Best way for a couple to thank guests is to have a receiving line
We are in the middle of the busy wedding season and in last week’s column, I gave a timely lesson to bridal couples on the importance of thank you notes. In that column, I also emphasized the need for couples to “thank” guests for coming to their event. The best way to thank guests is to have a receiving line.
Each year I feel the need to re-emphasize this gracious tradition and explain its importance. Sure the world is a hectic and busy place and the pressure on the couple to skip this gracious custom is encouraged by photographers, participants, and even some reception and ceremony site coordinators. Rush to get the ceremony photos taken-rush to get to the reception-rush, rush, rush- and before you know it-the event is over and the busy bridal couple hasn’t even greeted half of their guests.
Couples need to greet their guests. The guests dressed up for the occasion, traveled to the wedding location bearing gifts, and now they are eager to congratulate the couple. A receiving line is the best and most efficient way to greet and acknowledge a guest. If a couple is having a large wedding; this may be their only opportunity to greet guests.
A receiving line can be set-up at the exit of the ceremony site or at the reception. A typical receiving line is composed of the bride’s mother, the bride’s father, the groom’s mother, the groom’s father, the bride and groom.
Attendants need not participate in the receiving line and sometimes the fathers prefer not to participate, too, and opt to mingle with the crowd. Remember the fewer the people participating in the receiving line, the quicker the process.
Another alternative to the traditional receiving line is the practice of releasing the pews by the bride and groom.
Immediately after the recessional, the bride and groom walk back down the aisle. They go directly to the first rows and greet their parents. After they receive hugs and kisses from their parents, they release and greet the next row, and so on.
I have witnessed a giltch in this process though. I
have seen after the bride and groom hug and kiss their parents; the parents exit and then form their own receiving line at the back of the church.
This arrangement works out smoothly until the bride and groom greets their guests too quickly, as the parents greet their guests too slowly. After the guests are released from their pews, they still have to wait in line to talk to the parents.
To avoid this dilemma, the parents need to mingle with the crowd and not stay together.
I believe the only advantage to releasing the pews versus a receiving line is to the wedding guests. They can remain seated while they wait for the bride and groom to release their pew and they do not have to stand in line.
The final option is to greet guests at the reception.
The bridal couple can go to each table and say hello.
Unfortunately, the couple cannot guarantee that each guest will be seated at their table when they stop by as guests may be in the bar, the restroom, on the dance floor or at an eating station.
In this instance, the opportunity to miss a guest is quite high.
The couple who leaves the greeting task to the reception will also find that reception activities, such the toast, special dances, and the cake cutting, will keep them occupied and distracted from greeting guests.
The efficient and gracious couple accomplishes the greetings early in the event time frame and then is free to participate in all of their wedding activities.
K. Joy Schaeffer is a bridal consultant. You can e-mail her at bridejoy@yahoo.com.