Receiving Lines

When you do recieving lines at your weddings how do you have them line up?

I was thinking a double line Brides family and friends on one side, Groom's on the other any over flow fills in on either side....

As each member of the bridal parties introduced the go to the end of the line closest to the head table to recieve the next couple right up to the B&G... Then have the lines form into a complete circle and do the 1st dance.


Is that pretty much it in a nutshell?

I think I've done 2 receiving lines in the past 10 yrs.
Receiving lines have gone the way of the ruffled tuxedos.
(but R.Lines are still popular with LDS weddings)

If anyone is still doing them I think most of the time they are right after the ceremony (at the church?) There are a number of reasons why you don't see them anymore, but the number #1 reason: they take toooo long.

If you have it, just include the bride, groom & their parents.

That's my $0.02

Okay ask your Bride what her input is and then make it work to cater to her. Just because something hasnt been done in a long time doesnt mean it cant make a come back or do it totally unique like none has ever been done before. I do like the first dance following as its a perfect Segue. Most west coast weddings wait until the end of toasts and such and I feel the perfect time is as they come in be it a recieving line or grand entrance. I do as my clients ask though.

I don't think it will take to much time considering this is what the client wants but also because I'll only be introducing the parents of the bride and the groom then the Bride and groom.... after all we aren't talkin' a 200 ppl wedding just about 50-75ppl maybe less depending on weather of course. And the fact that it's NYE too....

so if i go with my first thought

Line up the family and friends in two lines with say 5' between each...

Intro the two sets of parents.... have them go to the end of the recieving line as the last people the b&g will greet before finding their table... should work out fine... don't ya think?

Speaking of NYE I'll need to be really on my toes and be even more entertaining because of the risk of losing folks to NYE parties in the area.... man... this is gonna be fun.

I don't.... around here that gets done at the church... before I ever see them.

Okay ask your Bride what her input is and then make it work to cater to her. Just because something hasnt been done in a long time doesnt mean it cant make a come back or do it totally unique like none has ever been done before. I do like the first dance following as its a perfect Segue. Most west coast weddings wait until the end of toasts and such and I feel the perfect time is as they come in be it a recieving line or grand entrance. I do as my clients ask though.


Yeah in the end it's what they want not what we think is best...

My bride wants to feed folks as soon as the intro's are done since we aren't starting until 8:30pm...

I'm guessing the wait staff want dinner started right away too... so it may be more than a preference of hers but a venue demand.

I don't.... around here that gets done at the church... before I ever see them.


That's why I ask... now my parents did the recieving line thing but that was almost 37 yrs ago...

Greets, Rob. :)

Wedding reception receiving lines are a very old and time-honored tradition.

To be honest, I haven't seen a receiving line since I was a pup. Methinks they're going the way of cardboard tampon applicators (inside joke, no pun intended).

This is a great video opportunity nonetheless. :)

If your B&G want a receiving line, would it be feasible to work it in after dinner? Reason I ask, if the catering wants to get done, set up a receiving line at the buffet. If there's no buffet (tables served), you may wish to get with the B&G to set aside a time for the line before anyone leaves.

Would it be possible to set up a receiving line a bit later?

well since it's only a 4 hour event probably not... but I'm only intro'ing parents and the B&G.... I'll find out tho when I meet to finalize with her on Thurs. Me thinks recieving line might not fit in well until later too.

Thing is they aren't getting married in a church it's gonna be them their parents and a justice of the piece everyone else is just meeting at the reception for the party... so that is why I think she wants the recieving line... this is his first marriage and her second.

Basically the receiving line normally just consists of the bridal party. Very rarely do clients request them here either.

Seems like more so that the bride and groom make a point of going to each table to welcome their guests and quite a few also have a welcome announcement.

Sounds like everything is going to be great Rob, good luck!

If a receiving line is done here it is done at the church.

I never done one in 11 years of receptions.

Here the B&G walks around a greets every table as soon as they finish their meal. Last night they didn't even do that.

[QUOTE=DJ Cam;121796]If a receiving line is done here it is done at the church.

I never done one .

Here the B&G walks around a greets every table as soon as they finish their meal. QUOTE]


Cam's got it right there! :clap: :clap:

and so it cant be reborn the old way? I guess Soldier Boy wont be doing ballads in Vegas in the future.

I understand that they aren't done much if at all anymore...

I personally have never seen one except in the movies.

I'm going to be talking with her on Thursday and will lay it out for her... but thing is we are only talking about 3 couples being intro'd then right into dinner.... not the entire royal family.

In agreement with Cam, I recall seeing 'em done at church social or fellowship hall receptions when I was a pup. That's goin' back 40 years or so. 'Tweren't no music or anything... it was more of a social gathering for kin and clan.

If memory serves (big if), the way it was done ~ the B&G, wedding party and other assorted sundries would queue up inside the entrance and greet the guests as they came in the room.

Guests worked their way down the receiving line, shaking hands with the fellas and hugging the women (vice versa for the ladies). Once ya made yer way to the end of the line, ya found a seat. When everyone was seated, the minister said grace and dinner was served.

It's a very old tradition that I recall from Southern Baptist church receptions that were done on site. The receiving line seems to have been replaced by the grand entrance today. That's just my observation anyhow.

Bottom line if its the clients wishes to part the RED SEA we must make it happen or refer them elsewhere.

I just emailed her and relayed some of the concerns you have brought up in your posts guys.

Just to give her some food for thought. And something for us to discuss on Thursday.

okay not to be Ed The Sawk here but our advice is good but one week before the event we are going to change the whole idea the Bride has had in her head since a small child? Perhaps it has a sentiment for her Moms wedding. I think you should help enhance the dreams with advice not change the whole direction. We are the instrument to success in whatever production the client hopes to emote.

okay not to be Ed The Sawk here but our advice is good but one week before the event we are going to change the whole idea the Bride has had in her head since a small child? Perhaps it has a sentiment for her Moms wedding. I think you should help enhance the dreams with advice not change the whole direction. We are the instrument to success in whatever production the client hopes to emote.

No, I don't expect that to happen at all I just want her to be well informed because it had struck me as I read through my notes that she was concerned about getting people eating as soon as possible. My email was an information email not a, "Hey ya know what the guys over on ODJT say this is time consuming and old fashioned maybe ya otta rethink" Quite the opposite... I simply laid out how it would work then addressed the issue of timing for her... it probably isn't going to be a problem I just like a well informed client.

And your right, maybe it is some childhood dream or dedication to mother who knows, she didn't say.

In the end it will be done as the client wishes. I just didn't know if there was anything special done aside from lineing folks up with an asile between them for the bridal party and b&g to walk down greating their guests. If that's all there basically to it... then I don't see a problem with doing one.

The plan is to play Trumpet Volunteer as they are intro'd and walk down greeting one another which will then roll into another Trumpet song I have (title escapes me at the moment) if they need more time to greet.

I was in no way attempting to label your intentions it just seemed everyone was saying its not done anymore and my thought was sometimes old is new.

I was in no way attempting to label your intentions it just seemed everyone was saying its not done anymore and my thought was sometimes old is new.

Thanks, ya I also wanted to clarify that I was in no way trying to desuade (sp?) her from doing it but to give her information to make an informed decision about her reception because timming was one of the top things we discussed at the initial meeting.

Start time is 8:30 which is a very late dinner time to begin with and complicating it with a long receiving line may do them a disservice. The sense I got was they might be afraid their guests (none of which will be at the actual wedding) will leave early for NYE parties if not fed soon enough and then partied like a rock star.

I wonder if I can bring my hazer to the party... not a normal item for weddings but then again this is a wedding/nye party.

Greets, Rob.

Since this is a wedding/NYE party, there's your incentive for the guests to stay. :)

Yah, I agree that 8:30 may be a bit late for dinner but there's always the option of some finger food before the wedding. Something for the guests to nibble on. They're already there... why leave?

To be honest, a receiving line isn't gonna delay dinner by more than a few minutes, if that. The guests are gonna be moseying in anyhow. Let 'em make their way down the line as they come in and then find seats (or hit the buffet). If it's a buffet, everything is cool. If it's a served meal, let the caterers know to git to servin' as the tables fill.

Thoughts?

Thing is the receiving line is going to be done in the reverse and more like a grand entrance than anything else.... instead of the B&G and family or bridal party lineing up greeting guests as they arrive it will be the guests that greet the B&G and family as they arrive.

Based on what I'm reading this is not the way a traditional receiving line is done and is more akin to a grand entrance with hand shakes and hugs instead of cheers and applause.

so its almost like something new after all. They will be the greeting line. My experience is that though an event begins at 830 guests will begin arriving a bit early. Even 30 minutes early perhaps you make sure the Greeters are prepared for just that. Also some folks will show up fashionably late they might not get the formal greet in this but be staring at the end of the buffet line. Now that I get the whole situation make sure they are aware of these two curves in the road ahead. I like this idea.

Yeah I kinda akin it to a military recieving line... ya know the ones where the Marines hold their swords high and cross them over top of the receiving line... then slap the couple on the butt after they walk through but instead of the good 'ol butt slap with a sharp object they greet each person in the lines...