Receiving Line....

melntaitt

How badly do we need one? We're having approximately 120-130 guests and 12-13 tables at the reception.

I was thinking if we could avoid it, we would and just visit tables since we will be seated and done eating first.

If we can't avoid it, can we leave out the WP and family members? We're hosting so I figured we don't need them to stand with us.

LOTON01

We are not doing a receiving line. I'm not a fan of them at all.

However, we will be served food first and then fi and I will walk around and see all the tables. 

julbgordo

I've only been to two weddings that actually had receiving lines.  One was only the bride and groom, no WP and the other was the parents and the bride and groom.  I think as long as you work table visits into your reception and make sure you greet/thank all of your guests, plan it out however you want to.

Pixieliddle23

We are not having one either because I really don't like them.  I think they take up the time that could be used for pictures or eating.  We plan on just walking around to each table during the reception to chat with everybody for a little bit.  Much more fun that way because you can take the time to talk with them!

kristin183

We are not doing one either. We will be going straight to pics after the ceremony. I can meet with the guests later.

jaime10285

We're not having one.  We plan to visit each table (even though we'll probably have about 16 tables...) to say hi to everyone.

BrooklynNovia

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_receiving-line?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:3e9b202d-f9b3-4dc0-aa24-334a54a5afbcPost:0ce7d885-4308-41cd-85cc-f25cc047f26e">Receiving Line....</a>:
[QUOTE]How badly do we need one? We're having approximately 120-130 guests and 12-13 tables at the reception. I was thinking if we could avoid it, we would and just visit tables since we will be seated and done eating first. If we can't avoid it, can we leave out the WP and family members? We're hosting so I figured we don't need them to stand with us.
Posted by melntaitt[/QUOTE]
Will you be at your cocktail hour?  If you will, I think you can skip the receiving line since you'll be there to mingle with guests from the very beginning.  This is what we're doing.

melntaitt

BrooklynNovia: "Will you be at your cocktail hour?"

No we won't; we just want to go get pictures done and then meet up with everyone at the reception.

melntaitt

Someone needs to send this info to TK; I've read every single receiving line article and they all say, "suck it up; you need one."

melfacto

We are having one, but we also have 38 tables of guest at our wedding, we will have cocktails served to guests and appetizers as they are going through - we also will have a table set up to do shots with Groom / GM and cookies, truffles, butter tarts, rum balls, etc on another table, also wisome of my BM will be by the guest book table getting everyone to sign, once the guest go through the line they can go into the hall, and we will have a huge antipasto bar set up, so they will not starve waiting for us to get through this and for our formal dinner to begin...  honestly if i Could i would skip it and just get down to dinner and partying! Do whatever you'd like

Purple&7

We plan to do one. It will just be FI and I and I.

ncd5015

We're not having a receiving line, but we are having a dismissal. We'll dismiss each pew; it seems to go faster. We will also go around to the tables at the reception.

daria24

We aren't having one. Not a fan-I think it's awkward for all involved. We are just doing table visits (about 10 tables total).

KrisKenny

We are not doing one either and our guest list is at 180.
We plan on going around to eat table to thank them at the end of dinner (as we both need to eat).

Whtara10

You can absolutely avoid having one. We are having one becausey JOP said it is much faster than going to every single table. She said we can get through a receiving line in about 15-20 minutes. And we are hosting so it will only be me and FI.

sweetcanadian1979

They are not necesary

kks4471

I'm in the minority here, but we're most likely having one.  However, we only expect 80 or so guests, and our parents do not want to participate.  It will just be FI and I at the end of the aisle to say hello to everyone.  I'm sure we'll visit every dinner table too, before dancing the night away.

littleluckypenny

We are not having one either. That would cut i nto our picture time (taking separate pics before the ceremony and together pics after). We plan on table visits, by ourselves. Unless your parents are hosting and want to, I don't see the point of anyone but you and your FI thanking everyone for coming.

doeie04

I am undecided. I want to do one so we don't have to go to tables. FI is reserved and wouldn't like that much.... but we only have around 11 tables, so that isn't too bad. I think we are leaning towards the line....

kimiandgary

We are skipping it and just visiting the tables. We are expecting 16 tables of guests and will do table visits. My parents are hosting and there are a few tables of people we dont know directly..

melntaitt

I'm going to nix it; I was just making sure I wasn't breaking some big rule by not having one. We haven't been to a wedding with a receiving line in ages and it didn't matter at all. The bride and groom came to greet us at our table after they had dinner and we chatted before they moved on. I liked that way better I think.

Shelly527IN

I hadn't given it much thought before seeing this thread.  We will proabably skip it.  FI and I are hosting it so I think we can just great everyone at the tables. 

I was at a wedding where the bride and groom went pew to pew to greet each guest so elderly guests didn't have to wait in a receiving line.  That is also an option to concider since we have several older guests.

Melissa603

I hate them - we are doing table visits.

MMRoberts11

We're not having one either.  We will just be talking with guests at the reception.

midgetthemighty

We're not having one because if we did, we'd NEVER get to the reception. We have an escape plan in place already.

melntaitt

What's your escape plan Midge?

[Deleted User]

We are doing both. It will be just fiance & our parents for the receiving line. Then at reception we will walk around after we eat & say hello to everyone that we didn't talk to during cocktail hour. I want to get as many thank yous in during cocktail hour that we can so we can dance the night away

midgetthemighty

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_receiving-line?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:3e9b202d-f9b3-4dc0-aa24-334a54a5afbcPost:e569e8a2-b09c-42cd-8b0b-90e8b7ab5469">Re: Receiving Line....</a>:
[QUOTE]What's your escape plan Midge?
Posted by melntaitt[/QUOTE]

Well when you come out of the back of our Sanctuary, you can do a few different things:

1) Turn right and go down the stairs into the basement kitchen/hall area. These stairs are much closer to the door.
2) Turn left and get in the elevator to the basement kitchen/hall area.
3) Turn left and go down two smaller sets of stairs to the office floor level, turn left and back around to the back of the Sanctuary. Much higher visability(BAD), and the way most people will be exiting the church for the reception.

We're thinking option #1 because it gets us out of sight the quickest. Then we'll go through the other side of the basement and up to the back of the Sanctuary for pictures. Once all 350 people get out of there.

melntaitt

I was looking at the venue plan as well and I'm thinking we need to have the ushers have everyone directed to the cocktail hour. Our pictures are near the ceremony so, there's not much of an escape plan for us.

On second glance, we could get started on the inside pictures and have the outside pictures taken when the cocktail hour is in full swing so everyone would understand by then there is no line expected.

I never thought of having an escape plan for my wedding! LOL!

midgetthemighty

Yup, then it gives you a little bit of alone time right after you've just been the center of attention for half and hour or however long the ceremony is. Then back to being the center of attention.

Skittles612

I don't want to do the receiving line but I can see us not making it to all the tables and then people would be mad.  I think we are going to do a quick receiving line with the parents then we can mingle freely at the reception.  We will be meeting and greeting all night because there are a few that will just come to the reception I'm sure.