Receiving Line Savers
The receiving line is a time-honored tradition that allows guests to give their good wishes to the bride and groom, while allowing the bride and groom to thank guests for their attendance. Depending on the size of the wedding, it's a tradition that many couples are looking for alternatives to, simply because of the length of time it can take to perform.
Most experts agree that a receiving line takes at least 30 min. for every 100 guests and with the new trend of holding the reception closer to the time of the actual ceremony, there simply isn't enough time to greet that many family and friends directly after the ceremony. To tackle this problem some bridal couples have instigated a "cocktail mingle" to replace the traditional receiving line.
Instead of standing around directly following the ceremony, or being at the ready at the entrance to the reception area with guests waiting in line, some couples have chosen to have a cocktail hour instead. Guests can enjoy a few drinks and hors d'oeuvres and mingle. Making a grand entrance, the bride and groom can then settle into one area of the room, where guests can approach them at their leisure. This gives your guests the freedom to enjoy the time chatting with other guests, and partaking in some refreshments.
Another way to handle the receiving line is to wait until after the dinner has been served and then the bride and groom can circulate the room, greeting each of their guests in turn and taking the opportunity to present to them personally, their wedding favor as a gift to take home with them.
While both these ideas involve only the bride and groom, leaving out both their parents and attendants, bridal couples can run into a problem if any of the guests are friends of their parents and not known to them personally. While this dilemma may be addressed by having both of your parents by your side during the "cocktail mingle", it is a situation that could get sticky when you find yourself unable to address someone by name.
Based on your knowledge of the guest list and the numbers that will be in attendance, only you and your fiancé can best decide whether a receiving line is in line with the wedding you wish to have, but most would agree: greeting your guests and thanking them for their attendance in person, is an absolute must for all weddings.
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