Greeting guests the day of

cw0904 Posted: Jul 02, 2002 01:12 PM

Greeting guests the day of

For past brides and for those coming up soon, what did you do or will do as far as greeting guests. Will it be at the cocktail hour, half cocktail and reception or just reception. This may sound very selfish but I want to enjoy my wedding. Not spend the entire 5 hours walking around. FH and I love spending time with everyone but we want to be able to enjoy our day and what we put into it. We want to dance and have a good time. We have been going back and forth on when we should see the guests. What do you say to those that insist on yapping without insulting them? A friend of mine went to a wedding and the bride and groom spent the majority of the time greeting guests and only spent 30 minutes enjoying the wedding. I don't want this to happen to us Any suggestions will help.
Thanks
Wanda

LisaT Posted: Jul 02, 2002 01:21 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

We talked to ALOT of people at the cocktail hour. We greeted a lot as they came in (we happened to get caught by the door for awhile). But we also went around to some tables during the reception. We did it quickly - never lingering too long and we had a wonderful time at our wedding.

We danced all night long - the guests enjoyed watching us enjoy ourselved and they were up dancing with us.

Licia Posted: Jul 02, 2002 01:32 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

I agree...We don't want to spend the whole night greeting our guests...we figured we will greet the guest while they are seated for the first couple of courses. A short hi and thank you for coming is sufficient...We don't want a receiving line at the end of the night so we will walk around as quickly as we can in the beginning.

yabbobay Posted: Jul 02, 2002 01:34 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

We are going to try to greet people during the cocktail hour and whomever is left during dinner...

michele31 Posted: Jul 02, 2002 01:35 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

If you have a recieving line at the ceremony that helps to great your guests on their way out of the Church/Temple. We will greet some then, the others will be greeted at various points during the reception.

Fran M Posted: Jul 02, 2002 01:49 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

We made 'the official rounds' during dinner. We also had time during the cocktail hour to chat with guests. Your guests know that you cant spend a lot of time with each one of them. This worked great for us. We had plenty of time to dance, eat and enjoy!

NIHA Posted: Jul 02, 2002 01:55 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

This was actually very easy for us, since we only had 62 guests. Between the cocktail hour and reception, we covered everyone especially during dinner and dancing. During the cocktail hour, I wanted to relax for a few minutes, so we actually sat down, and our guests came over to us. I made sure that I said goodbye to every single guest, since most stayed til the very end. My husband and I tried to do this together, but one of kept getting pulled to see someone else. So, he talked to his family more, and I talked to mine more. If you don't sit down, I think people understand that you have many people to talk to, and they won't keep you.

cw0904 Posted: Jul 02, 2002 02:08 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

For those that have appeared or will appear at the cocktail hour. Are you formally introduced and also at the reception or do you just pop up? I am really trying to push FH to agree on the greeting guests at the CH. Anyone have any words of wisdom to convince him will help!!

NINA Congratulations!!!! Your day must have been beautiful!

I wish I had 62 guests. We are looking at over 200. Yikes!!!

We are not having a receiving line. I don't like it and neither does FH-one thing we agree on!

dora Posted: Jul 02, 2002 02:33 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

I know when a friend of my FI's got married, they basically did an end-of-the-night group thank you -- because they didn't do the table rounds.

B]Re: Getting away from someone who's talking your ear off:
Figure out a signal you can use to alert your bridal party, groomsmen or maitre d' that they need to save you. If they get the sign, they can walk over to you, say excuse me, and whisper that there's something that needs your immediate attention / or that there's someone who needs to speak with you... whateva' Alternatively, you can always use the, 'I'm sorry, I have to excuse myself to use the ladies room..'

JennRenee Posted: Jul 02, 2002 02:38 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

We greeted everyone at our cocktail hour (it was 1.5 hours long, so we had plenty of time), and then touched base with people here and there during the reception. For us, it was ideal because we wanted to dance all night, and we did!
We were formally announced when we entered the reception, even though everyone had seen us at the cocktail hour, and it was exciting and put us on such a high! I recommend being introduced even if you are at your cocktail hour because it was so much fun!!

LisaT Posted: Jul 02, 2002 02:41 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

We were at the entire cocktail hour and also had the introduction into the reception. I'm so glad we were at teh cocktail hour - it gace us a chance to really mingle with people, without the pressure of missing out on dancing.

We had a receiving line at the Church. At the end of the night guests kinda line up (group around) to say goodbye too.

We had 220 guests and we got to everyone (I think )

jennbaby Posted: Jul 02, 2002 05:56 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

We are not seeing people untill our big introduction into our reception, so we will make our rounds during dinner! After all, the people are there to see us so why not?

JennK Posted: Jul 02, 2002 10:29 PM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

We are going to try and get to as many people as possible during the cocktail hour, whoever we dont get to, we will try to get to as early in the reception as possible so we can enjoy the rest of the night!!
Also, we are definitely having the introduction into the ceremony. That is always one of my favorite parts of the reception.

cw0904 Posted: Jul 03, 2002 08:43 AM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

JennK I am a little confused. Are you having an intro to the reception or both-CH and reception?

And for those that have come in during the CH, did you have a table for yourselves or was the room arranged the way they normally are?

Thanks all for your responses. I would love to speak to our guests or as many as possible at the CH if we can have more spare time during the reception.

JennRenee Posted: Jul 03, 2002 08:57 AM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

We never sat at our cocktail hour because we wanted to speak to everyone. The room was arranged for a regular cocktail hour, we just happened to be there! My bridesmaids brought us samples of all the food as we said our hellos, so we got to eat and greet!
The bridal suite was set up with food for any members of our bridal party who wanted down time, but I don't think anyone went in.

cw0904 Posted: Jul 03, 2002 09:11 AM

Re: Greeting guests the day of

This sounds like a good idea! Thanks JennRenee.
FH and I have to think this through further. I haven't experienced a wedding where the couple came in during the cocktail hour. But from all your input, it seem worth it. Plus I can eat and be relaxed. Two things FH keeps telling me I will need to do that day!