Receiving Line: A Must or No?

@Kathleen you have made excellent points and so has @kiss! I've got some things to consider now. I was dead set against it but maybe it's not soooo bad.

No line for us either. We want to get right to pics and then to the reception. We are planning to walk around and say hello to each table as they get in line for food. I like the idea of taking a pic- might do that too! Thanks!

150 guests will take you more than 15 minutes for starters.

No meaningful interchanges will take place, it's really archaic, and not necessary at all. You should make the time to visit each table and take a photo with the table (not really a new idea, but a useful one)

Skip it.

Be sure to mingle during your reception, and you can skip the receiving line.

15 minutes for 150 guests means 10 guests per minute. That's one guest every six seconds. That literally translates to, "Hi! Thanks so much for coming to our wedding! Now you trot yourself right on down this line, because I have to talk to the next person." If anyone tries to converse with you (which they will), that makes the whole thing last forever.

We did table visits between dinner courses. It didn't feel like it took a long time, since we did a few tables at a time, but we were able to have an actual conversation with every guest. I think it also helps that with table visits you can speak with several people at once.

I'm not doing a receiving line.. I'll greet and thank during cocktail hour and during reception... just mingle w everyone if possible.

Not a "must". We will have one at the entrance to the cocktail hour. That way we know we have seen everyone and thanked them personally at least once.

What is a receiving line?

Not necessary but try to at least acknowledge everyone. I haven't seen one done in years

No receiving line. This is a leftover from the 1950s

We aren't doing one, I find them super awkward. Instead we are doing table visits

We are not doing one. My mom seems to think we have to for some reason but I said nope. I feel like they are awkward and forced and would rather do table visits to really get to see and thank everyone. But that's just me.

My friend did one, and only like 30 percent of the guests actually went through it. Maybe everyone is realizing receiving lines suck lol

With 150 people there is no way it will only take 15 minutes. I don't mind them if there is a small guest list (under 50 people) but other than that it will take too long and people stuck in the back will be stuck standing around bored out of their minds. Either greet everyone during the cocktail hour or go around to the tables during the reception.

It's so old fashioned. Just do table visits.

I'm not doing one. I think it's kinda weird to make your guests stand and wait in line to see you. I'm more into just having a cocktail hour and popping around and mingling.

My dad had to stand in a receiving line at my brother's wedding and then made me promise him that I would never put him through that again haha. I think everyone involved in a receiving line hates it... everyone always looks miserable. I would much rather be walking (or dancing) around and mingling the whole night.

IMO..How boring and rude to make my guests stand in line doing nothing for 45 minutes, just so I can spend under 30 seconds saying "Hi! Thanks for coming! Bye!". Better to mingle during cocktail hour or do table visits, so guests aren't standing around waiting for you. You know they wanna grab a drink!

@Richard - Thanks for explaining, that sounds AWFUL. That's what thank you cards are for in my opinion. lol :-) And of course mingling with everyone at the ceremony!

Giant Noooooooooooo. I'll walk around with my FH at the reception but no way receiving line. BLEH