What exactly is a receiving line...

Is it the people who stand outside the church and throw rice or whatever? (such a rookie question huh? )

Its after the ceremony. You and your FH along with both of your parents stand in the back near the door in a line, in order for your guests who attended the ceremony to greet you and wish you well.

Then after they greet you, they usually go outside and wait for you to exit the church and then they do the toss/bubbles, etc.

Yup! That's exactly what it is....

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Posted by May2004

Its after the ceremony. You and your FH along with both of your parents stand in the back near the door in a line, in order for your guests who attended the ceremony to greet you and wish you well.

Then after they greet you, they usually go outside and wait for you to exit the church and then they do the toss/bubbles, etc.

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Thanks but one more question... if you dont have one, then do all the guests just wait outside the church to throw the rice in no particular order?

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Posted by Shea

don't guests just 'know' that you are going to have a recieving line because you are standing there??

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I think so too.

Diamondgrlie, because you are the first ones out and then your parents so then where would you go?

I guess if you didn't want one your photographer could pull you to the side and take some pictures or something like that. But I really wouldn't know how that would look? I think your guests are expecting to wish you well and if you don't I think it may look rude - JMO?

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Posted by May2004

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Posted by Shea

don't guests just 'know' that you are going to have a recieving line because you are standing there??

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I think so too.

Diamondgrlie, because you are the first ones out and then your parents so then where would you go?

I guess if you didn't want one your photographer could pull you to the side and take some pictures or something like that. But I really wouldn't know how that would look? I think your guests are expecting to wish you well and if you don't I think it may look rude - JMO?

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Oh I forgot that we walk out first... Never got married before.

Hmmmm that makes it more confusing. So when you and hubby walk out, you stand to the side and let the guests leave and then you walk out through the guests and then they throw rice. I have only been to weddings where the ceremony was at the hall.

yeah.

You walk back up the asile (and usually the photographer tells you where to stand) but you stand to one side (I have always seen the bride/groom stand on the right-hand side when existing the church). So while you are standing there the Brides parents and Grooms parents stand along with you.

A line forms and the guests start saying hello. As the guests move up the line to the last one on line they go outside and stand around the door waiting for you to come out.

Ok now I remember my aunts wedding... I was 7 or 8 years old. Yes, I am doing a receiving line then. Thanks for your help.

any time