Your wedding reception should flow easily from one event to the next.
Frequent stops and re-starts will cause some guests to leave early.
For example, greeting your guests and spending some time with them is very important.
So when and how do you do it in a way that saves time and prevents things from dragging out? Some couples like to do a receiving line following the wedding ceremony.
Unfortunately, it consumes a lot of valuable time.
This is where the logjam for the rest of the day usually begins.
Delete the receiving line from your wedding day format! Your guests are taking a big chunk of their time to celebrate with you on the big day, so why leave them standing around for long periods waiting for the next big thing to happen? The absolute best time to greet your guests is at the reception hall right after the two of you finish your meal.
Since you were either first to be served at your sit-down dinner, or first in line to visit the buffet, you are likely to finish up while others are still seated and enjoying dinner.
They certainly won't mind if you interrupt them.
On the contrary, they'll be delighted to have you stop by their table! Note that if you had a receiving line immediately after your wedding ceremony, you have already greeted your guests individually.
In that case you now have the perfect opportunity to visit them again, this time at a more leisurely pace.
Work the room in organized fashion.
Scope it out in advance during having dinner, and then avoid bouncing around.
Go table-to-table, know where you're headed next, and allocate brief but quality time for each guest.
The more guests in attendance the less time you can spend per guest.
Maintain discipline about this special time or don't be surprised when people start leaving your reception before things really get going at the dance floor.
Short visits will not come off as rude because you will be focused on each guest as you stop by their table.
And they understand that you have a room full of people to see.
Do the math and figure out the amount of time it will take to see everyone individually.
Then stick to your plan.
This business of "working the room" is just part of your overall reception format, all of which you must structure well in advance.
Your professional DJ will be charged with overseeing reception flow.
So greet your guests, keep things moving along and have a great reception!
Frequent stops and re-starts will cause some guests to leave early.
For example, greeting your guests and spending some time with them is very important.
So when and how do you do it in a way that saves time and prevents things from dragging out? Some couples like to do a receiving line following the wedding ceremony.
Unfortunately, it consumes a lot of valuable time.
This is where the logjam for the rest of the day usually begins.
Delete the receiving line from your wedding day format! Your guests are taking a big chunk of their time to celebrate with you on the big day, so why leave them standing around for long periods waiting for the next big thing to happen? The absolute best time to greet your guests is at the reception hall right after the two of you finish your meal.
Since you were either first to be served at your sit-down dinner, or first in line to visit the buffet, you are likely to finish up while others are still seated and enjoying dinner.
They certainly won't mind if you interrupt them.
On the contrary, they'll be delighted to have you stop by their table! Note that if you had a receiving line immediately after your wedding ceremony, you have already greeted your guests individually.
In that case you now have the perfect opportunity to visit them again, this time at a more leisurely pace.
Work the room in organized fashion.
Scope it out in advance during having dinner, and then avoid bouncing around.
Go table-to-table, know where you're headed next, and allocate brief but quality time for each guest.
The more guests in attendance the less time you can spend per guest.
Maintain discipline about this special time or don't be surprised when people start leaving your reception before things really get going at the dance floor.
Short visits will not come off as rude because you will be focused on each guest as you stop by their table.
And they understand that you have a room full of people to see.
Do the math and figure out the amount of time it will take to see everyone individually.
Then stick to your plan.
This business of "working the room" is just part of your overall reception format, all of which you must structure well in advance.
Your professional DJ will be charged with overseeing reception flow.
So greet your guests, keep things moving along and have a great reception!
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