Receiving line

itzliz

My wedding is going to have about 300 people! Where and when can I fit this in when the wedding is at 230pm with a full mass and ceremony and then photos and then the cocktail hour starts at 5pm. I really want to be able to have a receiving line (as does my very traditional family) but don't know if there will be time!!!

J&K10910

The receiving line goes right after the ceremony.  It really doesn't take that long, it won't cut into your photo time that much.  We had 100 people and it took maybe 5 minnutes.  People say hi, hug you, tell you congrats, and move on.  They know they don't have time to stand there for 10 minutes chatting.

[Deleted User]

Typically the receiving line is done as the guests are dismissed from the church pews. We were married in the Catholic church and were not permitted to have one per our priest. We did a semi receiving line at the reception though.

StacyJenniges

Would you be able to have some photos taken before the wedding?  I am assuming since you are taking photos after the wedding that you do not want to see your fiance before the wedding. 

But you could get in some of the pictures where the two of you aren't in them together, this would free up time after the wedding since you would not have to take as many during the wedding.

Good Luck!

msmyrnio

We're doing our receiving line during cocktail hour at the reception since we won't have enough time at the church

doctabroccoli

Ours took maybe 10 minutes (150 guests).  We took any pictures we could before the ceremony that didn't require both H and I to be in them.

itzliz

mrsjesse:  did you have parents in your line too?  or just bride and groom?

thanks ladies for all the ideas!!

jsleik

I like the ideas PPs said.  One thing about doing it at the reception - stand somewhere where you keep people moving.  At one of my sisters' weddings, they did it where everyone was having cocktails and it ended up taking 2 hours!  My other sister did hers at the church and it took about 20 min.  And roughly the same number of people at each one.  Outside the church is great because then they all go off to the reception, you finish up your pictures and then you can mingle when you get to the reception!