Receiving line thoughts?

I personally think that receiving lines are outdated. I would much rather use that time for photos, then greet my guests during cocktail hour or the reception.

We will be skipping the receiving line, but will be sure to go to each table during the reception for hellos, thank yous, and a picture with the table!

We are going back and forth on this one as well. I have been to weddings with reception lines. The time it takes is typically dependent on how many guests you have. The thing is, it is important to greet your guests but that can be done in many ways. My FW thinks we should have one to help guide our guests to the cocktail hour (that can be taken care of by a quick announcement from our officiant) while I want to get to the pictures with family and join our guests as soon as possible. We are having a cocktail party reception so I have no doubt we can make it to everyone. If you also feel you can get to every table and thank every guest for coming, it is unnecessary, but nice if you wanted to do it.

We are doing the receiving line. We are doing a first look and all of our pictures before the ceremony. After the ceremony we will greet everyone on their way to cocktail hour ( we have about 120 on our guest list). After we greet everyone, with a simple hi thanks for coming hug and kiss kind of thing, we will go into the venue to sign our marriage certificate and then meet everyone for the rest of cocktail hour to mingle with everyone. This is how we want to do it so we don't spend all night walking around to tables and talking to people. We also don't have a lot of out of town people coming though. The ones that are coming from out of town are all close family (parents, siblings, grandparents) so we don't need to play the "let's sit and catch up" game.

I agree that it's a trend that was definitely more popular ten years ago than now. I think it's more practical with a larger guest list, but with your wedding size, I think you should easily be able to greet everyone during cocktail hour and/or the reception

I went around to the tables and thanked everyone and took a photo with each table! That's sort of a less time consuming way.

We skipped it. I read a few posts on here about how long they take, and it might push everything back. I'm also not a touchy-feely person, so I didn't want to feel forced to hug/shake hands with everyone who came through the line.

To be honest, when the coordinator first asked me if i wanted one i had NO clue what she was talking about. LOL We won't be doing one. Thankfully we will be doing pictures with the parties and family before the ceremony so we won't be missing cocktail hour. I thought it would be great to mingle and chat with them during passed hor d oeuvres and floating champagne rather than a receiving line.

I agree that receiving lines are outdated. I remember a few from when I was a kid, but I haven't been to a wedding with one in ages, most people just greet guests at the table or during cocktail hour. Regardless, I don't think it's a big deal if you choose to do one or not. It may cut into your reception, but so does greeting your guests at their tables. So, I don't think it makes much difference.

My fiance and I will just go table to table, greeting all of our guests that way.

We're debating on this one too. On one hand, I know they can take a while (especially with 200 guests). But on the other I really don't want to give up my reception and dancing time to say hello to everyone. I know with a receiving line I could limit the time I am talking with everyone, but am also worried about not being personable enough with everyone.

Skip it- they waste time and create foot traffic for other guests. Your best bet is to make your rounds during the reception to each table.

I agree with PPs. Going table to table would be my preference. Lines are really not necessary anymore

You and your H absolutely need to personally speak to and thank everyone that attends your wedding, it's super rude not to. If you don't want to do a receiving line, then table visits during dinner are the other options. I personally am a fan of receiving lines (I didn't want to have to think about hitting every table/person at the reception).

Just saw this question and may have an option for you to help be able to greet each guest and be able to enjoy the reception AND not cut into time for pictures. Instead of having the ushers (if you have them) dismiss the guests, you and your FH could do it. It's a bit more modern than a receiving line and doesn't take very long to do at all.

We were debating on this question too! I think the consensus is for larger weddings it makes more sense to have a receiving line. It will take quite some time away from enjoying your reception that you worked so hard on if you walk around to greet say 10-12 tables of 10! If you have a guest list of 60 I think making rounds at the cocktail hour or reception works just fine!

I have 110 ppl. We're doing a receiving line so that we have time to actually enjoy the reception and food... which is something brides ALWAYS complain about. They say they were too busy saying Hi all during the reception that they didn't get a chance to eat or enjoy the reception. The reception is the MOST EXPENSIVE PART, so I PLAN ON ENJOYING IT. Here's what I'm doing:

First Look & Family Photo's BEFORE Ceremony
CEREMONY
RECEIVING LINE - to get the Hi's outta the way
BRIDE GROOM PICS (we're married now!)
15 Mins alone in the Suite w/ Apps
Finish out Cocktails/Mingle
Introductions into the RECEPTION
RECEPTION/EAT/ENJOY (cuz we got all the Hi's outta the way)

Our receiving line was 150 people and went super quickly. I was so happy to have it over with by the time dinner came. Even though I was antsy and wanted to go talk to people, I didn't feel like I NEEDED to. After standing in front of people for a ceremony (ours wasn't even that long, only 25 minutes), it is so nice to be able to just sit and eat. Since we only had one bar, it was good to let people funnel into happy hour or whatever their next thing is. I also got a photo hugging and smiling with every individual guest. Plus, the weddings I've been to where they go around to tables, the couple usually split up to cover each of their guests, when it should be something done together!

Yeahhh, nope. Too dated and I can only paint a smile on and say the same canned "hi, thanks for coming" 4-5 times before it sounds ultra fake.