Table visits at reception?

Last wedding I went to, they placed 2 chairs in front of their head table so that while they were eating dinner if guests wanted to come visit they could, after the couple was done eating they mingled with everyone.

This is something I really don't understand .....If you think there is 'no time' to visit with guests, then why invite them, really? You eat, you go to each table before they are dismissed to the buffet and you attempt to spend a few minutes at each table.

That should be a priority.

I like the idea, personally, of making sure you get a picture with everybody

@Celia I think maybe you were misunderstanding me. I will be visiting with guests the entire reception and of course I want to talk with everyone. I don't want everyone to be forced to sit at their table for an hour while the groom and I make our way from table to table. But anyway I think you all are right and like I previously stated, I will probably either do the receiving line at the exit of the ceremony or the (very short) table visits. I had thought before that table visits needed to last 5 min or so and that's why I thought people would be sitting forever. Also I think some of you misunderstood..I will either be doing this at the exit of the ceremony or the beginning of the reception (not at the exit of the reception). Thank you for all your comments and good advice!

Releasing the pews is a form of a receiving line. It's less traditional but saves people from having to stand in line. It's what my parents did in the 80's and what FH and I plan to do.

I've been to a wedding that didn't have any form of a receiving line, just table visits. People were literally leaving before the bride and groom made it to all the tables.

Of course you'll need to mingle at the reception, but I would highly suggest some form of receiving line, so you have a chance to thank each person for coming.

HELP

My Fiance and I are getting married next year at the beach and the reception is a sit down dinner and I don't know what are the rules of either does the bride and groom visit each table saying thank you for coming or do the guests come visit us during the dinner because my Fiance's sister and brother in law did it the guests visit them and my sister and brother in law visit each table during the reception the only difference though is my sister's had h'sorbs and my fiancé's sister had a sit down meal so I was hoping any of you can give me some advice please and thank you.

The thing is people won't sit and wait at the table for the entire hour. They will mingle with other guests and go to the bar and get drinks. Maybe go to the bathroom. My cousin got married at the end of September and they did table vistits. No one was sitting at the tables bored waiting for the bride and groom. You are making this way more complicated than it needs to be.