So now you are man and wife. Friends and family will be eager to congratulate you both. Your first greeting to your guests will be the receiving line. It is a wonderful way for you and your parents to receive best wishes and for you to give a warm welcome to friends and family who have come to share with you your wedding day. If you are having a large wedding it may be the only time that you will be able to see every guest.

The following will help you to get through the receiving line, when for the first time as man and wife you will great your guests.

The receiving line is usually formed after the ceremony, before the reception. It can also be done at the reception if time is limited at the church or synagogue. Most couples choose to do the receiving line at the church.

If the brides parents are hosting the wedding, the brides mother is the first to greet the guests, followed by the brides father. The grooms mother and father are next in the line followed by the bride and the groom. The maid of honor and the bridesmaids are next. The fathers may circulate among the guests as well as the attendants, if you wish. If the bride does not have a mother or a stepmother, her sister or aunt or even her grandmother may step in to head the line. If your wedding is being hosted by someone else, they are the first to greet the guests. If the bride and groom are hosting, then they lead the line.

When greeting your guests you can thank them for coming, letting them know how happy you are to see them. Make sure that you introduce yourself if you do not know the person. Keeping the comments brief will keep the line moving. You can visit later at the reception.

If you are using a guest book at the reception, and you are doing your receiving line there, set the book on a table in the area following the receiving line. You can also put the book near the reception entrance. Placing several pens on the table. The last person in the receiving line can point the guests in the right direction to sign the book. You may also have someone, maybe a younger sibling pass the book during the reception.


E-Mail the Author: msprimm@berkshireweb.com



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