Receiving Line ???

We didnt have one and I'm glad that we didnt.

Exactly this.

Me and my OH are going to quickly welcome people before our first dance x

We're not having one. They're dated and annoying. The plan is that everyone will be seated ready for the meal when we arrive back from our photos.

I really really don't want one and am not having one. I just find the whole thing a bit...fake. I'd much rather talk to all of guests naturally than having to stand a kiss so many people and do a quick 'hi how are you? Great!' Next! I'm really not a kissy kissy person though.

I think it's a bit stuffy and outdated these days. I've been to dozens of weddings and only one had a receiving line. It was my cousin's, so I obviously knew his parents and had a bit of a chat, but I didn't know his wife's parents at all, so it was a bit of an awkward hand shake and "thank you for inviting us"/"thank you for coming" before moving on to the next person.

My sister was going to have one, but ran out of time and she's now glad she didn't. They had a small wedding, so she had a chance to go round and see everyone during the day, which really is the whole idea.

I think it can make people feel a little awkward.

Yes !

I'm off the same opinion, feel they are fake and a waste of time. I'd rather have the extra time to go round and thank all our guests in a more individual way.

On top of that how many times did they need thanked !

FOB and Groom will no doubt do it in speeches

Groom will thank everyone at end of night.

and we are intending being in the reception area as everyone is checking out the next day- so yet again THANKS FOR COMING !! PHEW!!!

Mother will just HAVE to find it rude !

Were not having one as they take far to long and i think they are abit dated now.

We did mention it to our venue and even they said were better without one.

We had one between the civil ceremony and our chapel service. It wasn't a big thing, moved very quickly and meant we had at least said hello to everyone there, and gave our parents the chance to meet all our friends.

I've only been to one other wedding that had one though, so it's not essential.

Nope. Ours would take forever!! I'm hoping to get round everyone later as we have a gap between the meal and band

I didn't have one, never even contemplated it. We only had 50-odd guests though, so more than enough time to chat with everyone individually (I don't really understand weddings that are so big you wouldn't be able to do this anyway...). Obviously, we all chatted at afternoon drinks, then I zipped around the tables between dinner/dessert. Then throughout the evening, we saw everyone.

Didn't have one, didn't want one. They seem to me to be old fashioned and bit unfriendly, and guests hate waiting in line to say a brief hello and shake your hand. Boring!

Just make sure you make the effort to go round the tables or some other method, so that everyone feels they have had a chance to say hello and congratulations.

Hate them. Never know what to say and to be honest I'd rather be sitting down than hanging around waiting to get in to the venue. We didn't have one, we worked our way round the tables during the meal.

We didn't plan on having one but ended up having an impromptu one after ceremonies. The guests loved it although it was bloody tedious for us (my face ACHED from smiling!) but it was nice in a way to be be able to say hello to everyone so I'm glad we did. We also worked our way round the tables during the meal - which meant neither of us got to eat anything much!

We're not having one, I would rather speak to everyone during the day/night.

We're having one. I don't like them as they're too formal and dated, but my parents really want us to have one. They and OH parents have both contributed a significant amount towards our wedding and I feel like if it's important to them, I can grit my teeth through it and let this slide. I've not compromised anything else for my parents and think it will be nice for them and OH parents to feel part of our day.

I just wanted to thank the original poster and all the people who replied, thanks to the people who said they didn't have one, I managed to convince OH that they are a bit old fashioned and we don't need one. Just my personal preference of course, I really don't want one, would rather chat to people when they are having arrival drinks then cut it short to make a recieving line.

Same here

I haven't decided but my reasons to consider it are:

-we both have some 'sensitive' relatives who need to be greeted quickly

-it means I can eat and enjoy my meal knowing I've said hi to everyone

-as a guest it gave me an opportunity to say thank you and hello to the parents as I didn't know them and I would have felt awkward as a guest not knowing who the bride/groom's parents were and not saying congratulations (this is when it's a friend's wedding and I don't know their OH's parents)

That said they do feel a bit formal, so any ideas on how to do it quickly and laid back?

Interesting post! We were going to have one but having read the replies to this thread we have just decided against it! Thanks!

Just as an extra note, both my venue coordinator and photographer breathed a sigh of relief when I said I wasn't having one as they can take ages. Even at only 30 seconds per guest, mine would have taken an hour.

Thanks for all your replies, just confirmed what I thought of them,,,so deffo doing w/o

Our venue seemed keen for us to do one, but we weren't sure and haven't been to all that many weddings, so it's good to hear that quite a few of you aren't doing one as I think we've pretty much decided not to do it. We'll make sure we speak with everyone during/after dinner without it being overly formal.

We will not be having one, i hate them, my hands always get sweaty and i end up kissing someone's nose/ear lol

Another person not having one for the same reasons everyone else gave. My mum asked if we were having one and was a bit shocked when I said no but when we explained the reasons why she understood.

Whether I know them or not, I would always seek out the parents of the happy couple, introduce myself and have a few words about the day.

Exactly this. I dont know why you would only feel able to do this in a receiving line.

I meant more in that way as a guest I know I've done it early on in the day so I feel less on edge about forgetting to do it or them thinking I'm rude for not doing it early on.

Also the weddings I go to often have up to 200 people so it can be hard to seek people out. TBH in a wedding of 60 or so I think I'd find it easy to pop over and say thanks to them but in a room of 200 people sometimes it's hard.

That must be fun in a receiving line.?

I know, my friend got married in 2010 and had 300 people! (It was a traditional Hindu wedding) and she was so tired after!

We didn't.

I am not a fan, they take too long.

Mr C got up in between courses and visited every table (I wanted to go too but it took long enough to get my dress under the table the first time... but we were sat in the middle of the room so it was easy enough to chat across tables).

On a personal level, I think they're old and outdated and frankly , a bit of a waste of time...

I always put it to my couples like this... If you have sixty guests and you spend just one minute talking to each, which is frankly, not a long time, thats a whole hour, of standing in a line and saying "Thank you for coming!"

I personally would save that hour for the evening, BUT make a real effort to get up during the wedding breakfast and go round all the tables and just say 'Hi' to the everyone.

HOWEVER

On a practical note, if you do have a receiving line, you at least do say hello to each and every guest...

I realise this probably hasn't helped and just served to confuse things more, but you know, I had to have my say!

Pete x

P.S: Don't do it!!!