They’re a great way to greet all of your guests, but they do take time that could be spent doing other things. So should you do a receiving line?
It’s common wedding etiquette: brides and grooms should greet everyone who attends their wedding.
But, let’s be real. This is probably the biggest party you’ve ever thrown, with invites extended to people you may only remember from childhood (or not at all). It’s not every day that we’re in the same place as hundreds of our family and friends, and that can be incredibly overwhelming.
At the same time, you don’t want to totally ignore those who’ve taken the time (and the money) to celebrate with you. It is YOUR day, but it might be a pretty lonely event if you had no guests show up!
One way to solve the greeting dilemma is to do a receiving line. Some couples go this route, and some don’t. Should you?
Image courtesy of The Glenmar Studio
What is a receiving line?
A receiving line takes place immediately after the ceremony. You and your spouse walk back down the aisle, wait outside the ceremony space, and greet each guest as they leave the room or building. Your guests may want to take a few moments and offer their congratulations, so a line is formed.
Doing a receiving line isn’t a requirement, for you or your guests. You may choose to move on to pictures, hop in a limo, or do something else immediately after you’ve said “I do.” It’s not a requirement for your guests, either. Some may want to catch you at the party instead, so they’ll skip the line altogether.
Image courtesy of Heartfelt Studio
What are the pros of doing a receiving line?
The biggest advantage to doing a receiving line is that it allows you to greet every guest at a dedicated time. There may not be many opportunities to see everyone during the reception (not without forgoing the dance floor or skipping dinner, anyway), so a receiving line gives both you and your guests the chance to focus on each other without the usual wedding distractions.
Also, if you wait until the reception, you’ll be rushing around your venue to say your hellos. With a receiving line, it’s the other way around — your guests come to you.
What are the cons of doing a receiving line?
The downside to receiving lines is that they take time — especially if you’ve got a big guest list. Instead of rolling through your photo list, heading off to your venue, or even just spending a few quiet moments with your new spouse, you’ll be hunkered down and talking to everyone as they leave your ceremony. And that can get tiring.
Realistically, you’ll also probably encounter a few guests that want to say a lot more than just a quick “congrats!” This can create a bottleneck effect for guests leaving your ceremony space, potentially causing a bit of chaos and discomfort.
Image courtesy of Miralli Photography
Should you do a receiving line?
As with almost everything wedding-related, the decision over a receiving line comes down to your personal preferences. It’s your day, and you get to decide what’s important.
If you’ve got a smaller guest list, you’re doing a “first look” and getting a lot of pictures done early, or you just want to enjoy your party without the pressure of table hopping, a receiving line might be the way to go. If you’ve got a hefty guest list, you really want to make your cocktail hour, or you feel awkward having to stand and talk to a lot of people, skipping the receiving line is probably your best option.
If you’re still on the fence, ask your photographer! They’ll have a set timeline they’re sticking to, and they could be the deciding vote one way or the other.