HELP! Race Against Time

Hi all - We have our hearts set on John Anthony's for the reception but the problem is getting a church to do a wedding mass before 11 am. THinking it lasts until 12:00 or so, we then race against the clock to get any and all pics done before the reception starts at 12:30 (JA's insists on a 12:30 start time for the downstairs room we want). The churches tell me that they can't do Mass before 11:00 am because typically funerals start at 9:45 am and so the churches are reserved for that purpose at that time.
The question: Is it being done these days to have the pics taken before the wedding? I know he is not supposed to see me until the actual ceremony, but I live with him and chances are he'll see the dress before the actual day anyway...HELP!
Thanks!

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

I personally will not see my FH before the ceremony. But when we were in the intial phases of the planning, we agreed that if was going to be a choice between pictures before the ceremony or missing our cocktail hour, we would have the pictures taken before the ceremony. It worked out for us, but if I was in your position, I would take the pictures before the ceremony.

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

I'm sure traditionally many brides do not take pics before ceremony, but due to time constraints, my FH and I are taking pictures before. We really want to attend the entire cocktail hour, and we also wanted to make the ceremony late enough (we're on a Friday), so that more people can attend. Our ceremony begins at 6, and cocktail hour at 7:30. Although I was a little bummed at first, we decided to make a big deal out of our first seeing each other...and our photographer will know to catch that moment in pictures...good luck with whatever you decide!!

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

We too are having our pics taken before hand for two reasons. We are getting married in December, church at 3:00 and would not have really any daylight for pics afterward, and 2 this way most of the formal pics will be done and we can mingle with our guests at the cocktail hour if we want to, or just hang with our wedding party and enjoy the cocktail hour with them. I guess it depends on how traditional the bride and groom are when it comes to pics before.

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

Try St. Patrick's Church in Bayshore, it's a beautiful chuch and they have 10am weddings. Good luck!!!

Septbride

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

1. is your heart set on a full mass? don't do it...it will save tons of time...

2. we did pictures before hand and it was the best decision I ever made...I was so emotional the whole week before...crying at commercials, etc...that I know if I had to wait, the anxiety would kill me...I loved spending the whole day with him!!

Although I didn't let him see me before I was dressed..then our photog and videog captured the moment...

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

I wasn't sure if I wanted to see my fiance before the ceremony either. I told my fiance to decide and he wants to because he doesn't want to miss the cocktail hour. I don't think it is that much of a big deal. It may also make you less nervous at the ceremony.

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

Will they even talk to us? We are not members there.....(at St. Patrick's in Bayshore...)

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

Traditionally, the groom does not see thebride before the wedding. Traditionally you don't live together before you are married either. I think it is up to you what traditions you want to follow.

These days it is sooo acceptable to take your pictures before hand. I know so many people who have done it. They said it was great because they didn't feel rushed after the ceremony and they do not have to miss their cocktail hours.

If you are ok with seeing each other before than I say go for it..it will make your day smoother. I guess you would just have to make sure you have a place to take the pictures!

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

Thrilled,

I sent you forum mail. Septbride

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

I was against seeing my FH before hand, and I also wanted to be married in a church. But now we are getting married at Flowerfield on a friday evening, so we are taking our pics before so we can be at all of our cocktail hour. Now I am excited because the place is so beautiful, and we are having our first moment together captured on film and video. Also we will have some alone time before the ceremony which I am excited about...I know he will still enjoy seeing me walk up the aisle too. So dont worry, a lot of brides do this now. It will not make your day any less special!

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

Help! How do I retrieve forum mail?

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

Never mind....figured it out

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

We are also seeing each other before the ceremony. We are having a mass at 5pm our reception starts at 8pm. We definitely wanted to be at the cocktail hour. We want to spend as much time with our friends and family as we can, it goes by so fast!
We will be having the photographer take pictures of us seeing each other for the frist time at our house, and at the church.
I think it will still be emotional at the church. It will still be special because being in the church with the organ music makes it different. I don't believe that this will lose its impact just because we have seen each other already.
Good luck!

PS you can access forum mail by clicking on the mailbox button!

Re: HELP! Race Against Time

St. Joseph's in Ronkonkoma does a 10:30 ceremony if that helps? We are in the same boat. We're skipping the mass, and keeping the ceremony short, but these were things we had decided even before we knew of the timing constraint. We are also skipping the receiving line which will save 20 minutes at least.

Good luck-
Jen