Stressed about socializing?

Ughhhh same!

We have about 130 and a good amount of them I haven’t met yet on FH side. I’m okay with socializing but just feel freaked out that I’ll be center of attention all night. I like being invisible sometimes!

I feel the same way. Our guest list is around 175 (invitations haven't been sent yet) and I'm super stressed about it. My FSIL had a similar size wedding and keeps reassuring me that as long as you make an effort to say hello to everyone in the beginning, the rest of the night can just go naturally and you talk to who you talk to. I'm not sure how I feel about that though.

It's your wedding, so people will know that you've got lots of people to talk to and there will be tons on your mind. I've been to two weddings where my friends weren't even able to make it to our table before I finally had to go (granted, there was about 350 people). And as a guest, I totally understand that! I just took a moment to catch up with them and relieve the day the next time I saw them.

Thanks everyone. Glad to know I’m not alone. I think it just sunk in at the shower how pulled around you feel. I hope with the wedding since we don’t have things like opening gifts which makes it impossible to socialize it will be better. I do believe I at least said hello to everyone which I hope is enough! I just want a redo and for it to last longer!! I’m sure I will feel the same about the wedding based on what everyone says about it going so fast.

I feel the exact same way! I over think a lot. We are planning to walk around after dinner and say hi. Then of course dance with guest. Although I really don't want to spend every minute of the wedding socializing with the guest. I want to dance and spend time with my husband too. That's what I am worried about!

I know they are out of vogue right now, but the larger the wedding the greater the need for a recieving line. I'd only include you and your future spouse, parents can mingle a bit away from the line. The line allows you to say a quick hello and then move people along. When you get a chatty cathy, simply say "it's so good to see, you let's catch up later" and then turn to to next person. You should still try to get around during the reception, but at least you know you've greeted everyone.

FWIW, weddings aren't the only place where recieving lines happen, think about Andie helping out Miranda at the big party in The Devil Wears Prada

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I have thought about this, also I have considering dismissing rows as a form of receiving line. That way I have at least talked to everyone. I need to talk to my DOC and officiant to see if they think this may take too long with a larger wedding. I think it would put my mind at ease knowing I least spoke to everyone who was patient enough to wait(because I know some people jump out of line to get to the drinks!)

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I agree about the receiving line - they were big in the 70's and 80's and did serve a purpose. I would limit them to parents, you and groom - no wedding party.

Yes. I am very shy around crowds. My FH on the other hand can adapt and spark up conversations. I plan to say hello to everyone and just let the night flow.

I was too, until I decided to do a first look so we can do less pictures during cocktail hour. I think we'll try to do a receiving line as people walk into the back room for the reception, then do more pictures, then do our grand entrance!

I'll probably go on and off the dance floor too to make sure I can go and have a quick convo with people while they're sitting at their tables. Some couples do this during dinner, but my venue has reviews for amazing food, so I DEFINITELY don't want to miss that!

View Quoted Comment If someone jump out of the line that's on them. Don't worry about it at all

Limit each guest to a few minutes, so that you don't run over with some and then miss others completely. "Thanks for coming, we so appreciate it, I hope the flight was smooth, how are the kids doing, so sorry but we must move on. Let's catch up again soon!" After you've spoken with everyone, circle back around and spend more time with VIPs. Meaning people that traveled extra far, grandparents you maybe don't see often, etc.

Something that the bride and groom did at a wedding we recently went to was dismiss the ceremony rows themselves. They hugged each guest and thanked them for coming. They had about 140 guests, and it took like 5-10 minutes. FH and I were a huge fan of it and we'll be doing it at our wedding as well. They also did table visits but there was less pressure since they had already greeted each person.

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Yes- I have seen this! At first I was worried about this or a receiving line taking too long, but now I think it will help ease my mind. I have been to a few weddings that did this and it was nice.

One point I saw about this vs. a line is that this way at least people get to stay seated if they are waiting.

I'm trying not to stress. I'm stressed less about not having enough time to socialize and more about the socializing itself. Both FH and I are introverts and pretty shy. Socializing is daunting, especially when it comes to those on FH's side I don't know or don't know well. The first look is helping to calm my nerves.

I don't really have any tips except liquid courage! Start the cocktail hour with some appetizers and a cocktail to help calm the nerves.

While we did do table visits to every table, I did most of my socializing on the dance floor. Everyone was dancing all night, so it was very easy to move around to different clusters of people, dance with them for a few, then dance away to the next group.

Yes, I feel anxious about this already!! Honestly when we go around to our tables to see everyone, I don’t think they’ll be expecting us to have a full on conversation. I know I don’t expect that when I go to weddings. The bride and groom are busy! I’m thinking it’s more acknowledging that they came and thanking them. And I would really like to say hi to every single person! At a wedding last year, the bride and groom didn’t come to my table at all and I thought it was rude that they didn’t even say hello. Then when the party gets started and everyone is moving around more and dancing, I’m hoping to talk to the people we’re close with or haven’t seen in forever and actually want to catch up with.

We're having each table come up and take a picture with us prior to them hitting up the buffet line.

I am a very anxious introvert, and having about 150 guests. I have just told myself I'm not obligated to talk to everyone - especially those I've never met. I've been to weddings where I haven't gotten to talk to the bride and it was fine as long as the event was well-hosted. I want this to be my day, not a day of stress, obligation, and small talk...if that was what I had to do all night it wouldn't be worth it for me to have a wedding. I'm going to let the night flow organically and talk to whomever is near and has something interesting to say or wants to dance, and not stress about this, it's not worth it.