Unless you have your heart set on shaking the hands of 200 plus guests, feel free to trash this super time-consuming tradition. If you are able to go to your cocktail hour, that is the perfect time to mingle with your guests and doesn’t take up any extra time!
So What Is A Receiving Line?
Typically a Receiving Line is where you have a face-to-face with everyone that attended the ceremony. This is where you can say hello, shake hands, hugs and kisses, and so-on. Typically this is done immediately after the ceremony. You two would stand near the exit of the ceremony site so when a guest is leaving they may say their kind words. Sometimes this is done also with the parents and the bridal party. Typically a receiving line can take anywhere from 20 minutes and up to 1 hour! This means it could cut greatly into your portrait time, which could result in little to no time at cocktail hour! If you are dead set on having a receiving line, please plan for at least 30 seconds to one minute PER PERSON that will be attending your ceremony. This way it should not interfere too much with the rest of your wedding day timeline.
