Table visits at reception?

I ran out of characters but I did want to add that of course we'll still be visiting with all the guests throughout the reception but wanted to know if the picture idea was rude or tacky? I'd also be open to doing a combination of the pew and picture thing. I just know I would love pictures with the guests but of course I wouldn't force anyone to take a picture who didn't want to.

It's a nice idea to get a photo with everyone but I think that for you two it would get old quick! Especially with 175 guests. Just make a point to say hello to everyone at some point - it doesn't have to be a whole planned schedule. I think a receiving line is a great way to do it if you want something "structured"

Thanks for your input. I guess I should clarify I wouldn't want to take 175 individual pictures. I was thinking 1 group picture with each table. So it'd be like 17-18 pictures total depending on the number of tables we had.

You need to do one or the other. Most weddings I've been to do both. You need to thank your guests.

I would nix the group photo idea. Its not necessary and takes time away from your photographers to be capturing other moments going on around you. We had roughly the same amount of guests and we tried to visit every table to at least say a quick hello and thank you. The reality is, you are going to have a hard time talking to everyone there. You will be pulled in so many directions.

I am not clear on the releasing pews idea, can you give more detail on that? Also, what time is your reception starting? In order to serve people after your first dance you will likely need to be introduced and go right into your first dance. Regardless of having appetizers, your guests will be ready to eat as soon as possible. Generally the newlyweds go through the buffet first so you could always eat and then do the first dance while the rest of your guests are still eating. A buffet is going to take some time to get everyone through so its best to start releasing tables to the buffet as soon as possible after the start of the reception.

One thing to keep in mind is guests will be coming up to you constantly throughout the evening to say hello and congratulate you. But like I said before, with that amount of people its going to be hard to speak to everyone. There were many guests that I barely got a chance to say a quick hello to, and it was not for lack of trying on my part. I think by trying to plan this out you are putting a lot more undue stress on yourself.

I'm just not sure that it would take less time than table visits at the end of the day. I think it's a cute idea and a nice way to include everyone but I'm not sure that it'll be more efficient than making your rounds.

Releasing pews has nothing to do with your question. That's done during the ceremony. You would still need to do either a receiving line or table visits.

I've read several places that an option is directly after the recessional to go back in and release the guests from the pews aisle by aisle.

Yes we are planning on walking straight into the reception and starting the first dance. The ceremony starts at 5, cocktail hr from 5:30-6:30, we will enter at 6:30

Definitely make the rounds and say hi, thank them. Especially those who came from out of town. Nix the photos. Let everyone relax and enjoy your reception with you.

Okay thanks. I thought people were suggesting pew releasing instead of a receiving line or table visit so I guess I was confused on that. I have never been to a wedding with a receiving line and it's very likely that very few of our guests have either so I don't think people would understand it. The table visits just worries me that it will take an hour to get around to the last table. That's why I was thinking of the picture thing. I am a huge type A planner, probably worrying about this too much! Just want to make sure we get a chance to say hello to everyone!

FH and I are doing a receiving line at the church door for 160 guests. With only the two of us, it shouldn't take more than 15-20 minutes to get everyone out of the church. Our fabulous pianist will be playing his favorite pieces to entertain guests waiting in the pews.

I feel like table visits don't work with bigger weddings. FH and I have been to several weddings this year where the bride and groom haven't made it around to our table during dinner. I wouldn't want to make any of our guests feel forgotten, and I want to enjoy our dinner!

I think the table photos would get old quick for the two of you and you are kind of forcing your guests to have their photo taken. Plus, you should give your photographer time to eat too

I guess that's where I'm confused as to what to do @mrsskitobe I don't like the idea of having our guests wait around for a table visit but I also have never been to a wedding with a receiving line. I wouldn't even know how to properly execute one? Can the groom and I just wait at the exit of the ceremony and thank and hug people as they leave? I also don't think many of our guests have ever seen or heard of a receiving line.

Edit: I do like the idea of just standing at the exit and thanking people as they leave. This does mean pictures will take longer to finish though.

My photographer suggested that if I do table visits during dinner that I go one way around the table and my FH goes the other and once we meet in the middle we will take the picture. Even with this efficiency she is allocating an hour for the whole shebang (I plan on having 150 people).

We're standing at the exit of the sanctuary and we have two nephews that will be dismissing pew by pew (so we don't have people standing for no reason). We'll hug, say hi, and thank each guest for coming, then move on to the next person. If someone tries to strike up a real conversation, we'll politely tell them we'll catch up at the reception. It's pretty much the way priests/pastors handle the end of Sunday services, so we're thinking people will get the idea.

Traditional receiving lines include moms (or both parents) and bridesmaids too, but those take foreverrr. Memories of those are why lots of people don't do receiving lines anymore. We're simplifying it to just us to cut the time down

As for pictures, you can always have your photographer will go ahead and start taking photos that don't have you in it (bridal party, RB/FG, parents) ETA: not doing table visits give you a chance to sit and eat with your new spouse too. I'm really, really looking forward to a few moments at our sweetheart table together!

Thanks! I think I will consider doing the receiving line with just the groom and I at the exit of the ceremony or just doing really quick minute table visits like Wendy C suggested. I don't think I'll do the picture thing anymore. So glad you all are able to give good advice and actually answer the question I'm asking! Much better than some of the other website forums I've seen! Thanks everyone!

The picture thing sounds complicated. Eat first, then do table visits while everyone else is still eating (and seated). If you miss anyone in that process, try to find them over the course of the rest of the evening.

All the weddings I've been to its been one or the other.

The only negative I see with doing it on the way out is not everyone will stay until the end. At least 25% of our guests left before the end of the reception. We had 140 people and did very quick table visits. We said thanks for coming and moved on. It took less than 30 minutes. We talked to at least half of the guests longer than that throughout the evening.

We did the visiting table thing and took pictures with each table too...it went faster than I thought. I love that we have pictures with everyone at every table too.

We ended up doing a receiving line at the church. Which was not that long at all and we visited the tables as well. Our photographers suggested that after the speeches and formalities we start with the pictures. It was one of of the things that we really wanted to have it done. I love that we have these pictures and it went so smooth. The way our photographer aligned the guests for picture made it so much faster. While we were taking the picture at one table, the other photographer arranged the next table so they were all ready for us. It made a big difference on time. No more than 20 min.