Singaporebrides | Weddings 101

October 2024

The Best Ways and Times to Greet Your Wedding Guests For The Perfect Welcome

By Audrie Soh

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One of the most important interactions you’ll have on your wedding day is how you greet your guests. Find out if there is a right time or way to do so.

Wedding guests are an important component of your wedding celebration. They are not just attendees at your wedding, but a part of your wedding, as they are the ones who have loved and supported you and your relationship unconditionally, and share in the joy of this momentous milestone with you. With such importance attached to their attendance at the wedding, it is only natural that you give them a proper welcome by greeting them personally to show your appreciation and gratitude for their presence on this special day of yours.

But when is the right time to greet your guests, and is there a right way to do so?

The Right Time To Greet Your Guests

Every wedding is different and has its own schedules, so there is no single ‘right’ time to greet your guests. While the right time for you to welcome and thank your guests depends heavily on your wedding schedule, most couples try to greet their guests during these times.

1. During the welcome party

If you’re planning a multi-day wedding or a destination wedding, a great way to welcome and greet your guests would be to throw them a small welcome party a day before the actual wedding celebration starts. This will allow you to properly greet and thank your guests without the added stress of sticking to your wedding day schedule, and allow everyone to mingle freely before the main event begins.

Remember to arm your guests with all the necessary information if you are having a welcome party for them, so that they can the necessary arrangements on their end, especially if you are hosting a destination wedding.

2. After the solemnisation ceremony

Once the cheers are over after you’ve said your “I do’s”, you can hang back for a short while after your solemnisation ceremony to mingle and catch up with guests who were present at the ceremony, before you have to return to your bridal suite for a change of outfit while everyone adjourns to a different venue for the dinner reception.

3. During the cocktail hour

If you have some time before the dinner reception starts, make the most of it and rub elbows with your guests during the cocktail hour before they take their seats for dinner. This is also the perfect time to sneak in photos with your guests in a relaxed environment before the dinner programme starts.

4. During the dinner reception

Since the dinner reception takes up the most time out of the entire day’s happenings, it is the best time to greet your guests since you’ll have more time to work with. You can either greet them briefly during your march-ins or you can go round the tables during dinner to say hello to every guest.

5. After the dinner reception

Traditionally, the bride and groom, and their parents, form a receiving line by the main entrance of the ballroom towards the end of the dinner reception to thank their guests for attending the wedding and send them off as they leave the celebration. It’s a great way to show your respect and appreciation for your guests by greeting them individually, especially if you were not able to find time earlier in the day to welcome them personally.

The Right Way To Greet Your Wedding Guests

As long as you are genuine and sincere in welcoming and thanking your guests, there is no right or wrong way to greet them. Sometimes, a simple “I’m so happy you could be here to celebrate with us!” or just making the effort to take some time out of your busy wedding day schedule to speak to them in person is enough. So, don’t overthink it and come up with overly complicated ways to show your appreciation to your guests. Try these simple and effective ways of greeting your guests to show your appreciation and gratitude instead.

1. Set up a receiving line

Having a receiving line to greet guests is a great way to ensure that you get to meet and speak to every one of your guest. You can choose to greet your guests at the start of the dinner reception as they make their way to their seats, or if you prefer to thank them at the end of the celebration, you can greet them as they leave the venue. Greeting your guests via a receiving line is also especially meaningful, as it allows your parents to thank their families and friends for joining them in this momentous celebration as well.

2. Go around and greet your guests at their table

Another great way to greet your guests is to visit them at their table during dinner. In fact, this practice is commonly seen and done during most Chinese weddings, as couples make their way around and stop by each and every table to greet their guests and talk to them. Since the dinner reception usually lasts for two to three hours, you’ll have more time to connect and speak to all of your guests after you’ve completed your march-ins and speeches.

3. Greet your guests during your march-ins

Saying and waving hello to your guests as you make your grand entrance during your march-in is a fun and wonderful way to greet your guests. With all eyes on you and your groom, you are able to express your heartfelt gratitude for each and every one of your guest through simple but meaningful gestures of eye contact, smiles, waves or nods as you walk down the aisle. If space permits, you can even make your way through the guest tables so you can thank more of your guests at a closer distance.

4. Address them in your welcome speech or toast

If you’re unable to set out time from your busy wedding day schedule to greet your guests one by one, you can still show your appreciation and gratitude by including them in your welcome speech or toast. Doing so will leave your guests feeling appreciated and valued at your celebration.

Begin by warmly thanking them for taking the time to be with you on such an important day and express your gratitude to those who have traveled long distances or made special arrangements to celebrate with you. Include special mentions to specific individuals who have gone above and beyond for you, such as family members or close friends who have provided invaluable support, helped with wedding preparations or have been there for you through key moments in your relationship and life. Then, round your speech up by reaffirming how much their presence and support means to you on this special day.

5. Write a personalised welcome note

You can still connect with your guests even if you are not able to greet them in person or slot them into your wedding speeches by writing them a personalised welcome note. Place a handwritten or printed welcome note at every guest seat or have one of your bridal party pass it to them as your guests register at the reception. A thoughtful gesture like this can express your gratitude in a personal way even if you are not able to do so personally. Go the extra mile and personalised the welcome note to specific guests whom you’d like to address on a more intimate level for that extra special touch.

6. Thank them with a wedding favour

Another way to show your appreciation and gratitude to your guests when you are unable to do so in person is to gift them with a wedding favour. It can be a thoughtful item that reflects the theme of your wedding, or a useful trinket that guests of all ages can take home and use. Alternatively, you can also choose to personalise the wedding favour for some or all of your guests, if it is within your capacity to do so.

7. Have someone greet them on your behalf

Assigning someone from your bridal party or family to greet your guests on your behalf is also an option you can consider when you are unable to connect with each guest personally. They can offer a warm welcome to your guests and host them by showing them around the pre-dinner activities and help them find their seats.

Credits: Feature image from Hailey and Clifford’s Exquisite Wedding at The White Rabbit by Bridelope Productions

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