RECEIVING LINES

Receiving lines have been the long time tradition of greeting guests after your ceremony or before your reception.

A traditional receiving line consists of the entire bridal party and both sets of parents. The formal order of the receiving line is as follows: bride’s mother, bride’s father, groom’s mother, groom’s father, bride and groom, maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man, groomsmen.

Today’s modern times have brought changes to this practice. Attendants sometimes feel uncomfortable being in a situation of greeting guests; also there are so many time constraints that a receiving line can be impractical.

If this tradition is important to you, and your ceremony site is different from your reception site, it is usually best to have your receiving line at the ceremony.

Having a receiving line at your reception will cut into your cocktail hour and you may miss the opportunity to mingle with your guests.


ALTERNATIVE RECEIVING LINES

• Modify your receiving line by having only the bride and groom and parents’ participate. The order of this type of receiving line is as follows: bride’s father, bride’s mother, bride and groom, groom’s mother and groom’s father.

• Bride and Groom only.

• In place of a receiving line, as the bride and groom are recessing, they exit into a private area. While the couple is sharing a private moment, the guests are gathering in a double line facing each other with their wedding bubbles that they were given as they were editing. When all guests have gathered, the bride and groom walk through a “Tunnel of Bubbles”. This makes a great photo opportunity.

Even though you are not actually greeting your guests, they are pleased that they had a chance to see you after the ceremony.

Alternatives to bubbles: bells, birdseed, rose petals, flower heads, fall leaves, etc. Make sure you check with your ceremony site as to what they will allow, and who is responsible for any clean up afterwards.