Receiving Line, is it necessary?

We didn't do a receiving line. We mingled and greeted guests during cocktail hour then we did table visits during the reception.

I had no idea what this was until now.

We skipped it. Our guest list was small enough (50) that we mingled & did table visits.

I've never seen this done outside of movies. It seems weird. I would hate to be made to wait in a line for who knows how long only to say hello and congrats to the couple for 1.2 seconds. I'm used to couples just visiting each table to say hello and thank you for coming. That seems nicer.

We skipped it as well. I think it was the norm 10+ years ago, but I feel that is done less and less now.

We went table to table during dinner to greet all of our guests, and mingled during the reception.

I don't care for them. Your guests back up at the door to your venue because the line tends to run slow. Table visits are more fun and laid back - the liquor helps with that.

We are planning to have one, since we don't have a cocktail hour. Our ceremony is outside, right next to our reception hall, so we are planning to set up in that room to have a receiving line as people move into the hall.

We did receiving line. It was so nice because that way it made sure we talked to everyone. Everyone says "oh I'll talk to them at cocktail hour" but you don't get to every guest. I think it's really rude when guests travel that far and you don't talk to them. Even the best intentioned don't make it around because you get caught up in conversations. Receiving line meant we talked to them at least once. Many more we spoke to again throughout the reception

Plus the lines move fast. Ours was 30 mins for 150 guests. We went to the opposite end of the hall from the ceremony so the line didn't bunch up and then after talking to us guests were escorted to their seats.

Nope. I think they are awkward for everyone involved.

I vote no. We're skipping it.

No. I think receiving lines are awkward and time consuming and seem so forced.

We visited every table to say hello and thank you for coming...we had one of our photographers with us so we got photos with every table and i love that we have those photos.

NowaSeptMrs, it was fast for you, but for the guests who spent 20 or 30 minutes standing in line, it was slowwwwwwwww.

We aren't doing one

Everytime I go to a wedding they have done a receiving line and as a guest I have hated it! Especially when I only know the bride or groom- it is just so awkward to me. Do I hug everyone I don't know? What do I doooo?! Lol so we are NOT having one. I don't want to stand there for an hour or make everyone else stand there. We plan on mingling during cocktail hour and visiting with everyone at dinner and in the evening!

We had a 300 person wedding and we did it at the church post service. We just had our parents, us and our sponsor standing there. I thought it was the easiest for us.

Plus we had a small gap between the hall and the church so it helped kill some time.

We did table visits instead. Some people don't like those because of interrupting people while eating, but as a guest I've never minded putting my fork down for a minute to greet the bride and groom. Whatever you do, make sure you find a way to greet each guest and thank them for coming.

Not only unnecessary, but a little obnoxious

I don't think receiving lines are obnoxious. I've been to weddings where they did them, and weddings where they didn't. Either way, doesn't bother me. Some people don't like the table visits with the photographer during dinner, while they are eating.

There is no right or wrong, its all personal preference for this.

We are going to do one because trying to make it around to everyone when we also want to eat and enjoy the reception will be too much. So we will greet everyone, then party.

The reception is in a different place. Actually 10 minutes away. So I'm assuming that there will be breaks between the guests wandering in.