Meet & Greet
Your guests have all R.S.V.P.ed and it looks like you’ve got more than a hundred close friends and family members flocking to the Outer Banks to celebrate your nuptials. But they’re not just coming to watch you get married and drop off a gift; rather, they want to share in your special day and connect (however briefly) with you and your groom. Even if it just means a quick hug, hello and thanks, taking the time to spread the love around to everyone who made the effort to be there will forever endear you both as a gracious couple.
There are a few tried and true methods to getting face-time with your guests. Depending on the size and scope of your wedding as well as your own personal style, the choice of how to show a little guest appreciation is entirely up to you.
Receiving Lines This is the old-school way of thanking your guests for coming. Traditionally held immediately following the ceremony or at the beginning of the reception, the receiving line usually consists of the bride’s parents (as host and hostess), and the bride and groom. Some may choose to include the groom’s parents or even the bridal party.
Pro: The receiving line is an efficient way to get some one-on-one time (no matter how brief) with every single one of your guests. All that’s required in the line is a quick hello, introductions to others in the receiving line and a thanks-for-coming. Once it’s over, you and your guests can get on to the business of merry-making.
Con: The receiving line is a bit out-dated. Older brides and grooms (especially those paying for their own weddings) might feel that this custom doesn’t quite fit. And if there are hundreds of guests, it can take forever. If there are under fifty, it’s unnecessary.
Table Hopping If you’re doing a sit-down dinner, you may consider making the rounds from table to table during the meal.
Pro: Tableside visits are a way you can connect with just about everyone, while they remain seated. You may find that it saves time to address a table of eight for a couple of minutes rather than trying to spend a few minutes with every person at the table. Also, if you find yourself getting caught in a particularly long conversation with your great-aunt Sally or your husband’s college roommate, you can use the excuse that you must get to the other tables before the food arrives.
Con: This only works if your guests will be seated for a meal, otherwise all bets are off. Visiting tableside means that you and your groom just might miss out on the meal you spent months planning with your caterer.
Mingling with Guests If you’re not serving a sit-down meal, and you haven’t invited the whole town you grew up in, everyone from your sorority, and your entire office, then simply mingling with the guests at the wedding is an appropriate way to go.
Pro: You may feel like this is a more natural way to greet your guests, particularly if your wedding is small or you’ve spent time with your guests in the days leading up to the wedding. Spread your attention around the room by dancing with your nieces, kissing your grandmas, and hugging your college pals. Con: You might end up missing someone as you flit around the room. Or you might find yourself jumping from one guest to another, only to find that the night’s half over before you’ve stepped foot onto the dance floor or taken a sip of champagne.
However you choose to get a little face-time with your guests, it will surely be appreciated. They all know and understand how busy and frenetic your wedding day is, so don’t worry if you can’t have a deep and meaningful conversation with everyone. Just let them know you’re thankful, and then get on with the celebration!
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