No Receiving Line..?

LyndseyLC

So my FI expressed to me last night that he absolutely does not want to do a receiving line. He says its too long and awkward if you dont know certain people.

His step mom is probably not going to be happy if we dont do one because she kept saying that will waste time between the ceremony and reception because we have like an 1-2 hour gap between ceremony starting apps at recpetion location.

The last 2 weddings I was at they did not do a receiving line and I dont think anyone noticed.

Im not sure how I feel about it, my FI is more social so it will be easier for him  to walk around at reception talking to people.

laura_fett

What I've seen at a few weddings and what we're going to be doing is this. We are having everyone stay in their seats in the church until we dismiss them. We'll walk out, them come back in and dismiss everyone row by row. It may sound a bit awkward, but it seems to work really well. You get to say hi to everyone at the wedding, it's way quicker than a receiving line since it's just you and FI.

At my cousin's wedding, it took about three times as much time to get everyone through the receiving line as it did for the entire ceremony. I don't want that at my wedding, though my aunt is much more of a talker than anyone in my family.

To answer your question about not having any sort of receiving line, I guess I would just make sure that you get to all the tables at dinner then. For me personally, I would rather just make sure I see everyone at the ceremony than worrying about it during dinner, but that's just me! Do what you and your FI feel most comfortable, just make sure you say hi  to everyone who came!

wittyschaffy

My sister had one and it got super rushed at the end because they needed to get dinner started.  We had a very small one because we had a very small ceremony so that was a little different.  Personally, I think they're akward especially if you don't know one set of the parents well.

Bimbi284

We're doing one for exactly that reason (the big gap!). For me personally, it would be more awkward going around from table to table. I was just at a wedding this weekend where the bride and groom did this (they also had a receiving line, fyi) and they just seemed really awkward...cuz it was obvious that they were just hittin' up all of the tables to get it over with, lol. Maybe being a bride I noticed it more, but yeah, just figured I would share that.

kclepire

We were not going to do one, then we changed our minds.  We decided that we'd rather have that akward 10 seconds with people we don't know then going to the tables and having to talk to them. 

Also, we think it will be quicker to do a receiving line and have a quick chit/chat with everyone then going to everyone's table where you'd then have to talk a bit more.

chou_chou

IMHO I hate receiving lines and I hate dismissing row-by-row (have seen both done, both just happen to rub me the wrong way, but they have their place and their merits).  Friends of mine did the dismiss by row thing and it took FOREVER (or at least felt like it)...didn't feel any more genuine than a big line, and we would have preferred just being able to get to the reception site right after the ceremony and tried to chat with them there.

FI & I are going to chat everyone up at the reception!  We're doing a gigantic group photo right after the recessional which takes enough time on it's own, so we're going to let everyone head to the reception right after that's done.  We'll just be very conscious of getting around to all our guests to say hi and thanks....that's something that is worth the time and effort to us. 

With all that said (geez I'm lond-winded today, sorry!) do what you feel most comfortable with and what seems like it will fit more with your day.  We have a long reception planned so have quite a bit of time to get to everyone and it's cocktails and appetizers only (so in itself more social and less disruptive of ppl eating)....but whatever you and your FI decide will be great!  Everyone will be so happy for you that they won't care either way how you spend a few minutes with them!

blondie424

We dismissed our guests row by row and I'm very glad we did.  We had 170 guests and it only took an extra 15 minutes, we kept it short and sweet. And I had every intention of making it to every table at the reception but having been through my own wedding now...realistically I don't know how that is even possible.  I felt like I was pulled in 20 directions all day, so I was very glad we were able to say hello and thank every guest for coming at the ceremony. 

Between our parents and my husband and I, I think we got to every guest at our reception.  But it was important to me and Joe that we got the chance to speak to everyone (even if it was only briefly) and the church dismal was the only way we succeeded at that!

Clare13

I have to say I feel it is necessary for the bride and groom to talk to every person at the wedding.  Even if it is uncomfortable.  How you choose to do this is completely up to you.  I was recently at a reception where they did not do a receiving line, go table to table, etc.  It was difficult to find an opportunity to talk to the bride or groom because they were all over the place.  I really wish that they had done something formal so that I did not feel like I was invading on them talking to someone else as it happened. 
We are doing something slightly different for the receiving line.  We are going to leave immediately after the ceremony and go directly to the hall.  This way we can greet everyone as they enter the hall and they will proceed to the cocktail hour.  Not everyone will arrive at the same time so hopefully the line will not be very long that people will have to wait in.  Do what is comfortable for you but make sure all your guests have an opportunity to talk to you. 

MN_Jen

I'm also not a big fan of recieving lines, either.  We are actually planning on talking to everyone before they get in the buffet line.  We also planned other events the day before the wedding, so hopefully we'll get quality time with everyone at some point in the weekend!

sunkiss177

I did my receiving line at the reception site.  We had a cocktail hour so it was less painful.   We had a line, but people could go around the line and get drinks and mingle if they didn’t want to wait when the line looked long or if they were uncomfortable having a personal “greeting” with the couple (your high school friends husband might just want his beer….)

 

Doing this you get to say hello to everyone who really wants to say hello to you and anyone who wants to move on can.  If you don’t do anything at all, there will be a batch of people who fume that they never got to talk to the couple.  Your mother’s second cousin might want to give you a hug and say you’re a beautiful bride…you might not know her, but she wont talk for long.  Say “thank you for coming” and your are done.

 

Really, I hate receiving line.  I hate them most when done at the church (traditional style or by having the couple be the ushers).  For me, I would rather go say hi to the couple during the dance then wait for half and hour….or I don’t know them very well and don’t want to do it at all. However, I really liked having mine.  I got to say hello to people I didn’t seek out the rest of the night. 

ChrisandBri

We are doing a receiving line... but I'm really not a big fan of them either. We are doing it because we want to avoid the awkward table visits/stress over not being able to talk to everyone at the reception. We are going to skip as much awkward as possible though by it being just the two of us (people who want to talk to our parents and family can do that on their own). We are going to stand in a place where people can feel free to skip out on it too--we aren't going to block the exit or anything (seen that done... super awkward). I like the idea of dismissing everyone, but it just takes forever.

We definitely have gone back and forth on this, but decided that the most stress is eliminated when I know I have at least had a chance to say a quick hi to everyone who came, and then can talk to people at leisure at the reception (so they don't feel like I am just trying to chat them up to get my time in with each family).

veijes

We aren't doing a receiving line, there would be too much time between the ceremony and the reception if we did a receiving line so we are just going to the tables during dinner. I know some people don't think it's a good idea but I don't like to dance so I won't be missing out on that and I think it will be fun to go to each table and talk to people rather than making them feel like they have to hug you and say the generic "congrats."

beka0404

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_receiving-line-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:9e807da9-359e-44f6-a0f0-14b47751c499Post:7048558c-efc9-47f9-8621-7f186a52591b">No Receiving Line..?</a>:
[QUOTE]So my FI expressed to me last night that he absolutely does not want to do a receiving line. He says its too long and awkward if you dont know certain people. His step mom is probably not going to be happy if we dont do one because she kept saying that will waste time between the ceremony and reception because we have like an 1-2 hour gap between ceremony starting apps at recpetion location. The last 2 weddings I was at they did not do a receiving line and I dont think anyone noticed. Im not sure how I feel about it, my FI is more social so it will be easier for him  to walk around at reception talking to people.
Posted by LyndseyLC[/QUOTE]

<div>I'm wondering how exactly it will be <em>less</em> awkward to tableside-greet unknown guests rather than just having a receiving line. Unless your guest list is over 400 people, it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes.</div><div>
</div><div>I have been to weddings where there was no receiving line, and the bride and groom never did make it to my table to greet me. I felt awkward and intruding when I greeted <em>them</em> with my good wishes. Have you ever attended a wedding where you never actually spoke to the bride? I have. No receiving line, and she was waylaid in conversation all night. I'm sure her plan did not have the indended effects. </div><div>
</div><div>Unless your guests refuse to mingle and stay locked into their seats <em>and </em> you skip your own dinner in favor of greeting your guests table-by-table, you may face significant challenges in greeting your guests.</div><div>
</div><div>Personally, I would never host a party without greeting my guests. Therefore, despite being less than enthusiastic about the tradition, we're having a receiving line. (Parents and bridal couple - no wedding party.)</div>