"Don’t Keep Your Guests Waiting! Key Points for the Bride and Groom to Consider During the Reception Send-Off"

2017.08.01 published

Wedding Ceremony: "I hope you think it was a great ceremony until the very end"

At the very end of the wedding, the farewell time, or "送賓" (sōhin), is crucial for expressing gratitude to guests with small gifts and saying "Thank you for coming today." This is a valuable moment to take time with each individual guest.

@choco_yukamaru

During the farewell, guests actually end up waiting quite a bit...

While the farewell scene where you express gratitude to guests is very important for the bride and groom, it can be a somewhat idle time for the guests.

This is caused by the 'line' that forms as all guests wait in line for the farewell.

For brides who have attended weddings a few times, you might have experienced "The line during the farewell was tough" at least once, right?

@nagisa_marry

How long is the waiting time during the farewell?

So, how long does the waiting time during the farewell actually take?

Ideally, the time allocated for each person during the farewell should be about 30 seconds. 30 seconds may sound very short, but think about it.

For example, if there are 80 people at the wedding and each person spends 30 seconds during the farewell,

That’s 30 seconds × 80 people, which totals 40 minutes.

This means there is a 40-minute time lag between the very first guest to leave and the last, causing the last guest to wait in line for 40 minutes.

Therefore, the ideal time of 30 seconds per person should ideally be shortened a bit more to conduct the farewell swiftly.

The time spent per person should be minimal. Remember that if you spend time giving out the small gift, shaking hands, and taking photos slowly with each individual, it can literally take until sunset.

@salty_wedding

What happens if the farewell time drags on?

There are many issues that arise when the farewell time gets prolonged.

☑ People in the back of the line continue to wait.

☑ Guests with other plans might be thrown off schedule (especially those from afar who have Shinkansen or flight reservations; it can be difficult if they miss their time!)

☑ For night weddings, some guests might miss the last train.

☑ The start time of the after-party might be delayed (delaying the start of the after-party can inconvenience many people such as organizers, guests, and venues).

☑ If there are consecutive weddings booked at the reception venue, the next couple’s wedding might get delayed.

☑ There may also be additional fees for extending the venue time.

And so on.

There’s nothing good about it for either the guests or the bride and groom, nor for the wedding venue in terms of schedule or finances.

During the farewell, it’s essential to communicate gratitude to guests within the limited time while also being mindful of the timing!

@nagisa_marry

What should be kept in mind to ensure a smooth farewell? Here are points that the bride, groom, and parents should pay attention to!

Tips for a smooth farewell time ① The bride and groom should talk at the same time

The first point to mention is that the bride and groom should always act as a pair and engage the guests together at the same moment.

During the farewell, the order is the groom's mother, groom's father, groom, bride, bride's father, and bride's mother.

Guests come one by one, but if the bride and groom and both sets of parents greet each guest, that means repeating the same thing six times.

This is inefficient and not fun for everyone, so it’s recommended to group the bride, groom, and each set of parents together to send off guests.

When talking to guests, it’s also smooth if the bride hands out the small gift while the groom talks, dividing the roles.

Points during the farewell ② Group friends together for greetings

Most guests are lined up in groups during the farewell.

Instead of addressing each guest individually, group together and greet them all at once when multiple guests come in a group.

Although 30 seconds per person may seem short, it adds up to 2 minutes for a group of 4 (30 seconds × 4).

It’s okay to shorten the time to about a minute; while it’s a joyful moment to see close friends, it's also important to be mindful of time.

@meme0206

Points during the farewell ③ No time for those attending the after-party

Remember not to spend too much time on guests who will attend the after-party!

Since you'll see them immediately at the after-party, there’s no need to linger and say goodbye after the reception.

A simple “See you later at the after-party!” will help guests switch their mindset towards heading to the after-party.

Prioritize those friends and family who aren’t coming to the after-party so you can spend ample time with them at the after-party.

@keiko_marry

Points during the farewell ④ Collaborate with your parents!

It's also an important point to synchronize with your parents during the farewell.

Since the bride and groom and parents will be speaking separately, if one conversation becomes lively or, conversely, if it doesn’t, it can lead to bottlenecks in the line and create an awkward waiting atmosphere.

To conduct the farewell smoothly without congestion, it’s crucial to keep the speed of the line progressing consistently.

Ensure that all family members cooperate to wrap up conversations with a guest at around the same time.

@fuu0913

Keep these points in mind to ensure a smooth farewell

We’ve introduced some key points for a smooth send-off during the wedding reception.

Farewell times can often be bittersweet, leading to longer waiting periods.

However, standing with gifts, especially in heels for women, waiting for over 30 minutes can be quite tough. Lingering longer due to emotions isn't necessarily beneficial for guests.

Additionally, for the bride and groom, it can lead to delays for the after-party or incur extra venue fees, which has many downsides.

@tonko_wedding_miavia

For both guests and the newlyweds, as well as for the wedding venue, it’s best for everything to proceed smoothly and without delays!

Especially for the bride and groom, the timing of the farewell can often be influenced by a sense of relief after feeling like “the reception is over!” and can lead to losing track of time.

Be mindful of the key points to ensure no one is kept waiting unnecessarily, aiming for a farewell that everyone can enjoy as they head home.