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The Receiving Line

The ceremony is over and now you’re married. And everyone wants to congratulate you. Many brides do not like the formality of a receiving line. However, many couples find it difficult and time consuming to meet and greet all of the guests during the reception.

So, you may want to consider having a receiving line to help take the pressure off you during the reception to speak with every guest. Then, you can feel free to dance the night away. Here are a few tips... 

The Set-Up

• The traditional order in the receiving line is: mother of the bride, mother of the groom, bride and groom. Many brides choose to add fathers, but this is strictly optional. If you do add them, they stand on the right-hand side of their wives. Guests move from the left to the right.
• Allow plenty of time to get through the line. If you have 200 guests, figure that it will take about 45 minutes.

Make It Go Smoothly

• Go over the guest list with your fiancé the night before. This will help you remember names.
  
  With all of the excitement of the day, it's easy to forget someone's name -- but don't worry. If you can’t remember a person’s name, either politely ask them their name or simply give them a big smile and thank them for coming. Chances are, they’ll never know.
• Keep comments brief and tell the other members of the receiving line to do the same.
• If you have the receiving line at the end of the ceremony, consider playing background music for the guest’s enjoyment.
• Another option is to do the receiving line at the cocktail hour. That way, guests can sip champagne and munch on appetizers while waiting to say hello.

A New Twist To An Old Tradition

• Consider having you and your husband release the guests row by row. Start with the front row on the bride’s side and zigzag back and forth until you get to the last row. This moves faster than a traditional receiving line.

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