Thatched Cottage Brides....Help Please!

I'm starting to meet with photographers and need to get my timeline figured out! I didn't want to see my FH before the ceremony, but then we would have to take all of our pictures during cocktail hour (which I would extend). I'm not really sure how well this would work out since the guests are outside during cocktail hour. Is anyone planning on doing this or is everyone taking their pictures before the ceremony either at TC or a different location? Everytime I try and sort this out my head hurts!!

edited for content...apparently I get confused even writing about it!

Lol. Take a deep breath!

I'm doing the ceremony in a church and taking pictures in between that and the CH (about 2 hours in between). I refuse to miss my CH (all I can think of is the mashed potato bar!)! I'm sorry I'm not much help since I'm not having an on site ceremony. Honestly, I'd probably do pictures pre-ceremony if I were getting married on site.

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Posted by mattandjess2013

Lol. Take a deep breath!

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lol...yeeah. I do tend to spazz out every now and then

Thank you both for your help! I'm looking into options for pre-ceremony pics and going to see what the photographers recommend also. Thanks again ladies!

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Posted by 2013Bride

I'm no help either unfortunately, we're getting married at a church and we have about 2-2 1/2 hours in between for pictures as I was not missing my cocktail either!!! Haha

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That's the other factor...cocktail hours are my favorite part of weddings and the food is amazing!

We got married at TC in April and although, I did not want my DH to see me - we ended up doing pictures at the Vanderbilt Masion, right around the corner from TC. We took the majority of our family and BP pictures at the Vanderbilt. After the ceremony, we still did a handful of pictures at the TC. It really did work out so much better this way. Also, at the Vanderbilt there was the opportunity for indoor pictures in case of bad weather - the appeal of TC is really outdoors and inside the Vanderbilt is very pretty.

We are doing a reveal before the ceremony so we can get some pics out of the way. We wanted to be able to enjoy our cocktail hr and greet our guests. We are getting married at our venue so cocktail hr starts immediately after. HTH!

Edited: Sorry I didnt realize you were only asking TC brides but thought I would leave my twosense anyways hehehe

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Posted by pjt212301

We got married at TC in April and although, I did not want my DH to see me - we ended up doing pictures at the Vanderbilt Masion, right around the corner from TC. We took the majority of our family and BP pictures at the Vanderbilt. After the ceremony, we still did a handful of pictures at the TC. It really did work out so much better this way. Also, at the Vanderbilt there was the opportunity for indoor pictures in case of bad weather - the appeal of TC is really outdoors and inside the Vanderbilt is very pretty.

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This!! Definitely check out the vanderbilt. And if you go a little bit further down the road from the Vanderbilt you will hit Centerport beach, if you are looking for a beach location to do photos.

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Posted by Bride2Be78

We are doing a reveal before the ceremony so we can get some pics out of the way. We wanted to be able to enjoy our cocktail hr and greet our guests. We are getting married at our venue so cocktail hr starts immediately after. HTH!

Edited: Sorry I didnt realize you were only asking TC brides but thought I would leave my twosense anyways hehehe

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I'll take all the advice/opinions I can get! I asked TC brides b/c I was curious if anyone figured out how to many pics after the ceremony work at the venue. Thanks for your help!

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Posted by queenofhaerts

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Posted by pjt212301

We got married at TC in April and although, I did not want my DH to see me - we ended up doing pictures at the Vanderbilt Masion, right around the corner from TC. We took the majority of our family and BP pictures at the Vanderbilt. After the ceremony, we still did a handful of pictures at the TC. It really did work out so much better this way. Also, at the Vanderbilt there was the opportunity for indoor pictures in case of bad weather - the appeal of TC is really outdoors and inside the Vanderbilt is very pretty.

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This!! Definitely check out the vanderbilt. And if you go a little bit further down the road from the Vanderbilt you will hit Centerport beach, if you are looking for a beach location to do photos.

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Thanks ladies! I'm going to check it out

cj52514 - I'm sure if you gave Maureen a call she'd also be able to help you with the timeline after the ceremony. I'm SURE... no, I KNOW people have done the same timeline as what you would like to do and maybe she can clarify how pictures during cocktail hour would work!

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Posted by calvj31

My FH and I are most likely booking this venue this week! We are very excited. We would do a reveal before the wedding ceremony (We are doing ceremony there too). It makes life easier...you don't have to worry about anyone watching...your hair and makeup will be perfect just having it done right before...and they assured us that they can do very cute reveal pics where they can capture when you turn around by a window there and they get the reactions on camera for part of your album :)

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Congrats on choosing the venue! And good choice haha

As much as I'd love for FH to see me for the first time walking down the aisle, I don't think it's worth struggling to fit all the pics in during cocktail hour. And like you mentioned, if I did do it during cocktail hour, everyone would be looking at us! That would probably be a little weird. I'm leaning toward doing a reveal and pics before at the Vanderbilt. Did you talk to photographers yet or did Maureen tell you about the reveal pics?

I didn't want to see FH beforehand either, but I came to terms with it, haha. We are getting married at the reception hall so we would have had to take the pictures during cocktail hour as well, which I didn't like. 1. We paid all this money and we wouldn't get to enjoy any of it, nor would anyone in the wedding party. 2. I feel it would be rushed and then not get the pictures I really wanted. 3. My makeup will still be awesome if I take them before I cry hysterically during the ceremony, lol. 4. They do really cute reveals now for couples doing the same thing, and you get a moment to actually take him in. It's not right into the ceremony. I've heard a lot of brides are actually less nervous walking down the aisle when they get to see FH beforehand. 5. My friend took the pictures beforehand and she was able to enjoy the cocktail hour with all of us and she actually was able to mingle during that hour so she didn't have to worry about making her rounds during the reception. She was free to dance, eat and have a good time.

I wouldn't worry about tradition. Traditions change all the time. Make your own and be proud!

Good luck!!

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Posted by calvj31

Maureen described how others did it at that venue. What is the cost of taking photos at the Vanderbilt before your ceremony? I love that idea and saw someone else write about it on a different forum.

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I didn't send an inquiry to them yet. I figured it might be a little early. I think it's a $250 site fee for one hour of photography...at least that's what I gathered from their website. They do have an indoor space for pics in case of rain. That's a big part of what's selling me to take the pics before...Thatched Cottage is beautiful, but if it rains, there really aren't many good indoor options for pictures.

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Posted by cj52514

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Posted by calvj31

Maureen described how others did it at that venue. What is the cost of taking photos at the Vanderbilt before your ceremony? I love that idea and saw someone else write about it on a different forum.

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I didn't send an inquiry to them yet. I figured it might be a little early. I think it's a $250 site fee for one hour of photography...at least that's what I gathered from their website. They do have an indoor space for pics in case of rain. That's a big part of what's selling me to take the pics before...Thatched Cottage is beautiful, but if it rains, there really aren't many good indoor options for pictures.

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We had our reveal pictures at the Vanderbilt and we paid $350.00 for two hours; this allowed us to use all of the outside grounds as well as the inside. we had our pictures at 10am and I found the Vanderbilt to be extremely flexible. Just a note - only one limo is allowed into the courtyard, people that did not come in the limo had to park up top and they shuttle the guests down in an extra large golf cart - trust me, this took a little longer than expected