember looking at my knot checklist and thinking I would never get to 6 weeks! Ekk!!!! I hope this excitement lasts! 

Now to the real deal. Our ceremony and reception are basically in the same place... the reception is about 50ft away from the ceremony. We absolutely do not want to have a receiving line, but how do you exit the ceremony without like getting into a limo. We are still going to have to do big family pictures which will be at the ceremony site but how do we get all the other guests to skedaddle so we can move on with pictures and ultimately the reception? Please help all thoughts and ideas are encouraged!  

wussica

We asked our officiant to give instructions after the ceremony. He will thank everyone and ask guests to go inside for cocktail hour while pictures are taken with family members in the garden. I'm not sure exactly where we'll be when he makes this announcement, though. It seems weird to just be standing there. I guess I'll have to watch this thread for some ideas.

unicorntrees

Is there somewhere you two can walk to so that you're out of sight? I don't know what your ceremony/reception setting is like, but for us, ours is in a hotel. We aren't doing the receiving line, so I was thinking that FI and I could walk away either into our bridal suite or to the hospitality room that the hotel will have set up for the WP. That way there is a sort of conclusion to the ceremony and a shift to the cocktail hour for the guests. FI and I will still be doing pictures during this time, but this will give us a minute to take a breather after being stared at by so many people, haha! 

So you could do something like that. 

wussica

Good idea, dsquared! Maybe we'll go to a room sign the license while the guests go in for cocktail hour?

m tulli

I went to a wedding over the weekend.  It was an outside ceremony.  Pics were on location.  They didn't "go away" so everyone was going up to them.  I'm thinking they had to wait till the crowd moved on.  

I think if you go out of sight then people will clear out faster.  

[Deleted User]

We also asked our officiant to announce that we would greet everyone at the reception.  Once we head out the front door we'll be going back in the side door for photos.

dawnp917

We plan on walking away from the reception and grabbing a drink at the bar    We are having our ceremony and reception at the same location.    So no receiving line for us either we are just heading right into the cocktail hour.

odustudent22

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_august-2012-weddings_how-to-forgo-a-receiving-line?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:1fb748ee-7a4e-40eb-b4b4-e553486f4cacDiscussion:9cd7bc1b-083a-4fc2-9974-23a8aa64b599Post:b406df23-9b1d-49b1-9592-894929055c1c">Re:How to forgo a receiving line?</a>:
[QUOTE]Good idea, dsquared! Maybe we'll go to a room sign the license while the guests go in for cocktail hour?
Posted by wussica[/QUOTE]


that's what we're doing...we are exiting the church from the back (it's the way it's set up) then run around the building and go wait in the pastors office to sign the license while people are lining up outside with bubbles.

msowena

I am also having ceremony and reception at the same venue about 50ft from one another. My venue told us a designated spot to walk to after the ceremony... it is in the opposite direction of the reception and we will be walking with our photographer so I doubt anybody would follow other than our bridal party. Maybe you can talk to your venue about picking a spot and see if they have good suggestions...you can;t be the only bride that has had this question at the venue

ElyseE25

Thanks all! It seems so simple now to go disapear for a few minutes and have the pastor make that announcement. I think we'll end up going back to one of the cabins we rented and wait and sign the marriage license, and sense we will be having two photographers maybe one can come with us to take pictures of the signing and the other can stay back and start on family pictures, like if my parents want a nice picture of themselves or if family want pictures too. I can't thank you all enough!