Another Question for Past Brides

Hi Girls. I just read another post on what you would do different, etc. and I think it's great advice for us brides to be.

I know most of the girls said they wish they had more pictures, but being FH and I are not seeing each other before the ceremony, we are forced to take our pics during the cocktail hour, which is only one hour. Just so you know, our ceremony and reception are at the same place. I also don't want to loose too much time during the reception either. Do you think that hour will be enough time? TIA

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Posted by nov04LIbride

I too got married at the reception place, and was so glad to have taken 2 hours of pics. before the ceremony. As it was we missed much of the cocktail hour and probably an hour of the reception taking pics. I am sooo glad we have as many great pics as we did, and I wouldn't advise taking fewer, but I am so glad we did take them before the ceremony. The reception is rushed as it is, and I can't imagine taking more time out for pics.

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Thanks for getting back to me. So I guess 1 hour for pics is definitely not enough time. My heart wants to wait to see him after the ceremony. When I imagine that day, I think of myself walking down the isle to him and he seeing me for the first time. Oh, what am I going to do now??? It looks like I'm probably going to miss half of my own wedding because we'll be taking pictures.

I had 3 hours inbetween for pictures (including using my CH) but only used 2.5 hours
I got a TUN of proofs but I am the type of person that you can just never have enough picture

Its a difficult situation I was in the same spot as you. At first we were going to get married at the hall and we really really did not want to see eachother before the ceremony.

My best advice is if you really dont want to see eachother before the ceremony then maybe you should have an 1.5 hour or 2 hour cocktail hour. If you have the money that is.
My DH's cousin did this and just spread the word around. Most people didn't really mind b/c there was so much food at the cocktail hour and it gave her plenty of time for pics.

I should ask the caterer if we could extend the CH by a half hour. Maybe that will help. The only thing is that we can't overlap too much, because there's another party that's going to take place in our room after our wedding. We really don't have a BP and we're not doing a lot of the traditions, such as bq toss and garter. We were going to do the Anniversary dance, but decided we do not want to anymore. So right there saves us some time, right? What a pickle I'm in !!!

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Posted by simbacat

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Posted by nov04LIbride

I too got married at the reception place, and was so glad to have taken 2 hours of pics. before the ceremony. As it was we missed much of the cocktail hour and probably an hour of the reception taking pics. I am sooo glad we have as many great pics as we did, and I wouldn't advise taking fewer, but I am so glad we did take them before the ceremony. The reception is rushed as it is, and I can't imagine taking more time out for pics.

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Thanks for getting back to me. So I guess 1 hour for pics is definitely not enough time. My heart wants to wait to see him after the ceremony. When I imagine that day, I think of myself walking down the isle to him and he seeing me for the first time. Oh, what am I going to do now??? It looks like I'm probably going to miss half of my own wedding because we'll be taking pictures.

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I only have our cocktail hour also because I don't want to see FH before the ceremony either. It will be tough, but since it's only us and MOH and Bm, it should go quickly - I hope!

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Posted by AnniesSS

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Posted by simbacat

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Posted by nov04LIbride

I too got married at the reception place, and was so glad to have taken 2 hours of pics. before the ceremony. As it was we missed much of the cocktail hour and probably an hour of the reception taking pics. I am sooo glad we have as many great pics as we did, and I wouldn't advise taking fewer, but I am so glad we did take them before the ceremony. The reception is rushed as it is, and I can't imagine taking more time out for pics.

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Thanks for getting back to me. So I guess 1 hour for pics is definitely not enough time. My heart wants to wait to see him after the ceremony. When I imagine that day, I think of myself walking down the isle to him and he seeing me for the first time. Oh, what am I going to do now??? It looks like I'm probably going to miss half of my own wedding because we'll be taking pictures.

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I only have our cocktail hour also because I don't want to see FH before the ceremony either. It will be tough, but since it's only us and MOH and Bm, it should go quickly - I hope!

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I hope you're right. Hey, you're getting married the week before me, so you'll have to let me know ok. Of course, only if you have time.

we did pics before with all our family and all our bridal party, individually. without seeing each other because we just did not want to do that.

We spent the entire CH taking pics. We were done with about 20 minutes left for the CH and we said to the photographer...we'd like to continue with some more romantic shots of just us for the last 20 minutes. The photographer was totally into it, because the setting was beautiful (the sun was setting and the clouds were separating and the colors were just breathtaking, that we couldn't pass it up)

I haven't seen my proofs yet, but I imagine there will be enough for us. I know I got all the one's we wanted and what we don't have, will be on the video.

It's a hard decision. I mean, if you want 800-1000 proofs or something, than you need more time. I have about 400-500, when all is said and done.

You will probably need a little more time than an hour. Can you extend the reception a half hour?

The only advice I have is to take ALL of your alone pics and any other pics you FH/DH does not have to be in before the ceremony, so ALL pics after can be focused on the two of you.

Edited after rereading original post.

I would see if you can find more time for pics of the two of you. You want to get as many pics as you can. We did not see each other beforehand, (which made for the sweetest moment when I walked in- JMO), and had three hours in between, and due to the disorganization of my family (despite my repeated requests to get organized) it took all that time. Granted - I have a big family, and we had a big bridal party. Here's my advice. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE AS LONG AS YOU PLEASE TO TELL PEOPLE WHERE TO SHOW UP. I felt rushed at the rehearsal, because everyone wanted to get to dinner, and as a result, people weren't paying attention, and stuff got mixed up. So, do your homework beforehand, and make people listen to you. Other than that, good luck!

It also depends what kind of pictures you want. If you want lots of formal, posed shots, you will need a lot more time. If you would be happy with a few posed shots, take those during the hour, and then have the photographer take candid shots during the reception.

We're doing some before the reception, from around 10-12, since we only have an hour also. At first, I didn't want FH to see me until the reception, but I think this might make us both relax more, and he'll still see me walk down the aisle. But you should do what you feel is best in your heart.

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Posted by simbacat

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Posted by nov04LIbride

I too got married at the reception place, and was so glad to have taken 2 hours of pics. before the ceremony. As it was we missed much of the cocktail hour and probably an hour of the reception taking pics. I am sooo glad we have as many great pics as we did, and I wouldn't advise taking fewer, but I am so glad we did take them before the ceremony. The reception is rushed as it is, and I can't imagine taking more time out for pics.

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Thanks for getting back to me. So I guess 1 hour for pics is definitely not enough time. My heart wants to wait to see him after the ceremony. When I imagine that day, I think of myself walking down the isle to him and he seeing me for the first time. Oh, what am I going to do now??? It looks like I'm probably going to miss half of my own wedding because we'll be taking pictures.

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i feel the same way. but what we do want the 'posed' photos, but we also put out cameras on the tables at teh reception. i'm obsessed w/ pics but i'm trying not to sacrifice too much time! i'll do all pics of bms and groomsmen before, then we have about an hour in between