What do you think of receiving lines?

Yay or nay?

Every photographer we've met with has so far said that we should consider not having one as there’s a regular Mass at the church about 45 minutes after our wedding Mass. Having a receiving line will obviously cut into photo-time at the church.

I was just in a wedding where they did not have a receiving line and people were really surprised by it and some of the older people were a little annoyed.

What’s everyone’s opinion on this?

What do you think of receiving lines?

I will be having one. I think my mother and my mother in law will kill us if we didn't haha. But I am Italian so it's basically expected.

What do you think of receiving lines?

Were going to be having one too, for the same reason. It's pretty much expected and I think our parents would kill us lol but hopefully it will be a quick line lol

What do you think of receiving lines?

I actually like them if time allows for it. I think its a great way to make sure you greet everyone without the overwhelming feeling of walking into a room with people everywhere and trying to go table to table without missing anyone. I've seen couples do it right after church and right before cocktail hour. The only thing I don't like is having the bridal party stand in the receiving line with the bride & groom. I think its awkward for the bridal party and for the guests when they don't know each other and they're not sure if they should say hello or not. I think its all personal preference and as long as you do personally greet everyone it doesn't matter how you do it.

What do you think of receiving lines?

I think that, if you have the time to spare between the church and cocktail hour, they're a great idea. Theyre a nice way to get to see a lot of people.

Having a service after is actually ideal! That way when you have to cut it off, it's not arbitrary or your fault, but a clear end that has to be because of the church.

I say go for it if you have a few hours between. We're having our ceremony at the venue, so that isn't an option for us.

What do you think of receiving lines?

We are getting married at our venue so it is a little different for us, but... I actually just received some advice from a cousin the other night who got married last year. He said definitely have a receiving line and use it to say hello to all the guests and thank them; this way, you don't have to go around to each and every table during the reception because it takes so much time away from you and FH having a good time. I think this makes sense; however, my FMIL and some other aunts did not think that a receiving line can replace going around to each table during the reception. Just a thought!

Re: What do you think of receiving lines?

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Posted by ChristineNicole

I will be having one. I think my mother and my mother in law will kill us if we didn't haha. But I am Italian so it's basically expected.

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Same here.

Re: What do you think of receiving lines?

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Posted by chrisandwill2015

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Posted by ChristineNicole

I will be having one. I think my mother and my mother in law will kill us if we didn't haha. But I am Italian so it's basically expected.

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Same here.

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s

Agreed.. Miss Manners would kick my butt.

What do you think of receiving lines?

If my mother was around this wouldn't even be a question; I'd have to have one! Haha. I would prefer to have one myself, I am just unsure about photography times and hope the church doesn't throw us out early because of the next Mass.

What do you think of receiving lines?

I had one and it went really fast. It didn't cut into our pictures at all.

Re: What do you think of receiving lines?

Very funny you mentioned this.....

We are having a winter wedding. SO sunlight is def not on our side lol
We have our Church Ceremony at 2pm, and than I would like to get some photos with the daylight with my new husband! I feel a receiving line is respectful, but I am afraid to have one and lose that time to take pictures... Can I make a sign that says.. 30 seconds tops to each person?

What do you think of receiving lines?

We're doing one. I think both our families would have something to say if we didn't

Re: What do you think of receiving lines?

I'm sooo glad we did one because it gave me a chance to say hi to people who I completely missed at the venue

Re: What do you think of receiving lines?

I was just thinking about this as well! I know etiquette says you have to have one, but I'm leaning towards not having one.

We're having a large wedding...300+ (?), and depending on how many come to the ceremony, I feel like it's going to take forever. I read somewhere to plan on 20 sec per person.

We're doing first looks beforehand but our photog says he needs 20 minutes of cocktail hour to get family shots. I don't want to eat into that time because I want to be able to go to my cocktail hour. We're paying for this wedding, and I want to see as much of it as possible! =)

We're also having an extended reception (5 hours), so I figure we'll be able to make rounds during cocktail hour/reception and greet each of our guests.

Anyone else thinking of not doing a receiving line?

What do you think of receiving lines?

FH is Italian and I'm Hispanic... It's expected, but I actually would like to do it so I can enjoy my cocktail hour.

What do you think of receiving lines?

I'm torn. Also, having a fall wedding but after daylight savings so it is dark at 5 pm and we really want pics in sunlight/sunset at our venue in Sayville. Friday ceremony at 2pm at a small church in Massapequa cuts it close,.. I'm sure I will end up having one (both of our families are italian ah traditions) but it does concern me with the timing of everything and getting back outside/to the venue for pics.

What do you think of receiving lines?

We're getting married at our venue so we aren't having one. We have an hour and a half cocktail hour so we are planning on greeting everyone during that. Even if we do photos during the beginning of cocktail hour (we're doing a first look), we still plan to have 45-60 min during cocktail hour to greet everyone so we don't miss any dancing!

What do you think of receiving lines?

I went to a wedding last year that didn't have one. It was super awkward, no one knew where the bride and groom went and eventually everyone just wandered to their cars!

What do you think of receiving lines?

FH and I do not want one, but i had a HUGE fight with my mother about it last week. She is insisting that we have one. My photographer was worried about us having one and it cutting into photo time and then time to get to the reception. Because of this, we moved our mass up a half an hour (another thing that my mother was upset about, but she is better now). I think it was a fair compromise.

While this fight was going on, I asked a lot of girls at work and they all did/are doing receiving lines.