Re-post from Vendor board...

...I'd like input from you ladies...

Here is my dilemma. My fiance does not want to see me before I walk down the aisle. We are having our ceremony and reception in the same place, and have no time between the two to take pictures, so we'll have to do it during the cocktail hour.

My photographer is going to come to my house earlier and take pics of me and my bridal party, as well as my portraits, then head to the hall to take fiance and his ushers and his portraits....but will the cocktail hour be enough for the family pictures, bridal party pics and our portraits together? His family is only 5 people, mine is like 14. Our bridal party is large, with 6 bridesmaids and 8 ushers. Will we be okay, or am I staring down the barrel of a nightmare evening of pictures and no dancing!

Thanks for any feedback!

Re: Re-post from Vendor board...

You should have more than enough time. For one, you don't need hundreds of photos of the bridal party. You will have the girl-only, boy-only ones out of the way. Just take a few of everyone together. You will have your alone photos w/your Mom and Dad before the ceremony, so you just need a few of them with you and your husband.
I think 1 hour should be enough time, unless you want a ton of posed photos.

Re: Re-post from Vendor board...

I am in the same situation, but I agreed to take pictures before the ceremony. I am not thrilled about it but I don't want to miss any of my cocktail/reception. My FI has 10 siblings and I have 3.

I think you will have plenty of time during the cocktail hour to get all the pictures you need.

I say don't worry to much about it. As long as you set the guidelines for the photographer, you should have more than enough time for pictures after your ceremony.

My photographer told me he will make it very special when my FI see's me for the first time. I was worried about that, because I wanted so bad for him to wait to see me walking down the isle. I know it might take away from that moment, but I trust that my photographer will do something special for us.

Boy....can I ramble on....SORRY

Re: Re-post from Vendor board...

I agree with Michelle. You should have enough time. I understand the time contraints you are understand because I am in the same boat, but when I looked for photographers I stated this to them and some were very pushy in saying that I should do this before the ceremony and that I should change my ceremony location to the reception which kind of ****ed me off because I do not want to see him before. Needless to say I did not hire them. They should not tell you what to do or change to make it easier for them. I understand their point but you are hiring them and they are do a job. Bottom line is they can either do the job or not.

Re: Re-post from Vendor board...

I have the same issue. We extended our cocktail hour an additional 15 minutes and hope to get as many pictures done separately beforehand. What may help is to make a list of the group pictures you want and go over them with your photographer to get an estimate of the time needed to finish with them. I'm more concerned with getting pictures of the two of us and not rushing through those.

Re: Re-post from Vendor board...

I have THE SAME situation. i think 1 hour will be plenty of time.

Re: Re-post from Vendor board...

Thank you! You girls are giving me hope!! :)

Re: Re-post from Vendor board...

thats so sweet your Fh is so traditional like me & my FH. i would never wanna see him before

Re: Re-post from Vendor board...

Yes, totally. Believe me I absolutely love him for this!