Ladies - would like your advice...long & a bit confusing...

Ok, I really want to go to Planting Fields for photos. But my church is in Copiague which is about 45 mins (I think) away from the Arboretum. Then, my reception site is also approximately 45 mins away from the Arboretum. That's almost 2 hours of driving time!

My ceremony begins @ 2:30pm, ending around 3:15pm or so, and the cocktail hour begins at 6:30pm. We'd like to be there for at least half an hour of the CH. So I have a 3 hour gap between the ceremony and the reception... minus 2 hours (to be safe) commuting, that leaves only 1 hour for pics at the park and 1/2 hr for pics at the reception site. Does that sound doable? Is it really enough time for pics with a large BP?

My other option is to change my ceremony time to 1:30pm but I'd have to do it fairly soon. I rather not do the ceremony at 1:30pm because then I wouldn't be the last bride that day which means if I don't get there on time, I screw up someone else's wedding! Plus, then it's an even longer gap for my guests!! What to do?

(PS - I don't want to do all my photos at the reception site b/c their grounds are not that extensive)

ETA - I don't want to do my pics before the ceremony.

Re: Ladies - would like your advice...long & a bit confusing...

The same thing happened to me in which my ceremony was @ 3:30 and cocktail hour @6:00 and I wanted to go to Old Westbury Gardens for pictures. I figured out that if all went according to plan we can just make it. Key word: If
So I changed my cocktail hour from 6 to 7pm and now we should have plenty of time. Remember, the limo driver could get lost or hit traffic...you never know.. I would definitly change it by and hour.

Re: Ladies - would like your advice...long & a bit confusing...

If you like the Aboretum then you should....

Its your day....

Re: Ladies - would like your advice...long & a bit confusing...

That's not a bad idea hugs -- I think my reception site did say that I can change my CH -- Thanks! Oh boy, I better PRAY it doesn't rain that or I'll be sitting in a limo for looooong time!

Re: Ladies - would like your advice...long & a bit confusing...

Is there another place to take pics? Ask your photographer what he/she thinks. They'll know best how long it will take to take the pics. I went to a lot of photographers before deciding, some said they could take the pics in 1/2 hour, some wanted 2 hours.

Re: Ladies - would like your advice...long & a bit confusing...

If you're not adverse to the idea, would you take your pics BEFORE the ceremony? That way you won't be rushing.