Do i talk to every guest at my wedding?

I completely understand the struggle! Sometimes the guest list has to be big to avoid drama! I plan on doing a receiving line to say hello to everyone as they walk in to the party after the ceremony. If necessary, we can also do table visits (although I would rather not). Honestly the receiving line is probably easiest, then you don't have to worry all night about who you missed. I see no problem with making a short thank you statement in front of anyone. And to everyone saying "you shouldn't have invited so many"... stop trying to tell this bride how to plan her wedding! That was not the question! It's a two-way street, the guests should also make an effort to come talk to you if they notice you haven't talked yet. There is so much going on that day, don't even worry about it. Not worth the stress. Have fun!

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Hi,

I totally understand the pressure with a big wedding and big families. Mine will be around 200 people, so big but smaller than yours. We are planning to do photos during cocktail hour and aren't having a receiving line. I am planning on doing a "dollar dance" without the dollars because similarly whille itsa tradition for my family many people think its tacky. We are going around table to table after we eat. It sounds like many people are giving you the same response, but it's not the response you want, and that's ok. It's your wedding day do the best you can, if you miss someone, be extra gracious in your thank you card and in your thank you to everyone at the end. We are all only human, I'd just tell my FMIL that, I will try my best and recognize its important.

Everyone is a bit uptight. A general thanks is fine. You should speak to whomever you can, but the priority should be to enjoy your own wedding. It would be a shame not to experience a party celebrating you and your new husband. If guests get offended..that's their problem...they're getting a free party, alcohol, food..no one made them except the invitation.

Yes, you should greet everyone who is at your wedding! At least a quick hi. FH was in the BP for his cousin's wedding last year, and during the reception the bride and groom went to every. single. other. table except ours to say hi and thanks for coming. And it wasn't a BP table either, it was the groom's aunt, uncle, cousins and us. I thought it was incredibly rude, seeing as how I took the day off of work to travel to the wedding and gave them an incredibly generous gift (plus a shower gift!) I don't want anyone at my wedding to feel like I could care less that they are there.

I would say you should talk to every person, if they were important enough to invite, then they are important enough to thank on the day of your wedding. We have had brides at a wedding we went to not even acknowledge us and it was kind of hurtful.

Not sure what area you are from, but I am from Wisconsin and the norm is about 300 people... including parent's friends, which no, I would not feel the need to talk with for that long. Yes, thank them for coming of course, but they are there for my parents.

You'll never get to enjoy your night if you spent all that time talking! I say, do what you want, it's your day. I'm not sure about you, but I'm getting sick of people telling me what "should" be done.

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I feel that. Except...the size of my wedding guest list is the problem right now because of this exact expectation.

You don't need to spend 5 minutes with them, but a quick hi and a thanks for coming is standard.