Comments on: Avoiding a receiving line while still greeting guests http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:20:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Aelwyn http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives/comment-page-1#comment-134255 Aelwyn Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:40:37 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=4878#comment-134255 I LOVE this idea! We might make options to donate to foundations (my father had a bought with cancer, and I suffer from Chronic Pain and Fatigue and other diseases) rather than getting us gifts! I think it would be a good way to let people know you have an illness and that's why you CAN'T (not "don't want to") hug guests. I LOVE this idea! We might make options to donate to foundations (my father had a bought with cancer, and I suffer from Chronic Pain and Fatigue and other diseases) rather than getting us gifts! I think it would be a good way to let people know you have an illness and that's why you CAN'T (not "don't want to") hug guests.

]]> By: Moonlitfractal http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives/comment-page-2#comment-108300 Moonlitfractal Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:20:35 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=4878#comment-108300 Hi. Do you and your husband have any stories or advice about planning a wedding with arthritis? I would find them really helpful! Thanks! Hi. Do you and your husband have any stories or advice about planning a wedding with arthritis? I would find them really helpful! Thanks!

]]> By: Elizabeth http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives/comment-page-1#comment-88737 Elizabeth Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:45:37 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=4878#comment-88737 'As much as we would be able to accept a warm embrace, we're happy with the smile upon your face.' The fact that this rhymes is awesome! =) 'As much as we would be able to accept a warm embrace, we're happy with the smile upon your face.'

The fact that this rhymes is awesome! =)

]]> By: Elizabeth http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives/comment-page-1#comment-88736 Elizabeth Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:42:19 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=4878#comment-88736 There's actually a cool Chinese custom of the bride and groom going from table to table at the reception to have a toast with every table. I didn't do it at my wedding (mostly because I didn't realize this custom existed until right after my wedding was over!) but that's a cool option, too. There's actually a cool Chinese custom of the bride and groom going from table to table at the reception to have a toast with every table. I didn't do it at my wedding (mostly because I didn't realize this custom existed until right after my wedding was over!) but that's a cool option, too.

]]> By: MaryLynn http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives/comment-page-1#comment-88390 MaryLynn Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:59:52 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=4878#comment-88390 What A BEAUTIFUL photo!!! took my breath away. I'm glad it was featured as well! What A BEAUTIFUL photo!!! took my breath away. I'm glad it was featured as well!

]]> By: Natalie http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives/comment-page-2#comment-82260 Natalie Sat, 04 Dec 2010 07:32:01 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=4878#comment-82260 My friend got married only a few months after she received a double transplant (new heart and lungs!!). Immediately following the ceremony, it was announced to all guests that the queen would be sitting on her throne while receiving guests so she wouldn't get too tired. She sat in a big comfy recliner! She had on gloves and a surgical mask. There were 2 or 3 people attending to her and explaining to guests what they could or couldn't do. No hugs, but you could give a little squeeze of her arm or gloved hand. If you chose that you were asked to use hand sanitizer before so. I thought it was so awesome that she got to lounge while we all "kneeled" at her feet! :) My friend got married only a few months after she received a double transplant (new heart and lungs!!). Immediately following the ceremony, it was announced to all guests that the queen would be sitting on her throne while receiving guests so she wouldn't get too tired. She sat in a big comfy recliner! She had on gloves and a surgical mask. There were 2 or 3 people attending to her and explaining to guests what they could or couldn't do. No hugs, but you could give a little squeeze of her arm or gloved hand. If you chose that you were asked to use hand sanitizer before so.

I thought it was so awesome that she got to lounge while we all "kneeled" at her feet! :)

]]> By: Robin http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives/comment-page-2#comment-66037 Robin Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:33:53 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=4878#comment-66037 I also have FM, and while I'm lucky and don't have problems with people touching me (although I might by the time there are that many in a row!), I do have issues with standing for long periods of time - something I had completely forgotten to consider until just now (this may cause issues for the ceremony too...). Thank you for asking the question, and thanks to everyone else for their ideas. I also love your thought of getting a stuffed animal for people who really need to hug something, a great way to add more cutesy fun to the whole thing. I also have FM, and while I'm lucky and don't have problems with people touching me (although I might by the time there are that many in a row!), I do have issues with standing for long periods of time – something I had completely forgotten to consider until just now (this may cause issues for the ceremony too…). Thank you for asking the question, and thanks to everyone else for their ideas. I also love your thought of getting a stuffed animal for people who really need to hug something, a great way to add more cutesy fun to the whole thing.

]]> By: THE Laura http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives/comment-page-2#comment-63079 THE Laura Sat, 27 Mar 2010 21:10:43 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=4878#comment-63079 well y'alls, thanks for the advice (sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you), I will definitely be putting a note in the bulletin (probably with ridiculous pictures too) I am also thinking of getting a stuffed animal off of Squishables to give people if they really need to hug something again, thanks well y'alls, thanks for the advice (sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you), I will definitely be putting a note in the bulletin (probably with ridiculous pictures too) I am also thinking of getting a stuffed animal off of Squishables to give people if they really need to hug something

again, thanks

]]> By: caroline http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives/comment-page-2#comment-62778 caroline Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:28:10 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=4878#comment-62778 I've had a few brides that, for whatever reason, didn't want to do a receiving line. And what I usually tell them is to find somewhere that they can disappear to immediately following the ceremony, until people clear out. The thing is, no matter what you announce at the ceremony, or in a program, if people see you hanging out, they'll make a receiving line. But if you go AWOL, well, they tend to head on over to the reception. You can greet people at their tables, then, and there tends to be significantly less forced hugging. I have Lyme Disease myself, so I totally understand that standing around and hugging people for 20 minutes is a serious ordeal. I've had a few brides that, for whatever reason, didn't want to do a receiving line. And what I usually tell them is to find somewhere that they can disappear to immediately following the ceremony, until people clear out.

The thing is, no matter what you announce at the ceremony, or in a program, if people see you hanging out, they'll make a receiving line. But if you go AWOL, well, they tend to head on over to the reception.

You can greet people at their tables, then, and there tends to be significantly less forced hugging. I have Lyme Disease myself, so I totally understand that standing around and hugging people for 20 minutes is a serious ordeal.

]]> By: Hannah http://offbeatbride.com/2010/03/receiving-line-alternatives/comment-page-2#comment-62696 Hannah Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:59:14 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=4878#comment-62696 I'd like to avoid a receiving line as well, simply because I don't like standing for over an hour, hugging people, shaking hands and having a HUGE line of people waiting, while there should be a party going on. I've heard of a wedding where a balloon tied to a string was given to every guest (or couple or famliy - group of guests). People were told that they could just go off and have fun, and that the couple would come to them and chat with them. Once the couple came over, the balloon would be taken away. In this way, the couple could easily see which guests they had greeted, and which guests not yet. And all the balloons looked really festive! We're probably going to do this. Maybe it doesn't help you very much with the hugging, but I thought the idea might help others as well. I'd like to avoid a receiving line as well, simply because I don't like standing for over an hour, hugging people, shaking hands and having a HUGE line of people waiting, while there should be a party going on. I've heard of a wedding where a balloon tied to a string was given to every guest (or couple or famliy – group of guests). People were told that they could just go off and have fun, and that the couple would come to them and chat with them. Once the couple came over, the balloon would be taken away. In this way, the couple could easily see which guests they had greeted, and which guests not yet. And all the balloons looked really festive!

We're probably going to do this. Maybe it doesn't help you very much with the hugging, but I thought the idea might help others as well.

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