Anyone doing that thing where you greet your guests as they enter reception?

1. No, because everything is in one big room. Guests will be seated at their tables during the ceremony.

2. IMO I think it should be after the welcome table. Might not be the most aesthetically pleasant thing, but if y'all are before it people might miss it entirely.

3. Bride, groom, and both sets of parents from what I've seen.

My friend just did this at her wedding. During this time you can give people the option to take a photo with the newly Weds ,that way the gap is filled. Just having you greet people doesn't take long at all. How much time is in the middle? They greeted 150 people fairly quick.

Seriously? You're going to have a giant gap and then make people stand in line to say hello before....what?

Have a cocktail hour.

Avoid the gap. That is always a possibility.

^ That is actually a really nice idea, people can spend a lot of money sometimes just to come to a wedding and barely get a moment with a couple. i like the idea

I like it too!!

*sigh* okay here's the explanation. The Catholic Church we want to get married will only allow us to start at 1pm for the ceremony. The reception location, about 30 minutes drive away, can only have slots from 11a-4p or 6p-11p (one hour allowed for setup). If I were to choose a different venue for the reception, we'd be spending at least double, if not triple, the cost of the planned reception. I wouldn't be surprised if most only come to the reception and not the ceremony so I won't be saying hello to them at the ceremony. I'm not going to make people do anything. If they want to come and say hi then they can.

^^ I'm in the exact same boat with you with the church and the reception. We're not doing a receiving line though, just because FH and I have GIANT families it'll take wayy too long for us. But we are having cocktail hour. But since you said you can't do that either I'd say definitely do it after the welcome table, that way they don't get distracted and pass it up. If you're not totally set on having a receiving line, you can probably skip it all together, every wedding I've been to except for one hasn't had one. They usually came around after dinner to each table to say hi and thanks for coming etc. that way you're still speaking to your guests individually so that's a possibility?

That's not actual unavoidable, but whatever. You knowingly booked that venue when you had other options.

No, we are not doing a receiving line. I think they're awkward.

I think receiving lines are kinda awkward

@OliviaP Brilliant!

Yep, so every glass of champagne is flat.

Thanks for the suggestions of placement. Didn't even think about people passing up the welcome table! I love when points are mentioned that I don't even consider.

@Celia sounds like you're a wedding planner (apologies if my assumption is wrong). If a couple came to you with a set budget and the only options to stay within their budget mandated a gap of at least, say, 3 hours between leaving the church and even stepping foot where the reception was being held, would you advise them to close the gap and go well over their budget?

OP

It sounds like you have a vision but your budget isn't allowing for it.

Choose a different venue and trim your guest list to make up for what I am assuming is a bigger price tag per person so that you can book a venue that does not force a gap.

This is avoidable.

I would either skip your ceremony or your reception. I definitely wouldn't come to the ceremony at 1:00, go home, get comfy, and then put my clothes back on to come to your reception at 6 pm. This isn't unavoidable either. It's a decision you knowingly made. Based on your wedding date, you have plenty time to find another solution.

Wait Wait!! I know @Celia's answer...

Cut your guest list. But that ship has sailed, Sooo... ETA - Ship has NOT sailed!! I missed the 2018 wedding date! You have so much time to make this right. Cut your list or extend your budget. You must host your guests start to finish.

I went to a wedding last summer where they did not do a cocktail hour. Ceremony, then they stuck 100+ guests in a HALLWAY with I think some water coolers, while they took family photos and got the food set up. We stood there for at least an hour before dinner. At least have some kind of refreshments and a place to sit. I don't know how, but somehow.

OP can you skip the church and just get married at the venue? That's what I'm doing and my ceremony flows immediately into cocktail hour/reception

U have a year and half, more then plenty of time to change your venue or ceremony. I think it's unfair to have such huge gap. A lot of people are guna either just go to the ceremony or just the reception. Plus your can always extend your budget, once again, u have plenty of time.

No apologies neccessary. Malei, I am currently an officiant, but I was an upscale caterer for lots of years before I went into the glamorous world of marrying people. Slight sarcasm.

Gaps always suck. If you were my planning client, I would advise you to cut the list and add a cocktail hour. Your wedding day experience for your guests should be seamless. A great ceremony, then a little trip to the reception site, a time to visit and drink and then a reception.