Greeting guests table to table at the reception?

That does sound like a daunting task. I think if you have a receiving line after the ceremony that helps cut down on the amount of people you need to greet at the reception. I know receiving lines are seen as a bit old fashioned these days though.

What a friend of ours did was at the end of the ceremony they waited at the top of the aisle and greeted and thanked people as they headed on over to cocktail hour. This way they didn't miss anyone and people knew not to talk to long.

We are doing all of our pictures before the ceremony so that way we can greet everyone during cocktail hour.

Everyone will eventually make their way over to you to say hi and congrats and whatever I wouldn't be to worried. People should know its a crazy busy day.

My friend had a larger wedding, she walked around the room but didn't exactly go table to table. More people went up to her, and she remembered where some of her more elderly guests were sitting and made a point to walk over to them.

Take photos before the ceremony and try to get most of your visits done during cocktail hour.

Are you doing a buffet or plated meal? If at all possible, I'd try to snack/eat at the end of cocktail hour or RIGHT at the beginning of the reception. As fast as possible. Then I'd start making your rounds table by table with your husband. I really prefer when bride & groom make the rounds to tables, I think it's so much more personal and so kind to do. Especially for guests you don't talk to on a normal basis. Maybe you can skip your parents/siblings/bridal party tables and tell them in advance? Since you seem them way more often? And maybe ask your parents and siblings to make rounds too to greet tables they know? You could always try a receiving line but I have no idea how long it would take with that many people. I'd also suggest doing a first look so you can mingle during cocktail hour.

At one of the venues I had visited, the wedding coordinator told me that something that couples are doing with a lot of guests is having the bride or groom stand up around when the other speeches are given and thanking everyone at once. That way if you don't physically get around to everyone, you've still expressed your appreciation to everyone!

I hate table visits - they take forever, and it interrupts my dinner and conversation as a guest. If I were you I would do a receiving line after the ceremony, or as people walk into the reception/cocktail hour. You can say a quick hello/congrats/thanks for coming, and then move along.

The only important thing is to make sure you speak to each of your guests individually at some point in the evening. It's very rude not to.

I would do a first look and join your own cocktail hour so you can greet a lot of people there.

View Quoted Comment This. That’s what we are hoping to do and our list is about half the size of yours and I have the same anxiety about it. Receiving lines are good, but I feel like after all those people that would be tiring. So use cocktail hour and the reception to get around to everyone. I also agree with the prior post saying to skip parents and bridal party as you will be with them all day.

View Quoted Comment We greeted everyone during our cocktail hour and got to stay seated our entire dinner. It was wonderful! I’ve only been to one wedding with a receiving line and it took forever!

I’m having a wedding the size of yours and I plan to go table to table And make note of people who can’t come up to me. But all my girlfriends who had big weddings (300+) say that if they did a receiving line, there were some people who were missed. Some people skip the line or go around it. So I’m preparing myself for that. Also I’ve been to several large weddings and while I make a point to say hi to the bride and groom, it doesn’t always happen so as a guest I haven’t been all that bothered by it.

We will have about 200 guests, so not quite as big as you, but here is our plan.

We received an extra 30 minutes of cocktail hour for free due to a scheduling conflict. Since we are not doing a first look we will take all of our individual, bridal party, and immediate family photos before the ceremony. We will take the first hour of cocktail hour for group shots with the both of us and shots of just us. The last 30 minutes, we are going to have our meals sent up to the bridal suite where we will eat and take some alone time together while everyone is making their way into the ballroom and finding their seats. Once we are introduced and do our dances and what not, the DJ will ask each table to come up with 1 funny picture idea for the group. While they are eating, the DJ will then play a song for 2-3 minutes and we will basically play musical chairs. Go to the table, say hi to everyone, thank them for coming, take 1 "nice" picture and 1 goofy picture. Once the song is done, we move to the next table. That way we catch everyone while they are sitting down and we don't have to worry about chasing anyone down or missing anyone.

I actually like the idea of walking table to table. in my culture it is expected. I also just like the idea of it because it gives you a chance to say hello to everyone even if briefly. You could even just go around and say a hello thanks so much for coming hope you're enjoying yourself, etc. I know it could grow weary especially if someone takes up too much of your time. But it seems like a nice gesture.