Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

Meg9-20-02 Posted: Jul 10, 2002 01:15 PM

Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

Help! I am not sure what to do. Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Here's the deal . . . We are getting married in a tiny church. We have a pretty big bridal party (6 BMs / 6 GM) plus too many parents (my FHs mom/dad, my mom/stepdad, and dad/stepmom). I really want to have a receiving line but there is NO room! Should I have a receiving line of just us and our parents (I'm not even sure there would be enough room for that). Should I just can the receiving line and just greet everyone at the reception? What do you all think? Any ideas?
Thanks so much!

OctBride Posted: Jul 10, 2002 01:16 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

Meg - Can you have the Receiving Line outside??

JennK Posted: Jul 10, 2002 01:19 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

I was in a couple of weddings where it was just bride and groom, parents, and MOH and Best man. I think you can just do it with your parents too. Your bridal party will wait outside ready to 'shower' you with whatever you choose to have tossed.

shamma Posted: Jul 10, 2002 01:20 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

You do not have to have the BP in the receiving line, it could be just you and your husband to be and your parents. We are skipping the receiving line all together, we are going to greet all our guest at the cocktail hour, which we will be attending.

Happy planning

dora Posted: Jul 10, 2002 01:21 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

You can definitely do just parents... At a friends weddng, her receiving line continued until it was out the door and down a few steps --> I think as long as you and your hubby are inside -- even if your line extends past the doors of the church to the outside it's fine (you just want to make sure you're inside so that when you finally exit the rice/petal/birdseed/ whatever toss can begin).

chmlengr Posted: Jul 10, 2002 01:22 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

We skipped the receiving line after the church ceremony because of timing. However, we did take the time during our reception to go around to each table to say hello to the people who came to share our day. In the end, it amounted to the same amount of time as doing a receiving line, and we had fun doing it.

Meg9-20-02 Posted: Jul 10, 2002 01:25 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

Wow! You guys are fast - Thank you so much for all your responses!
I was thinking about outside but there are only three steps down to a short path and that's it so it might be difficult to make a grand exit with all the tossing and such. I was also worried about rain.
I think I might try to do just me, Rob, his parents and my two sets of parents - but that's still a pretty long line. I am worried it might look weird if we don't greet our guests at the church - What if some people who weren't invited to the reception turn up at the ceremony?

shamma Posted: Jul 10, 2002 01:48 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

You can have the minister make an announcement that only the people that are not going to the reception should greet you on the RL. He can also add that you will be greeting all guest at the reception. It is your day, you must do what works best for you, to make it as smooth as possible

All the best and happy planning

Fran M Posted: Jul 10, 2002 02:44 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

You will be fine limiting it to your parents, you & hubby.
Just a note - I didnt think the receiving line would be anything great but I loved it. It was just a very loving, fun part of our wedding day. I am so happy we didnt skip it.

michele31 Posted: Jul 10, 2002 02:45 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

Just so you know, etiquette states that the bride, groom and mothers only need to stand in the line. No bridal party or Dads. The BP always feels silly anyway because all of these strangers are kissing them etc... That should help solve your problem.

applesfla Posted: Jul 10, 2002 02:47 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

If you are still concerned about a tight fit inside what about having you and your new husband on one side and the parents kind of across from you?

This might help with the fit but also might help to move things along a little faster because while people are waiting to greet the next person in line they can greet the person on the other side...does that make any sense? I just thought about that because at the last wedding I went to I remember everyone getting held up at one person or another and so you would greet one person and then have to wait to greet the next person because the person in front of you was still gabbing.

I would definitely not worry about having the BP in the line. When I was in my cousins wedding I was in the receiving line and I had all these people come by who I didn't know at all and it made things kind of awkward because neither of us knew what to say to each other.

Either way I'm sure it will all work out. Best of luck to you.

brooke Posted: Jul 10, 2002 04:29 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

Can you have the receiving line at the start of cocktail hour?

Meg9-20-02 Posted: Jul 10, 2002 04:53 PM

Re: Need Opinions! Re: Receiving Line

Thanks for all your input guys! I really, really appreciate it - It is giving me a lot to think about. I might also ask the priest at the church what we could do - I'm sure he's had that question before. Thanks again!