Receiving Lines - yes or no?

[lizaanne]

You doing one? I dont' think we will. We are having only about 60 people, so can't see us doing one. Don't believe I could ever get FH to stand still long enough for one - he would really dread that. So I won't put him through the pain. :)

~Liza

[lmhcmm]

We're not. We're having ~250 guests, but we are going to 'dismiss the pews' instead.

[nikkiana]

We are. For me, it's one of those must do things.... I want to give everyone who's coming a hug!

[saraw04]

We dismissed the pews since we didn't have long to take pictures in the Church. We then were able to get over to the reception in plenty of time before dinner so we got to mingle with our guests then as well.

Sara :)

[rowanmayfairs]

We are NOT having a recieving line :)

We are going to dismiss guests so they can go into the reception room in the church.

Then we have pictures to take. We don't want to see each other before the wedding so we will take pictures afterward.

The guests can go into the reception room seat themselves and they can be eating snacks and drinking punch, etc until we arrive. I think we will do the cake cutting thing next..

Our photographer is only there for 2-3 hours so we gotta get all important pictures taken. Then use our own cameras and let guests use the disposables for everything else :)

We are having less than 50 guests so I think we can manage to go table to table to greet everyone :) Plus when we go table to table, I want to take our autograph mat to *harrass* people (opps..I mean ASK guests to sign it).

[Jaci]

I'm pretty sure we'll be dismissing rows also, but the option of doing a receiving line is still there. If we do, we will be the only two people in it.

[Deidre98]

We are doing a receiving line for the same reason that Nikkiana said. We want to be able to give each guest a hug and I don't want to feel bad if I miss a table when we are doing the rounds at the reception. This way, if someone doesn't go through the receiving line, well, not my fault. It was their choice!

[MrsRea]

We went back in and released the rows. We had about 100 guests and it worked well for us. We got to hug them all and thank them for coming. After that there were a few people we didnt get to talk to before they left. So I am glad we did it that way.

[Venus]

Well we hadnt planned on doing one, but as it ended up we kinda of did, nothing official be everyone followed us out to the hall after and it went from there, in between pictures being taken

[MrsAbi]

We're doing a receiving line wuth just the two of us for our 100 guests. With it taking place on a military base and all, it just fits. There is a hallway between the ceremony room and the ballroom. That's where it'll take place.

[Trinia]

We will have one.

[PurpleFlower]

I would like to do one so hopefully we can! This way I get to see all of my guests and I think It will be great to stand beside my new husband and see everyone!!

[belle67]

We aren't doing one. I don't think we will have time and I would rather go to everyone's tables to say hello to them than stand in a line and have them come up to us.

[Poloke]

Yeah, we are having one... although I don't really want to, its something that I can't skate around with my parents there. For us, I think its pointless because everyone will be at the reception too...and we are going around to the tables after we finish our meal.

[jillian]

We plan on 150 guests and no receiving line. There's only going to be a half hour between ceremony and the start of the reception so I want to get the pictures done first. I think we can manage getting to all our guests during the reception.

On a personal note: I never go through a receiving line because some how I always manage to get behind that one person who tells the bride/groom a life story. I find that very annoying.

[*meghan*]

We aren't doing one. I don't think we will have time and I would rather go to everyone's tables to say hello to them than stand in a line and have them come up to us.

Us too! :)

[nikkiana]

The one think I've never liked about recieving lines is the fact that most of the time, the bridal party ends up in the recieving line, and honestly, I don't think they really need to be in it because it makes the recieving line excessively long and it makes it more awkward because now there are extra people you feel obligated to say "Hi" to and shake their hand and make small talk with for thirty seconds.

My plan is to have the bridal party not be in the recieving line and only have myself, FH and parents be in the line.

[-->Kat<--]

I have a question... how do the guest know IF you're having a receiving line if you don't have programs?

I'm trying to picture how our ceremony will end and I don't want it to be awkward afterwards.

[Andrea]

I would like to dismiss the pews but this will take way to long....we're having a guest list of prolly over 275 (my side alone is over 150) anyways, so im gunna leave enuf time in between the ceremony and the pictures to have the receiving line as they exit the church...oh wait...haha what am i saying...were not having it at the church...so as they exit the yard haha i dunno...

[Jaci]

Well, the jury is in, we are having a receiving line because FH wants one (he brought up a good point, some people will not be able to go to the reception). We are going to have groomsmen release the rows and just FH and I will be in the line.

[PolloLoco83]

I know what a receiving line is for and who is in it for military functions, but why at a wedding? Who is in the receiving line?

[Jaci]

Here ya go, this probably explains it better than I could: http://www.superweddings.com/article-receivinglines.html

[Sk8ermaiden]

No way. We've had to wait in those and we both agree that they're pure torture. We'd much rather talk to everyone at the reception.

[Angela]

We're doing just the two of us in the receiving line.....if people want to congratulate our parents, they can find them during the reception!

[*Sarah*]

I'm assuming we'll dismiss the rows rather than do a receiving line. I'm not really sure where we could do this that would logistically make sense. However, its not something that's been discussed so I can't say for sure what we'll do.

[nikkiscott]

See I was thinking about having one. But now I am thinking not. Only because we can mingle all night long and people can come and see us. The only bad thing is that we might be spending most of the night hugging people then dancing and having fun. I still have time on this issue. I also don't want to put my bridal party though this. I hated doing receiving lines when I was in wedding or at weddings.

[katieandalex]

Nope, I just never really saw the point. Its like why rush people though a line where the B&G just say "Thanks for coming." "Thanks for coming." To everyone...why not just wait until the reception and try and mingle around more and be able to actually talk to everyone instead of just being on auto-pilot with what you say to your guests.....

[KathyandJer]

We're having a receiving line outside the church. Many times people are up dancing and outside when you go table to table, so I want to make sure we get a chance to see everyone!

Also, with my mother, and with sooooo many people from out of town (or just who have never met that should've before the wedding!), it's the best way for us!

I'm rethinking having the BP in the receiving line though!

[Renny]

we are not having a recieving line. we are having a very small intimate (informal) wedding and I figure I'll be able to get to each person at the reception to thank them.

[Jules]

We had a receiving line, and it was one of my favorite parts of the day (we had approx. 90 guests). We had just gotten married, were deliriously happy, and everyone who came up to us through the line were pretty deliriously happy, too. I have never kissed or hugged people as much as I did that day, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

My parents and DH's parents stood in the receiving line with us and that was it.

[-->Kat<--]

dang... I'm still so up in the air about this :shrug2:

[kate]

We are going to come back in and release the pews. I hate going through recieving lines with the family and bridal party! It is so awkward!! Especially if you just know the the bride and groom.

[km]

:computer:

I like receiving lines at the church, but you opt not to, a stop at each guest table works well.
:wavey:

[Vanessaness]

:no: We're gonna stop at each guest table instead.