Where does the receiving line fit in?

It's for after the ceremony.

The receiving line happens after the ceremony, however, I'd suggest not doing one. Most people don't just do the "Hey, congrats" thing and then move along. They suck you into idle chitchat forever. So it bores the pants off all of your guests, and really cuts into your photo time.

Instead, while people are eating, go to each table and greet your guests. SInce they're sitting and you're standing, you can move along when you're ready.

@Shannon: Yeah, I'm completely considering not doing one. What FH and I would really like to do is basically run down the aisle and kind of sneak out with the photographer without anyone knowing

plus, as a guest, I've always been weirded out by receiving lines. they're just so awkward...

Oh, they're not just awkward, they're horribly dull! Skip them if at all possible - just have someone make an announcment that there will not be a receiving line and guests should proceed directly to the reception.

Okay, so what's the thing called when the bride and groom leave the reception and everyone throws rice, or whatever? And what can I do if I can't throw anything or light sparklers?

Thats just called "the exit", I think?

Ya the exit..that can happen after the ceremony, some do it when leaving the reception.Some even have people blow bubbles when they enter the reception..For the receiving line a good way to do it (if you want) is to walk back up the aisle and the couple dismisses everyone row by row/greats people..that way you have more control, since you are the ones moving around. I'm not sure yet if I'm doing that, but my dad went to a wedding recently and said he really liked that they did that.

People throw rice and such usually AFTER the ceremony. I have been to some weddings where a receiving line is after the ceremony but more often than not, they are held as people enter the reception (at least that is how it is done in the Midwest). Some people have a grand exit after the reception with sparklers and such.

Most weddings nowadays skip any type of receiving line and the bride and groom visit each table during dinner to welcome their guests.

No to the receiving line! They are BORING for everyone involved. It happens after the wedding, usually as people enter the reception.

Thanks everyone! I guess I won't be doing a receiving line! haha. I had always planned to go table to table during the reception and talk to all the guests. I recently went to a wedding where they didn't even do that. It was kind of disappointing because I didn't get a single word with the bride or groom the entire day!

I went to a wedding last summer where they gave everyone little bells to ring as they were exiting and I've seen some people use ribbons. Those are a couple ideas instead of bubbles or rice if you want to have something for the send off or exit.

I love the little bells idea! that wasn't something i had thought of before!

We did ribbon wands and noisemakers for the recessional - it was deafening but fun.

I love the bubble idea...little bells, handed out at the end, could be fun too.

My daughter and her DH did not "exit" the venue. The wedding and reception were held at a hotel and they stayed there, that night. So, they simply stayed until the last guests left.

I love the idea of ribbon wands, and was going to make them for my wedding, but totally ran out of time! They're really cute for pictures and easy to make.. just time consuming!

Love the ribbons too! thanks for the great ideas! i was seriously wracking my brain trying to come up with something that isn't thrown... lol

Instead of receiving lines, I usually advise couples to consider visiting each table during the reception - it takes less time and it keeps everyone else free to continue doing whatever they wish while you make the rounds.

I know most venues these days ban confetti, rice, etc...too bad, because they make great photos. I would caution anyone about using bubbles, however - if bubbles land on your wedding dress, they can cause staining.

We'll definitely have a receiving line. We have over 300 guest attending the ceremony, but only 160 are attending the reception. So we're using the receiving line to thank and hug those guests that attended our ceremony, but won't be attending the reception. I have two young girls in line with us with baskets full of chocolate in satin personalized bags to hand to each guest. Its a way to thank them for sharing our ceremony with them, even though we didn't have enough space for them to attend the reception. So no throwing....just hugging and thanking, and if they have a camera, we'll pose with them :-)