Receiving Line?  Maybe Not...

In the last few years we've seen receiving lines at less than twenty percent of the weddings we've attended - receiving lines can take a tremendous amount of time and are fairly boring for guests who may wait in line for thirty to forty minutes.

At the same time, some guests seem to appreciate the chance to speak to the bride, groom, and their immediate families, especially if they don't plan to attend the reception.  (And sometimes even if they will attend the reception, since you'll never get the chance to sit and talk with each guest.)  

Traditionally your wedding party is a part of the receiving line, but if you want to keep things moving, keep your line small.  At the most include yourselves and your parents.  You can keep things moving by speaking briefly with each person; if you get the feeling someone wants to talk, gently move them along.  

If you hold your receiving line at the church, do so at the back as guests leave.  If you'll have a receiving line at the reception, make sure food and drink is available; that way some guests will wait to join the line and no one will have to simply stand and wait to speak to you.

Also keep in mind that a receiving line held at the church holds up your post-ceremony bridal party photography session.  While that theoretically gives us time to set up, we also like to photograph you greeting your guests in the receiving line... so very little time is saved on our part.  If you need to be at your reception fairly soon after the ceremony ends, consider having the receiving line at the reception.