Illinois-Chicago

receiving line question

I am working out timelines in my head and there is something that keeps bothering me -- receiving line time!

Our wedding starts at 4pm, should last 20 min or so, and then cocktail hour starts right next door at 4:30 thru 5:30, dinner starts at 5:45.  After the wedding i'm sure we are going to take a ton of photos and then everyone will already be next door enjoying drinks and appetizers.  When do I find time to squeeze in a receiving line?  And if this isn't an option, what is another solution?

Re: receiving line question

  • edited December 2011
    I don't think you will have time for one! Another thing you could do is go individually to each table of guests and greet them and thank them for coming.
  • edited December 2011
    i've seen people be their own ushers, like the bride and groom dismiss every row and do their "receiving line" duties then.
  • KATERS882KATERS882 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are not doing a receiving line.  There just isn't enough time.  We plan on going table to table to thank everyone for coming.  I was at another wedding where the bride, groom, bride's parents, and the siblings of the bride all went table to table together thanking everyone for coming and talking to everyone of their guests.  It was really nice.  So we are planning on doing the same thing with my mom and dad and my sister and her boyfriend (both of whom are in the wedding party) and if my fiance's parents would like to join too that's fine.  We just want to make sure we are going to talk to all our guests.
  • edited December 2011
    Ditto PP... maybe you can usher out the guests, or stop by their tables.  We are going to try and do the tables because with 300+ guests, a receiving line would just take FOREVER. 
    Jan 2011 January SC- Wedding Rings
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  • edited December 2011
    We are just going to mingle during cocktail hour and finish up after dinner.  Don't stress about it!

    I have always thought recieving lines were sort of awkward.
    image **Married 7/9/11**
  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_receiving-line-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:0d057f36-38c6-457a-899b-5f08244cd530Post:5a2e4ce8-a706-4453-8a65-77385a88f51e">Re: receiving line question</a>:
    [QUOTE]We are just going to mingle during cocktail hour and finish up after dinner.  Don't stress about it! <strong>I have always thought recieving lines were sort of awkward.</strong>
    Posted by PenelopeSnuz[/QUOTE]

    <div>Ditto.  Especially when the entire bridal party is in it.  I think just the bride and groom and the parents.  Otherwise it gets realllllly awkward and long.</div>
    Jan 2011 January SC- Wedding Rings
    image
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic Visit The Knot! Visit The Knot! Wedding Countdown Ticker
    396 were invited image
    250 will be there!image
    146 are missing outimage
    0 are still thinkingimage
    RSVP Date: December 15th
  • aimers1525aimers1525 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Ditto to pp's!  I despise receiving lines--so awkward. I was recently at a wedding where were waited for 25 mins in a receiving line, thus missing cocktail hour.   We're going to table to table.
  • edited December 2011
    Doing a shortened receiving line with just the Bride/groom and 'rents, but we extended our cocktail hour for people to enjoy in the case they are the tail-end of the line. 

  • morgie44morgie44 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would do as many pictures ahead of time as you can.  Are you guys open to doing a 'first look'?  That way you can take care of all (or most) of the pictures ahead of time then just circulate during cocktail hour or do the receiving line as people enter the space for cocktail hour/as you leave the ceremony site.  I know for us, our church didn't allow a receiving line because they had a mass right after our ceremony.  The priest literally had us hide from guests after the ceremony!  We had a ton of guests wanting to come up to us/congratulate us after the ceremony, so maybe if you want to do a line do it going out of the church?  I know a lot of people opt to do it at the reception because they are afraid they willmiss guests, but if everything is at one venue, then that wont be a problem. 
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