Releasing the Rows?

pharmd2323 · February 2012

We just had our meeting with the day of coordinator and she mentioned that with the layout of our site people generally like to do releasing of the rows instead of a traditional receiving line. I've seen this done before, but I didn't pay attention to the details. Do we start at the back, or the front where parents are seated? My mom thinks if we start at the front with parents/grandparents that everyone's going to just get up and leave not knowing they're supposed to wait for us to get to their row. Is that right? What have you guys seen? Thanks!

ElisabethJoanne · February 2012

These are good questions for your day-of coordinator.

When I've seen rows released, there's the recessional. Then the ushers go to the front row, where the parents are, and indicate to the parents to get up and leave. Then to the next row. In a big church, by the end, it gets kind of sloppy. This is also what Amy Vanderbilt and older editions of Emily Post describe.

I'm not really sure what your coordinator is talking about. 'Cause what I've seen is almost designed to keep the guests away from the couple.

pharmd2323 · February 2012

Hmm, that does sound a little different from what she described. She basically said we'll walk up the aisle to the back as normal, then come back around (or I guess start there at the back) and stand at the end of each row to greet each person as they leave their row. I can see how it would get messy in a large church, and she had mentioned that the traditional receiving line usually is best for that setting, but for our location she said it just makes it easier to get everyone out into the next room in a cleaner/quicker fashion.

NOLAbridealmost · February 2012

I'm not a fan of the releasing of the rows thing. After being seated for a while, guests are ready to get up and go. Not wait 10 minutes for their turn to go.

Table visits during dinner are a great way to skip lines, greet each guest, and not cause anyone to sit around after the ceremony waiting to be released.

Summer2011Bride · February 2012

When this has been done at weddings I've attended, the officiant made an announcement after the WP exited like "The bride and groom will be back in to greet you and release the rows" or something to that effect.

FWIW, I hate doing it this way. It is extremely boring to have to sit in the pews/chairs and wait, sometimes for a long time, to be dismissed. I also feel like it's awkward when greeting the B&G because everyone else is watching you and you really only have time for a quick hug and "Congrats" before moving on. I much prefer table visits at the reception. Or if that isn't an option, I'd pick a traditional receiving line over this.

TiffannieF · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_releasing-the-rows?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:e458fa21-07c3-4ebb-acea-fdfce5cce759Post:2419b51b-c919-4cdf-a3fe-51c11fd9475a">Re: Releasing the Rows?</a>:
[QUOTE]When this has been done at weddings I've attended,<strong> the officiant made an announcement after the WP exited like "The bride and groom will be back in to greet you and release the rows" or something to that effect.</strong> FWIW, I hate doing it this way. It is extremely boring to have to sit in the pews/chairs and wait, sometimes for a long time, to be dismissed. I also feel like it's awkward when greeting the B&G because everyone else is watching you and you really only have time for a quick hug and "Congrats" before moving on. I much prefer table visits at the reception. Or if that isn't an option, I'd pick a traditional receiving line over this.
Posted by Summer2011Bride[/QUOTE]

This is how it was done for our wedding (although we did not have a receiving line so officiant just announced that 'the B & G would like to invite everybody to dinner at (location) immediately following the ceremony').

The waiting to be released doesn't personally bother me.

Belle0000 · February 2012

I've seen it done and we plan on also doing it because our church lobby is small, and it would be too difficult to have a receiving line. Also, my relatives (and my FI) are talkers, and I think it would be very difficult to get to every table at the reception. Our guest list is on the bigger side (200+), so I feel like this would be the best way to go about seeing everyone.

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