Do you think people would be offended if...

AtticaQT Posted: Feb 24, 2004 07:21 PM

Do you think people would be offended if...

we dont have a receiving line at the church...or we dont include the parents in the receiving line?

We are dealing with a small time frame for sun availability and I really want to take some pics outside. Church right now is at 3 - i am trying to move it to 2 pm. Sunset is at 4:46pm. And my ceremony is about an hour.
I cant move the ceremony before 2 though.

Jan05Bride Posted: Feb 24, 2004 07:25 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

I'm debating the same thing. January is sooooo cold to make people stand outside of church to wait for the receiving line to be over!
But how do you get around it, everyone is going to come up to you anyway so maybe a formal line is the way to go.

Sorry I'm not sucha big help!

nferrandi Posted: Feb 24, 2004 07:28 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

Wht don't you either skip the RL all together and visit each table during the reception, or maybe you could do it at the start of the CH.

september2004 Posted: Feb 24, 2004 07:29 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

I think the only way people will be 'offended' is if you don't thank them in SOME WAY during the event. Whether it be in form of a receiving line or table rounds during the reception and/or cocktail hour, I think what's most important is that you do say 'hello' and 'thank you' to each individual guest.

julz33 Posted: Feb 24, 2004 07:31 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

We aren't doing a receiving line, becase the cocktail hour starts immediately after...and we are going to greet the guests at the cocktail hour.

AtticaQT Posted: Feb 24, 2004 07:34 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

I'd rather go take pictures immediately and then be able to go to my cocktail hour. Problem is FH says his parents will get offended - i havent passed it by them - but i'd rather convince him a little more before i try to tackle the FILs on this issue. I definitely plan on saying saying hi at some point - i dunno - i have to figure out how we are going to do this - i mean if it is just the two of us - it;ll go really quickly but i've been to wedding where it is the ENTIRE bridal party and that jsut takes forever!!

sarahthegreat Posted: Feb 24, 2004 07:37 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

IMO - you either have the entire bridal party in the rec line or you have none. It seems tacky to rush off right after the ceremony to take pictures. I understand the time issue, but is it really that big a deal to have the rec line?

AtticaQT Posted: Feb 24, 2004 08:26 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

We acutally arent going ot be rushing out of the church - we are going to be taking pictures in teh church first...

RedHead Posted: Feb 24, 2004 08:29 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

Posted by nferrandi

Wht don't you either skip the RL all together and visit each table during the reception, or maybe you could do it at the start of the CH.

I am skipping it all together and thanking people at the reception

bizzybridesmom Posted: Feb 24, 2004 08:32 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

Personally, I hate receiving lines; such a waste of time. It's not like you won't see these same people & talk with them a the reception. But how would you get out of the church after your guests if ther's no receiving line?

LoriH Posted: Feb 24, 2004 08:35 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

I know I would not be offended but honestly depends on the person. One thing I have to keep reminding myself is no matter how much I want to make everyone comfortable and happy it is impossible to do. In the end I know that I will have made all of my plans and decisions with the best intentions in mind and that is what matters to me.

As long as you make a point to thank everyone at the reception, I see no problem not having a receiving line.

sarahthegreat Posted: Feb 24, 2004 08:35 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

sorry, i did not mean to offend..i realize it came off that way. i was at a wedding on fri. & they had a rec line then took pics outside. why not just do that?

AtticaQT Posted: Feb 24, 2004 08:39 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

Posted by smm2675

sorry, i did not mean to offend..i realize it came off that way. i was at a wedding on fri. & they had a rec line then took pics outside. why not just do that?

Dont worry - i didnt get offended - the main issue is also that its going to Jan so i dont want to have people waiting outside in the cold either. This whole issue is moot if FH insists that we have a receiving line.

AtticaQT Posted: Feb 24, 2004 08:40 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

Posted by bizzybridesmom

Personally, I hate receiving lines; such a waste of time. It's not like you won't see these same people & talk with them a the reception. But how would you get out of the church after your guests if ther's no receiving line?

We are taking some pictures in church - so basically - do the recenssional - then go around to the front and do the signing of the marriage certificate and take pictures - when we see that everyone has gone out we are going to go out them - well it works all perfectly in my head - i dont know if it would work in acutallity though.

Jordan Posted: Feb 24, 2004 09:09 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

Posted by oct.2004bride

I am skipping it all together and thanking people at the reception

Same here.

mcc101 Posted: Feb 24, 2004 09:14 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

I don't think they would be offended - I was in a wedding where the couple walked to the back and the church had another exit so they went through there to go back in the front of the church and take pics with bridal party and themselves and both pair of parents were actually doing the receiving line and thanking everyone for coming, etc. it worked out great and no one seemed to get offended....

WeddingsRock Posted: Feb 24, 2004 09:56 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

I didn't do a receiving line after my wedding and it saved a bunch of time. To be honest I really didn't want to kiss all of those people and mess up my make-up. I know that it is horrible, but I hate kissing people hello! That being said, people didn't really seem to mind!

SomedayBride Posted: Feb 24, 2004 10:00 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

I don't know if they'll be offended. I think it depends on your guests. If you invited a lot of young people, probably not, but older people probably will be offended.
As a general rule, I say if I have to ask if it is offensive/tacky, it probably is. (at least in the eyes of some people)

Lorena Posted: Feb 25, 2004 02:08 PM

Re: Do you think people would be offended if...

Posted by bizzybridesmom

...how would you get out of the church after your guests if ther's no receiving line?

I think it's fine not to have a receiving line (assuming you will greet your guests individually at the cocktail hour/reception), however, do consider bizzybridesmom's thought. I went to a wedding where the bride and groom didn't have time for a recieving line so they waited in a separate room in the back on the church for the guests to leave. That would have been fine - but the room had glass windows and everyone could see them in there. It looked horrible because everyone knew they were just standing there and not saying hello !!! So, if you just plan your exit ahead of time I think it'd be fine.