Time Dilemma (a little long)

Can anyone help me with my situation? I was offered a great deal to have my wedding on Labor Day. My ceremony starts at 11am at St. Cyril's Church in Deer Park. I figure that after the ceremony and the receiving line and yada yada, we won't be leaving for pictures until at least 11:45. My cocktail hour at John Anthony's in Babylon starts at 1pm. I am concerned about a location for the pictures because the only 'picturesque' place for photos (that I know of) is the Arboretum in Connetquot (I refuse to go to Argyle Park because it has become quite decrepid). However, I really, really would like to try and make at least a half-hour of the cocktail hour since it sounds as if many brides become disappointed when they miss theirs. If we're lucky, I figure it's a 20 minute ride each way between the arboretum and John Anthonys, which gives me about a maximum of an hour for pictures. Is this enough time? I know that some people take photos with their fiance before the ceremony (which I don't mind doing) but where do people usually take them? In front of their house?Does anyone have suggestions as to what they did? I don't want to be stressed out about the time on my wedding day, so ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

Time Dilemma (a little long)

Argle Lake is about 10 minutes from John Anthony's. It is on Montauk Hwy in Babylon Village. Tons of brides in that area have photos taken there. It has a nice Lake and lots of flower areas.

Time Dilemma - we have same problem...

... and we're not concerned at all. Actually, we have less time to do all. Our mass is at 11 am on the south shore and the reception is 30-40 minutes away on the north shore at 1 p.m. Here's how we're going to try and do our best. My family, minus the groom, will take family pictures before the ceremony at my parents house and backyard. The priest understands our time contraint and has agreed to keep the Mass at 40 minutes. We are spreading the word to our guests, in addition to putting it in our program, that their will be no receiving line after Mass and they should head directly to the reception. We are also going right to the reception place, and will be mingling in the cocktail hour while taking taking pictures with the bridal party and grooms family. Our cocktail hour is outside so we hope this helps. We also plan on going with the bridal party across the street to the beach to take pics as well. All other formal posed shots will take place after the first dance and before dinner is served. We know we're in for a tight crunch, but we aren't letting it get to us and definitely plan on enjoying our cocktail hour too. You'll be fine, just remeber to enjoy the day and not stress.

Barbara - Belmont Lake!!!!

Please, please take a look at Belmont Lake State Park. It is always forgotten about for wedding pictures and offers so, so much more than Argyle, which I agree with you .. when you really stop and look at it, it is not a good place for pictures. And we also knew the Arboretum would be too far away. Our wedding was right on Deer Park Ave. too, and our reception was also at John Anthony`s. Though it rained and messed up our original plans, this was the idea: Regular Ceremony (no communion) at 4, Cocktail Hour starting at 6:30. We figured that would give us plenty of time to get to Belmont Lake, and still be to John Anthony`s by 6:15ish to have some photos taken on the deck, and still make part of the cocktail hour. That was the plan. Anyway, if you`re leaving St. Cyril`s, head south on Deer Park Ave. (which you have to do anyway to get to John Anthony`s), get onto Southern State West (for maybe 1 mile) to the Belmont Ave. North exit (I forget the number .. maybe 38 .. but it is not the first exit for the park you come upon .. it is Belmont Ave. by the Christmas tree they light every year). Just after you exit the parkway, there will be a parking lot on your right, where the Administration Building is, this is the place to park. When you walk toward the lake from the parking lot, keeping the buildings to your left, you will come upon an old mansion on the left, facing the parkway. The doorway offers a spectacular backdrop for photos, plus you also have the lake and park for variety. My photographer had never been here for photos, and was so thrilled when we brought him there for our make-up shoot to restage our outdoor pictures, stating how he now does a lot of work at John Anthony`s, and this was a perfect place right on the way. When you`re done, and you leave the parking lot, just make a left turn out of the lot onto Belmont Ave., then get back on Southern State, going East, then get off at exit 39 South for Rt. 231 South, and you`re on your way back down to John Anthony`s. The trip to Belmont Lake from Deer Park Ave. is a very short one and will be a huge time saver. You can sort of see the mansion from Southern State if you look behind the trees. Also, you will need to get a permit, but the ladies there are really nice. We needed to get the permit twice, once for the wedding day, and then again for the re-shoot, which was on a Tuesday. Since we put the re-shoot together at the last minute, they were kind enough to just hold it there in the office for us. When the photographer and I were setting up in front of the mansion, my husband went over and picked it up. There is no fee for the permit and it comes back pretty quick. To get to their office, you would park in the same lot, just head over to the left toward the State Park Police walkway, and follow the path toward the building. Take the door on your right into the building, and the permit office will be on your right. Can you tell it seems like it was just yesterday I was doing this?! :) Let me know what you think! If you have any questions or thoughts, you can always email me at: [email protected]

Barbara - Belmont Lake!!!!

I agree with Belmont--this had always been my ideal place(from when I was younger) but because of where we chose our reception it didnt work out-- I highly recommend you go looking at it-- Good luck Laura

Time Dilemma (a little long)

We are in the same situation. Our ceremony is in Hauppauge at 11:00 and our reception is at John Anthony`s at 1:00. We`re not going to have a receiving line, so that should save some time. Our photographer suggested a park/arboretum off of Deer Park Ave/Rt. 231. I want to say it`s called Great River something. We did see some pictures taken there and they were nice. I plan on checking it out, because it is on the way to John Anthony`s, which will save us some time too. We`re determined to make it to our cocktail hour. Let me know if you`re interested, I can get more details from our photographer. Good luck.

Barbara/chmlengr - 2 questions...

Has Argyle Park really gone downhill? We were planning on using it as it is totally on the way to John Anthonys and we have the exact same situation - ceremony at St. Cyrils at 11:00 at reception at John Anthonys at 1:00. Also on a different note - How are you planning to get your and your bridemaids hair done? Do you know of any salons that will open early enough, or do they have to come to the house? I`ll be having about 10 girls getting their hair done and I`m a little nervous about time...THANKS

take pictures at the church

You could always take your pictures at the church if they allow it after the ceremony. Many weddings I've been to they did that. We couldn't because there was a service right after our ceremony. But we were also upset to miss our cocktail hour. We had planned to get to most of it but wound up only making about 5 minutes of it.

also..

our ceremony started at 3:30pm and lasted untila bout 4:15pm or 4:30pm and the cocktail hour didn't start until 6pm -- and we still couldn't make most of the cocktail hour. It take longer than you think. Also think about other wedding parties taking their pictures at the same spots. When we got to our picture spot (Mill Pond in Setauket) there were FIVE other wedding parties there taking pictures. That delayed us a bit too.

RE: PAIZ...

I'll try and give you an answer to at least one of your questions... To save time, we are eliminating the receiving line at the end of Mass, and are taking pictures in front of the church at the end of Mass and then again at our reception place, both of which provide spectacular backdrops. The beach is right across the street from our reception hall too, so we can sneak away for that as well. As for hair, I have 6 bridesmaids, two which are my sisters. I am getting my hair done at 7:30 a.m. by the girl who I've been going to for years, at the shop she works at, which she'll open up 1/2 hour early for me (it'll be too hectic to have her at my parents house that day!). Both my sister can do updo's on themselves that look great, so I think they are just going to do their hair themselves. And to save myself from stress, I told my 4 other bridesmaid they can wear their hair however they want, so the choice would be up to them if they decide to have an updo. I'm not really into having all girls wear their hair the same, so it works out good for me. Can you tell I am real laid back and not going to get stressed by this time constraint thing?? Even though I know I am pushing it!!

Barbara - Belmont Lake!!!!

I agree about Belmont Lake as well. My fiance proposed to me at Belmont Lake and we took our engagement photos there. It is a great place!!!

Barbara - Belmont Ave. - take exit 37N off Southern State *NM*

RE: chmlengr

Thanks - good advice. The hair and makeup is one of the only things stressing me. Otherwise, I`m okay. I didn`t even consider letting them make appointments on their own - I just figured they`d all want their hair done and I`d be setting up appts for them all. I have visions of hair appts starting at 5 AM! Thanks again!

Thank You all sooo much...

I think that Belmont Lake is an excellent idea. I must have rode my bike through there about 50 times by now, but for some reason it never really occurred to me to take pictures there. Anyway, everyone's suggestions are very much appreciated. I am so glad that I found this site because it really has helped me out so much. I am graduating from Stony Brook this semester and I work part-time. It has been so hard juggling school and work with planning a wedding. However, the girls on this site have been a great help. Good luck to everyone with their own plans. To Paiz: I haven't really figured out the hair thing yet. I don't have a regular hairdresser but supposedly my best friend's (also a bridesmaid) friend is going to come over to do my hair. I don't know yet about make-up. What are you planning on doing?

Barbara

I`m not sure what I`m going to do. I plan on checking with a girl who usually does my hair to see if her and an assistant can come to my house the morning of. With about 9 people having their hair done, we`re probably going to have to start at 6:00 in the morning. I doubt a salon will open that early. Just an FYI regarding Belmont Park - I mentioned to my FI that this website had mentioned Belmont Park as Argyle had gone south. He said it`s nice, but there is a lot of goose poop to contend with and with the white dress and all, it may be something you want to check out first.