--How important is the receiving line? It isn't. If you don't want one, don't have one. I didn't *mean* to have one, like one of your other respondants above, but it happened anyway. Our reception was down the hall from the ceremony, and Todd and I got there first, and we got stuck by the door greeting everyone. But it was good, as it meant we at least said hello to everyone and got hugs and got introduced to obscure people from both sides. But we had 150ish guests...if you can get around to everyone, it's really not necessary.
--Do I need RSVP cards if my guests are mostly young?
Age is irrelevant. You need RSVP *somethings* only if it matters how many people attend. If you have a limit on space, or if you have a caterer who needs a headcount, and so forth, you need people to RSVP. If you don't need to know, it doesn't matter. And a small RSVP postcard is what we used...pre-stamped, with a checkbox. Given that, I only got about 10 of them back. Even older people apparently have no manners. ;-) RSVP via email is completely acceptable if it's acceptable to you, but don't expect a huge rate of return on that either. Threats of "tell me you're coming or you don't get any cake" *might* work... ;-)
--Pros and Cons of opening gifts at the reception?
I'm completely against it, personally, unless your reception is *very* small with only close personal friends, like you might have at a birthday party. For one, it's tacky. ;-) You should be writing down who gave you what, so you can send the thank you notes, and your guests will all end up knowing who got what, and someone's feelings will probably get hurt. And if you get duplicate gifts, someone ends up feeling like a tard, too. *heh* I've been to two receptions where this was conducted, and swear to god, they were both the hillbilly-type weddings. Only thing that made me gag more was the Cash Dance. Then there's the fact that it cuts into socializing time with people you might not see very often. Usually you assign someone to get the loot back to your house, and open it later with a pad of paper to write it all down, and the privacy to go, "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?"
--Who usually cuts the cake (after the first cut) and serves it to guests?
Usually an employee of the place you're having the reception, or the caterer. If you have neither, you can assign someone. Us, it was the caterer.
--Is it tacky to have them slice their own? Should I assign someone?
Tacky? Nah. A colossally bad idea? I would think so. You're going to wind up with a giant mess, OR you're going to wind up with one person standing there doing it anyway. :) Might as well assign someone. It's not a hard duty, and if they know ahead of time, they can learn how to slice whatever type cake you've gotten. Sheet cakes are easy. Bundt cakes (what I had) are easy. Small rounds are easy. BIG rounds suck ass. :)
no subject
It isn't. If you don't want one, don't have one. I didn't *mean* to have one, like one of your other respondants above, but it happened anyway. Our reception was down the hall from the ceremony, and Todd and I got there first, and we got stuck by the door greeting everyone. But it was good, as it meant we at least said hello to everyone and got hugs and got introduced to obscure people from both sides. But we had 150ish guests...if you can get around to everyone, it's really not necessary.
--Do I need RSVP cards if my guests are mostly young?
Age is irrelevant. You need RSVP *somethings* only if it matters how many people attend. If you have a limit on space, or if you have a caterer who needs a headcount, and so forth, you need people to RSVP. If you don't need to know, it doesn't matter. And a small RSVP postcard is what we used...pre-stamped, with a checkbox. Given that, I only got about 10 of them back. Even older people apparently have no manners. ;-) RSVP via email is completely acceptable if it's acceptable to you, but don't expect a huge rate of return on that either. Threats of "tell me you're coming or you don't get any cake" *might* work... ;-)
--Pros and Cons of opening gifts at the reception?
I'm completely against it, personally, unless your reception is *very* small with only close personal friends, like you might have at a birthday party. For one, it's tacky. ;-) You should be writing down who gave you what, so you can send the thank you notes, and your guests will all end up knowing who got what, and someone's feelings will probably get hurt. And if you get duplicate gifts, someone ends up feeling like a tard, too. *heh* I've been to two receptions where this was conducted, and swear to god, they were both the hillbilly-type weddings. Only thing that made me gag more was the Cash Dance. Then there's the fact that it cuts into socializing time with people you might not see very often. Usually you assign someone to get the loot back to your house, and open it later with a pad of paper to write it all down, and the privacy to go, "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?"
--Who usually cuts the cake (after the first cut) and serves it to guests?
Usually an employee of the place you're having the reception, or the caterer. If you have neither, you can assign someone. Us, it was the caterer.
--Is it tacky to have them slice their own? Should I assign someone?
Tacky? Nah. A colossally bad idea? I would think so. You're going to wind up with a giant mess, OR you're going to wind up with one person standing there doing it anyway. :) Might as well assign someone. It's not a hard duty, and if they know ahead of time, they can learn how to slice whatever type cake you've gotten. Sheet cakes are easy. Bundt cakes (what I had) are easy. Small rounds are easy. BIG rounds suck ass. :)