Receiving Line

vicpollard · January 2010

My fiancé and I don't really want to do the typical receiving line we've seen so many times, but we do want to make sure we see all of our guests and get a chance to thank them for coming. Does anyone have any ideas? We just don't want to make our guests stand in a long line to see us and then have them sit down and wait for the fun to start while we visit with other guests who have the same fate... haha

charlsie26 · January 2010

You don't have to do one.

-When your done with dinner (since you will be served first) you can walk around and do table visits.

-Do all your pictures first and have a CH, so you can walk around with your guests during that time.

-Do a "anniversary dance". Get all married couples to the dance floor and at certain times ask the couple who has been married the shortest to sit down. Your left with the longest married couple. This allows you to walk around and talk to more guests during that time. other people are dancing.

-when your done with the ceremony, walk down the aisle then turn back around and dismiss everyone yourself.

-If you don't get to everyone, they will come to you before they leave. Don't feel like you have to get to everyone. There just isn't that much time during the reception. I felt like i needed to talk to everyone and missed out on a lot of dancing.

COnoviaSarah · January 2010

I've thought about this question, too. Right now, I'm leaning towards one of the same ideas Charlsie mentioned: after the ceremony my FI and I will walk back down the aisle and kind of escort our guests, row by row, to the CH. I like that this is done soon after, rather than waiting until dinner to go table to table (which we'll still do). My only concern is that our ceremony is outdoors and if it's really hot, I don't want the guests to have to sit in the sun and wait. The reception will be under a tent, but since our ceremony will be short, it is not.

charlsie26 · January 2010

My friend danced her butt away with family and friends and didn't spend too much time chatting with guests. Guests came up to her most of the time and she said a short hello and thanks for coming to all the tables.

She said this is the best decision ever because most people complain about not having time to have fun at their wedding, but guess what? It is YOUR wedding! So live it up!

THIS!!!!!

SuMmErKuTiE · January 2010

We're not having a receiving line either. Instead we're doing pictures beforehand so we can mingle at cocktail hour.

You can also choose to do table visits at the reception since you will be served your dinner before everyone else.

trix1223 · January 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_receiving-line?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:02f7bf55-9510-4caa-9d74-39a80b746e8cPost:1d703e3e-63c0-4652-b271-8dad5192ae84">Re: Receiving Line</a>:
[QUOTE]Y -If you don't get to everyone, they will come to you before they leave. Don't feel like you have to get to everyone. There just isn't that much time during the reception. I felt like i needed to talk to everyone and missed out on a lot of dancing.
Posted by charlsie26[/QUOTE]

I could not disagree more with this. People take the time to travel to your wedding, get your a gift, possibly give up work time, possibly purchase attire. I think that it's the very least a gracious bride and groom, as hosts of the reception, can do is to make the effort to spend maybe 30 seconds with the guest thanking them for sharing the day.

The easiest way to do this is a receiving line. Once that's done, you know you've greeted everyone. Table visits works, unless someone at the table is visiting another table, or at the bar, or at the bathroom. Then you've missed them.

If you want to dance your butt off, which is fine, spend 15 minutes and have a receiving line. That way you've been polite to all those who came to support you and you still get to enjoy your party without being unspeakably rude.

MyNameIsNot · January 2010

Of all the wedding conversations I've had, one of the things I've heard people complain about most is that the B&G didn't greet them and they felt snubbed, like they weren't really wanted there. You should really make a point to say hello to every single person that took the time and spent the money to come see you get married.

Table visits work well. Once you've done the first table, people have figured out that you're coming and will either stay or hurry back if they need to run to the bathroom or something.

At our reception, we had buffet style meal and we were served first. We had 15 minutes to eat and then start doing table visits while our guests were having their dinner. People were eating and socializing, and we were able to finish up as people were finishing dinner.

vicpollard · January 2010

Thank you Thank you Thank you for all of your help!! I think I'll probably do the table visit idea and, of course, still dance the night away!

trix1223 · January 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_receiving-line?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:02f7bf55-9510-4caa-9d74-39a80b746e8cPost:d914cadd-c8c8-46cd-bb72-bec69a23d88c">Re: Receiving Line</a>:
[QUOTE] I always think poorly of couples who are too busy shaking their money maker to talk to their guests. After all, why invite me if you aren't even going to talk to me? NOTHING feels more gift-grabby than that.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

Spot on, Stage.

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