?? What happens AFTER ceremony??

[Kay]

So, forgive my ignorance but I'm wondering odd little details now..

We are getting married in a park, under the pavillion. Our reception is 30 minutes away, immediately following the ceremony. After they annouce us as husband and wife, cheers, we walk down aisle, couples (bms and groomsmen) walk back down the aisle.. then what??

Does the bridal party immediately leave and go to the other side of the park for pictures?? (by a waterfall)

Do we make a really quick receiving line and stand there and thank everyone before they leave the park??

This all seems awkward and odd to me since we are going to see so many of these same people, if not all of them, at the reception.

Opinions?? Comments?? Suggestions???

[gwenshack]

I don't think a quick receiving line is necessary. I think that people will just get up and head over to the reception and you all can take your pictures. :) Perhaps you could have an usher or a greeter or somebody to stand in the back to let people know, as they're leaving, that the bride and groom will be taking photographs and will see everyone at the reception...but only if you're worried that people will be lost sheep without some direction...:)

[f77g4]

Every wedding I've been too there seems to be a receiving line at the church after the ceremony.

The last wedding I went to, had one and then the couple went inside the church for a few pictures and then they had like a grand exit coming out of the church - which is where the bubbles, rice, etc would be used.

Then the couple and wedding party and immediate go for pictures while the guests go to the reception venue. Usually, the bar will be open and guest mingle amongst themselves, etc. If you plan to be a while taking pictures, some guests may use that time to check into the hotel, etc.

[ChristineLS]

We have sort of the same set up as you, with the ceremony in the lodge and then pictures, then food... we are leaving wine, cheese and crackers out for people to entertain themselves for a bit. And to get the details done.

And by details, I mean food!

[aznative371]

Receiving lines are optional nowdays. Many people opt to skip them as they are time consuming. If you choose not to have a receiving line make sure you personally greet each guest at the reception.

If you go straight from the ceremony to another location for pictures make sure that your guests arriving at the reception location have drinks and food (and possibly even enterainment). That way they will not be bored waiting for your arrival.

Jennifer

[Century Guy]

Whatever you do, don't spend TOO much time between the ceremony and the reception. (Though, it sounds like you've already got that covered.) I've been to two weddings where the the pictures took an inordinate amount of time, and the guests waiting at the reception were getting VERY antsy. Be sure your photographer has a plan to stay on time, and isn't fidgeting with their equipment too much. They should have their settings ready to go, and a plan on arranging people/etc...to keep that picture time as brief and efficient as possible.

[Ninedays9]

For us, we really didn't plan anything.... We just let the flow of events happen. We still had some wedding party pictures to take after the wedding... But after we had the processional, we all just went and stood at the back of the rows of guests. The guests then formed their own receiving line. So, even though we didn't plan for one, we still had one. Not everyone went through, but a lot of people did. I noticed with a lot of details like that, they seemed to just get sorted out on their own, which was quite nice!

[FutureMrsWilson]

I don't think a receiving line is necessary - though if you know ahead of time someone will not be able to make it to the reception, I would definitely say you might get someone (your mom, MOH, etc) to track them down so you can see them before they leave.

Also, what I plan on doing is taking a lot pictures before the ceremony - though none with the groom. Me and the girls, my immediate family, etc, and he and the boys and his immediate family - so that all that is really left are the pictures with the two of us (hopefully, making it slightly less time consuming)

[wannabeNurse2]

You'd be surprise how many people come to the ceremony but not the reception or vice versa. We did a receiving line after our ceremony at the park. I'm glad we did the receiving line, because we didn't get to talk to everyone who was at the reception.

[The Proper Wedding]

one of the things we're thinking about doing, instead of an actual receiving line, the 2 of us would dismiss each row so as they leave their row they can hug us or shake our hands and whatever. we can talk to each guest that way. i've been to many weddings that do it that way, and actually like being a guest at those weddings. all the weddings ive gone to with receiving lines had all the parents and the whole wedding party, that can take forever because people feel the need to talk to everyone, not just the bride and groom. this way they only need to congratulate the bride and groom, and the parents can stand in the back or at the end and IF they wish to talk to them, they can, but they don't have to. basically that would be for the guests who know them. just an idea to think about! :)

[Kay]

one of the things we're thinking about doing, instead of an actual receiving line, the 2 of us would dismiss each row so as they leave their row they can hug us or shake our hands and whatever. we can talk to each guest that way. i've been to many weddings that do it that way, and actually like being a guest at those weddings. all the weddings ive gone to with receiving lines had all the parents and the whole wedding party, that can take forever because people feel the need to talk to everyone, not just the bride and groom. this way they only need to congratulate the bride and groom, and the parents can stand in the back or at the end and IF they wish to talk to them, they can, but they don't have to. basically that would be for the guests who know them. just an idea to think about! :)

Okay. I REALLY like this idea... with us at the front and our parents at the end, saying Hello to those they want to say Hello too... so, how would we do this... they announce us Mr. and Mrs. and Yay! Then what?? Do the bms and groomsmen stand at the front and watch all this happening????? I like this idea but am unsure how to pull it off.

[2dBride]

We are getting married during the Jewish festival of Sukkot, and will have probably only a dozen people at the ceremony. There will be a sukkah (ceremonial booth) set up in back of the synagogue for the festival. We are having our guests follow us out of the synagogue and to the sukkah, where my ex-husband will do a blessing over the bread. After that, our photographer will be taking pictures of all of our guests. Everyone will leave for the reception when the picture-taking is over.

[The Proper Wedding]

Okay. I REALLY like this idea... with us at the front and our parents at the end, saying Hello to those they want to say Hello too... so, how would we do this... they announce us Mr. and Mrs. and Yay! Then what?? Do the bms and groomsmen stand at the front and watch all this happening????? I like this idea but am unsure how to pull it off.

If I remember it correctly, I think the bride and groom and "pronounced husband and wife, etc" they walk down the aisle, followed by the wedding party in order, BM's being escorted by the GM's like usual. The parents (sitting in the front row) however still stay seated. Most people figure it out, if they don't get you, then you should wait too. At that point, the bride and groom walk back up the aisle (I promise all that walking up and down the aisle doesn't take long! lol) and they begin dismissing rows starting with their parents. Once their parents are dismissed, they can stand in the back and be greeted by the other guests if the other guests wish to do so, or they can skip the parents if they don't know them!

I hope that makes sense. Good luck with however you decide to do it! :)

[WebLady]

I have been involved in many weddings and seen things go different ways. Most of the time at least some of the guests will try to give their congrats, whether a formal receiving line is done or not.

Usually pictures are done at this point and that is how I always did it. The guests are ushered out and head on to the reception while the family group shots and couple shots are done.

Then a formal receiving line can be done at the reception; maybe in front of the buffet as people do to eat.