[♥Ashley♥]

It would be so helpful if you married ladies could answer my questions! I know I should ask this in the wedding planning board, but I know I will get more replies here and you guys are btdt brides and can tell me how the things actually worked out.

Did you have a receiving line after your ceremony? Did it take REALLY long? (I am having 300+ guests, and only have our church for 4 hours. That is from 12-4...our wedding is at 2 because we need time to decorate everything before the wedding, then the ceremony will last probably 15 minutes, then we still need picture time and time to get everything OUT of the church before 4...there is another wedding at 6pm and we HAVE to be out at 4) Im worried about the receiving line taking too long! Are there any other options? Not doing it and just mingling at the reception?

Oh and then another thing. We are having bubbles at the ceremony mainly because my photographer had some really cute bubble pictures in her portfolio and we want those pictures. So if we are the first ones out of the church and do the receiving line, then we cant do the old cliche thing were everyone is out first and then we come out and have the bubbles blowing. Any ideas?

What was the order of your reception? In what order did you do the first dance, mother/son dance, cut the cake, eat, any $ dances, bouquet toss, garter toss, etc. It would help a TON if you guys could pretty much tell me the timeline of the reception I have no clue of what order to do the stuff.

Did you do the $ dance? Everyone keeps telling us to do it its fun, but I feel weird doing it, like it was a fad that went out a long time ago?!? I feel bad taking even MORE money from these people who are buying us gifts when weve already been living together for 3 years and have everything we need!

What song did your bridesmaids walk down the aisle to? I cant come up with anything for this!!!! I have my song and all the other random songs to play while guests are being seated, but I cant come up with another pretty song for them. What did you play right after you were pronounced husband and wife? As you walked back down the aisle?



I know I have other questions, I just cant think right now. I may add some more later! Thanks a TON if you take the time to read this and respond!!!

[*kyle*]

We had 120 guests or so. Instead of a receiving line, we did the thing where we released the pews and got to briefly hug/shake hands with everyone; as they left the church, they were handed bubbles, and we were then the last ones out of the church, and we got really cute pictures of the bubbles around us. You could do the same thing, or you could simply stand at the back of the church with your parents and do the receiving line as they file out of the church. Then have an usher or bridesmaid giving them bubbles at the door while the photographer sets up outside.

The other way to do this would be: after the ceremony is over, you go up the aisle as normal, take your new hubby to a side room or somewhere out of sight (you could do some really sweet "OMG we just got married" pictures at this time, like kissing/looking into each other's eyes). All of the people go out of the church and get bubbles at this point. THEN you come out and make your appearance with the bubbles. Then you could make sure to get to the reception first so that you can do the receiving line there as people walk in the doors.

Or you could just go up the aisle, then come back down while everyone is still seated, getting some formal shots at the altar while everyone files out of the church and gets their bubbles, then you guys go out of the church. The only problem with this is you will have a lot of guests who want to linger around watching, and/or come up and hug/kiss/congratulate you as you are trying to do the pictures. Trust me, on your wedding day, if you are in sight of your guests, you will be mobbed.

You really do need to do a receiving line or something of the sort. I can promise you that with 300 guests, you will definitely NOT get around to all of them at the reception, and there will be people with hurt feelings. I didn't make personal contact with all of my 120 guests at the reception. You are just being pulled in too many directions at once and have too many people to talk to.

We did not do a dollar dance. I had never seen anyone in my family do this at their wedding so I figured that it was not part of the traditions I should be following. Then again, I didn't do the bouquet toss or garter toss either, based on our single friends telling me they did not like these activities.

As for the specific ceremony songs and the order of the reception, I would have to take a look at my planning stuff when I get home.

[KatiInCT]

Did you have a receiving line after your ceremony? Did it take REALLY long? Are there any other options? Not doing it and just mingling at the reception?
ANSWER: We did not have a receiving line but we also did not have a church wedding. We did do a big group photo with everyone immediately following the ceremony and then we went and did our photos and family photos while the guests went in for the reception hors d'herves (ceremony and reception were at the same location for us). Of the weddings I have been to recently (both church weddings and non church weddings) about 50/50 did a receiving line. The ones that did went very slowly. With 300+ guests you may have a hard time. With 125 guests we did have enough time to mingle with everyone individually during our reception but with more that may not be an option. Either way 300 people is a lot.

We are having bubbles at the ceremony mainly because my photographer had some really cute bubble pictures in her portfolio and we want those pictures. So if we are the first ones out of the church and do the receiving line, then we cant do the old cliche thing were everyone is out first and then we come out and have the bubbles blowing. Any ideas?
ANSWER: If I had to chose I would do the bubbles. This was done at the most recent church wedding I went to and the bride and groom just did the mingling on the steps outside the church before photos and then again during the reception.

What was the order of your reception? In what order did you do the first dance, mother/son dance, cut the cake, eat, any $ dances, bouquet toss, garter toss, etc. It would help a TON if you guys could pretty much tell me the timeline of the reception I have no clue of what order to do the stuff.
ANSWER: When we were introduced into the reception hall we went right out onto the dance floor and did our first dance. I personally do not like when the first dance is held off because I have found no one will use the dance floor until the first dance is done. We did the mother/son dance and father/daughter dances between courses (we had plenty of time) and then would mingle after the dance, then go sit down to eat that course and then a dance, mingle, then eat a course. I loved doing it this way. DH and I take ballroom dance lessons together so we both wanted a lot of time out on the dance floor and I was not about to give up eating during my wedding but we seemed to balance it all out. We cut the cake just after we finished the last course then the servers did the rest of the cutting and served it. We did not do any $ dances. Of all of the weddings I have been to, none of them have, although I have heard about them. We did the bouquet toss and the garter toss towards the end of the reception after some of the older family had already called it quits. :-)

Did you do the $ dance? Everyone keeps telling us to do it its fun, but I feel weird doing it, like it was a fad that went out a long time ago?!?
ANSWER: As noted above, we did not do any $ dances. Of all of the weddings I have been to, none of them have, although I have heard about them. Perhaps it's a locational thing.

What song did your bridesmaids walk down the aisle to? I cant come up with anything for this!!!! I have my song and all the other random songs to play while guests are being seated, but I cant come up with another pretty song for them. What did you play right after you were pronounced husband and wife? As you walked back down the aisle?
ANSWER: We had a harpist and violinist accompany our ceremony so I just let them have free rein of what to play. It was beautiful. Hopefully others can answer these questions for you. Although not asked some of two of the 'humorous' songs we played during our reception were for cake cutting: "How Sweet It Is" and for bouquet toss: "It's Raining Men".

[**jessie**]

Ashley, I bet you are getting so excited! I really wish I could live mine all over again. I don't think I will be any use for your questions. Ours was a very casual wedding done outdoors (including reception) on a spring afternoon. We still did the white dress, short traditional ceremony (non-denominational minister), and a meal/reception. We did not do most of the other traditional stuff, such as bouquet toss or garter toss, as the vast majority of our guest were already married.

We only had about 60 guests, and like Kyle I didn't get around to directly speaking with all of them! It was so overwhelming, but fun too! Right after the ceremony, we had a champagne reception where we could mill around our guests and give hugs and thank them for coming. Our reception went something like this: drinks reception, sit down meal, more drinks lol, MOH and best man speeches (my mom recited a poem of her choosing during the actual ceremony), then the cake cutting and dancing. We did not do the traditional dances or the $ dance.

[soImarriedAnerd]

Did you have a receiving line after your ceremony? Nope but we were married outside so it would have been harder to do. I haven't ever been to a wedding in a church that DIDN'T have one though.

Are there any other options? Not doing it and just mingling at the reception? We did NO line at all, we just made sure to say thanks to everyone at the reception.

Bubbles-Any ideas? Do the line, but only have the line be you two, not both sets of parents also (that really drags out and I personally HATE the parents up there because its not about them! AND it makes the line go TWICE as long!) then you can have your come out moment------HINT: PLEASE open ALL the bubbles before hand to make sure they open before passing them out---many many times I haven't been able to get them open and missed out.

What was the order of your reception? Food/eat, first dance, bridal party dance, everyone dance, 1hr later cut the cake, dance, money dance, dance, bouquet toss/garter toss, dance.
We cut out all mother/son father/daughter dances.....my dad is gone and I haven't even been able to ever watch one with out losing it since so we just cut it. (NO this didn't go over well with Troy's mom!)

Did you do the $ dance? Yes, I WISH I DIDN'T .....it was weird (and I KNEW EVERYONE at the wedding). I hate doing money things though---its needy/pathetic to me personally. The only wedding in the last few years I have been to that have done it ---it was more a they needed the money issue....but most didn't do it. (We didn't plan to do it---the DJ announced it and they we kind of had no choice )

What song did your bridesmaids walk down the aisle to? I had ONE song for the wedding party and me...... YouTube - Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole 'IZ' 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' HQ IT WAS PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!! :WUB:

What did you play right after you were pronounced husband and wife? As you walked back down the aisle? Same song--- YouTube - Accidentally in Love Shrek Music Video

First Song? Don't laugh --- YouTube - I'm A Believer Shrek Music Video

[♥Ashley♥]

Every wedding I have ever been to with the exception of 1 had the $ dance, so its interesting to hear that the weddings youve been to (Kati) have never had it! It must be a Missouri thing Im leaning more towards not doing it anyway.

[soImarriedAnerd]

Originally Posted by ♥Ashley♥

Every wedding I have ever been to with the exception of 1 had the $ dance, so its interesting to hear that the weddings youve been to (Kati) have never had it! It must be a Missouri thing Im leaning more towards not doing it anyway.

Never been to a wedding back home (south dakota) that didn't have one either.....but in IL and CO they didn't really do them

[♥Ashley♥]

Yea, im not doing the father/daughter dance...but Jason is doing the mother/son dance. I hate my dad, he was abusive and was never really in my life and when he was he was the worst dad, more than I can even explain. But Jasons mom means ALOT to both of us, so I didnt want them to lose that moment so he is still doing the dance with her. It will be awkward with my dad sitting there and knowing this is the time we should dance together, but he knows in my eyes he isnt "my dad" as do most all of my guests.

[*kyle*]

Ashley - so he is not walking you down the aisle either? How are you handling that?

ETA: I really like the idea of doing a receiving "line" with just you and DH. You could both stand by the reception entrance and greet everyone as they arrive. It would be quicker and more personal (I often don't know the parents of the bride/groom and feel awkward when everyone else is hugging them!).

[♥Ashley♥]

Nope My grandpa and grandma raised my sister and I and ive always wanted my papa to walk me down the aisle. It was always going to be him, but he passed away in 2003 so my grandma is going to do it. She is so honored and cried when I asked her, without my grandpa to do it I wouldnt want anyone else besides her.

Did you have a receiving line after your ceremony? We did not have one, and with a wedding of your size, I would highly suggest against it. Instead, just mingle around all of the tables at the reception (just make sure that you say hi to everyone!) Its a lot more casual and relaxed that way too.


What was the order of your reception? Introduction, food, speeches, fist dance, father/daughter dance, a few other dances, cake, bouquet toss, garter toss, exit to limo.

Did you do the $ dance? We had planned on it and wanted to, but then I chickened out at the last minute and told the DJ not to do it! I did't want to dance with everyone Looking back, I wish I had because you get a lot of cash! haha

What song did your bridesmaids walk down the aisle to? We had a live harpist and flutist (sp? lol) and they played some pretty whimsicle songs that I chose at the time but can't remember.

What did you play right after you were pronounced husband and wife? As you walked back down the aisle? That Cher song, "It's in his kiss" (don't know if thats the real name, cant remember)


*I'm sorry about your dad You turned out to be a wonderful woman without him! I think its great that you are still doing the mother/son dance!

[midnight_starr]

Did you have a receiving line after your ceremony? We did not do a receiving line.. It must not be a big thing here because I don't know if I have ever been to a wedding that has one.

What was the order of your reception? We went straight into our first dance. Then we did father/daughter dance, bridal party dance, ate and mingled, cut cake, mingled some more then did money dance and bouqet/garter toss.. My advice is to go straight into your first dance so your guest will be able to get on the dance floor sooner!!

Did you do the $ dance? Yes we did the money dance, its a big thing here!! We had fun with it!! I don't think its tacky or greedy! It gave us time to dance with more of our guests! If your guest don't want to do it then they don't have to participate! We were really able to enjoy our honeymoon with the money our family and friends gave us for this dance!

What song did your bridesmaids walk down the aisle to? My bridesmaids walked to Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
YouTube - Bach: Cantata, BWV 147, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

What did you play right after you were pronounced husband and wife? As you walked back down the aisle? We walked back downt he aisle to Trumpet Tune by Purcell
YouTube - Purcell's Trumpet Tune

Yes we went with some classical stuff!!

[♥Ashley♥]

Originally Posted by Bre+Will=Reid

*I'm sorry about your dad You turned out to be a wonderful woman without him! I think its great that you are still doing the mother/son dance!

Thanks Breanna! Not to toot my own horn or anything, but with what my sister and I went through as kids (i wont even get into it, it is pretty bad) we could have turned out to be some pretty e ffed up people but her and I are actually doing really really well for ourselves. We owe it all to our mawmaw and papa!

[Mars]

I didn't do a recieving line but we walked around and met all the guests after brunch. I don't remember the exact order of the ceremony but we didn't do any dances or such. We wanted a short, morning wedding so we left out a lot of the traditional things.

[alicenwonderland]

We had a recieving line, and I think it's really neccessary. Weddings are busy, and it might be the only chance you get to talk to everyone. I don't think it took too long. I think the kept moving.

I have no experience with the bubble thing. My guests went straight to the reception venue for hors dourves.

I really don't remember the order everything happened in.... the venue my reception was at, took care of all of it. They just sort of guided us along. I'm glad too, m brain wasn't working right.

We didn't do the dollar dance.

I think my bridesmaids and I both went down to Pacobell's Cannon (sp?) they went down in the beginning. A little later the song changes a little bit, and that's when I walked down.

I don't remember what it was called that we walked out to. I remember DH picked it and it was some really complicated organ piec.e

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

We didn't do a receiving line. In fact the little church lady in charge told us to rush out and go straight around the corner so we didn't get 'caught up' by people and could do our formal pictures and they could head to the reception and get started on cocktail hour/appetizers. I liked it that way b/c I didn't have a bunch of people getting lipstick on me and crumpling my hair until after the photos were done. DH and I went around from table to table at the reception talking to people and talked to people all night.

Bubble send-offs scare me because the ones I've been to, someone ALWAYS slips and I hear when the soap gets on your dress it can stain it and you'll leave feeling sticky. Maybe do your bubble send off when you leave the reception so that you won't stay sticky long and your dress/hair/make-up won't be messed up for pictures the rest of the night.


Order of reception was set up by our reception venue... but this is what it was:

the bridal party was anounced (to eye of the tiger )

DH and I went straight into our first dance song... and after that it was time to eat. DH and I were served first and so we finished eating first and then mingled with each table afterwards.

Then we cut the cake and did the toasts

After the toast my step-dad and I danced, then DH and his mom

then everyone danced for a while...

then we did bouquet/garter toss - then the last dance and the send off

We had planned on doing a dollar dance but wound up not doing it. At the meeting with the DJ, he asked and at the same time I said 'no' my mom and DH both said 'of course' My two cousins who've gotten married have both done it so I guess it's normal in our family. I felt like it would be kind of tacky to those who aren't used to doing it... but agreed since DH wanted to and I figured if people didn't want to dance with us or give us $ then they didn't have to. The DJ wound up forgetting, and so did we... so it never happened.


Bridesmaids walked down to Pachbel's Canon in D

DH and I left the church to some organ music that was really loud/exciting and all dum dum da dum dum dum dum... haha. I don't know. I think we discussed all the music except that.

[~*Bethy*~]

Did you have a receiving line after your ceremony? Did it take REALLY long? Are there any other options? Not doing it and just mingling at the reception?

we had one, but we also had 60 people at our wedding. With your size, Id say skip it and mingle.

Bubbles - Any Idea?

Id say go for it. I had the bird friendly rice thrown at mine and lemme tell ya the floor of the bathroom was COVERED in that crap, and that wasnt even counting what was in my hair...bubbles are a great idea - and like Angela said, make sure their ALL open before being handed out.

What was the order of your reception? In what order did you do the first dance, mother/son dance, cut the cake, eat, any $ dances, bouquet toss, garter toss, etc.

We came in, went straight into dinner, but right before the dinner prayer (everyone is christian in my family) We did toasts. After dinner, we went right into dancing then a bit later we cut the cake. I think....LOL its been 4 years and I was pregnant...LOL

Did you do the $ dance?

Nope - we were already getting married kinda fast and I was pregnant (NOT WHY WE GOT MARRIED!!!) Didnt want to seem needy...

What song did your bridesmaids walk down the aisle to?

we had my step-sisters fiancee at the time play some classical music on his guitar - it was an outdoor wedding with no electrical anything, so he just played some tunes as we all walked down the isle

What did you play right after you were pronounced husband and wife? As you walked back down the aisle?

Just the classical music Chris played on his guitar!

Hope this has helped!!

~Beth

I would for sure skip the receiving line with that many people. That would take a long time, plus, the lines always annoyed me (Old people love to chat up the newlyweds and take FOREVER!). We mingled with our guests through the night, or rather, got mobbed, and it turned out well. More relaxed I guess. But we had a small non-church wedding and a reception later that night.

And you talking about your grandma walking you down the isle made me cry! It will be so special

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

Another thing to think about is if I were one of your guests... I wouldn't want to be standing in a line with 300 people. People will come up to you during the reception while you're dancing and mingling with other guests and it will feel much more comfortable and relaxed when they aren't being pushed through a line. If they don't get a chance to talk to you they can't pull the sour grapes card b/c THEY should have had the initiative to come up to you, ya know?