Receiving Line vs. Visiting Tables

I am still torn on this as well.

Part of me wants to end the ceremony and then do pictures with all guests just before the cocktail hour. Is that also a good time to do a receiving line and thank them?

On the other hand, we could go around tables but Fiance eats so damn slow and we don't want to feel too rushed thanking people.

My photographer said we are better off doing a receiving line only because we want to have sunset pictures done outside, which would conflict timing wise with visiting tables.

Now depending on your day of timeline, this may not apply to you but it's something to keep in mind if it's important to you. She says too many times they never make it past 1 or 2 tables before they have to go outside. Just some food for thought! :-)

We are visiting tables. Receiving line often hinders photo time (making your guests wait longer for their meal) or it gets awkward of who should be a part of it. I know with my family everyone thinks they should be in it (Why? so weird).

Plus I HATE being hugged so visiting tables is a great way for me to avoid that! Bonus! And how awkward for BP to stand up there and meet and great your family...

We visited tables. Receiving lines are super uncomfortable for me. #1 I did not know every one personally (plus 1s etc) and hugging someone I do not know is awkward on both ends.

We did a receiving line of sorts--greeted our guests as they arrived at the door. I dislike table visits.

I'm going back and forth on this as well, but I will have close to 200 guests too, and visiting that many people at dinner could take all night! My tentative plan is to most likely do a "quick" receiving line at the exit of the church so I get an opportunity to at least say hello to everyone, and then I think we'll try to visit as many tables/people as we can during the reception, but at least we've had that one moment if nothing else.

We did table visits, no receiving line. Our guests actually exited in a different direction than we did, so it wouldn't have worked even if we tried to do a receiving line.

We had about 70 guests (8 tables) and a shorter reception because it was a brunch. It was 12-4 including cocktail hour. Like @VC, my husband eats soooooo sloooooooow. I didn't expect to have any time to eat or dance, really.

I was pleasantly surprised. The venue staff made sure we ate before anything else happened. Even with needing to take extra time to go back outside for pictures because the sun came out around 2pm, we managed to get to every table, socialize with our guests, dance a lot, and get in the photo booth. The only thing I didn't get to do was eat a piece of cake other than the bite I had during our cake cutting, or have a cup of coffee.

@Tina, Do you dislike table visits as a bride having to walk around to each or as a guest? I don't want my guests to feel imposed on with us walking around to them.

I was in a wedding party a couple of years ago, they did a receiving line after the ceremony and it seemed like it took forever!

We discussed this with our photographer, I never thought about a receiving line after our ceremony and I also knew that I wanted pictures with every table. I had this idea that we would walk around to every table to say hello and take pictures, and then our photographers suggested that it is much easier to have the tables come to us. We have a pretty small sweetheart table, so it works well to have people gather around us. We haven't talked the logistics of how it works yet though. I imagine we'll do half the tables before the meal, and the rest after. Our meal is served family style rather than plated courses or a buffet, so everything is coming out at the same time.

Everyone hates receiving lines. Don't do one.

I am going to visit everyone's table at the reception. Seems to be the easiest option I don't think I personally would enjoy a receiving line but that's just me

@Celia--I don't (and where is that boat you promised?!) xo

@MrsToBe--I don't care to interrupt people while they're eating Also, I find it's easy to miss people if they're not sitting down when you come to the table.

I am definitely visiting each table!

I don't like table visits as a guest and as a bride. All of my decisions have been based off of how others and I have felt at weddings.

We are doing a receiving line with just the two of us. No parents, grandparents or wedding party. Guests already know if they don't want to hug or shake hands they don't have to.

I also want to sit and eat and not be hangry.

@Tina, I see. I didn't think about missing people. Something to make note of, thank you

I have never been to a wedding with a receiving line. Didn't dven know people did this at weddings until getting engaged & started researching. They remind me of a funeral or those awkward receiving lines at church when everyone has to welcome a new member. We will be visiting tables. We will only have 60 guests or so.

If we go with the receiving line of sorts, it wouldn't be the whole bridal party, just us and both sets of parents. I do get it on the hugging thing - not everyone is about that, but I have found that letting the other person lead in whether they stick out their hand or lean in for a hug or just stand there and smile helps me know what the person may be okay with, generally. Honestly, there are pro's and cons to both. Guests won't be waiting for a meal or anything because they are heading (walking) right to an appetizer time and can eat all they want till being welcomed into the reception for dinner. We HOPE to get as many pictures beforehand as possible (minus ones with us together in it) and then we'll have a specific photoshot list and point people on each side of the family to gather folks quickly.

I don't know! I've seen it where B & G do the table thing and then they spend their entire dinner time up wandering around and people are more prone to want to have a chit chat conversation in that setting. Of course guests can still come up at any time but it seemed like the small receiving line would allow for us to make sure we can say hello and thank them.

As a guest for me in past experience, I like the more structured idea of greeting guests - I am always so hesitant to track/follow the B & G around trying to say hello at the reception knowing they are being pulled in 40 different directions.

For those who did a receiving line of sorts, approx how long did it take?

Going around to tables just makes me think of my high school graduation party. My mom made me go to each table, sit there, and make small talk with people I haven't seen in 5+ Years it was like torture and I didn't get to choose my guest list. Lol. I feel like a receiving line is more like ripping it off like a bandaid. I don't even mind hugging strangers. I probably would make a quick circle around either way just so I didnt seem rude. I just really don't feel like not being able to drink, dance, and hangout with FH because I need to socialize with FMIL's second cousin or something.