photography how many hours?

Cmrpsu03

Hi everyone,
I am trying to decide on a photographer and many of them set up their packages based on total shooting hours. How many hours should I go with?
 I am a year out but a rough timeline would go something like this:
mass is at 2:30 (but will need to do pre photos getting ready, mom and dad, with the BMs etc)
actual mass
after mass photos at church
photos at reception venue
reception starts at 6 goes until 11

Do you keep your photographer there until the end of the reception? Any info is appreciated!

cutie4420

my ceremony is at 1 and reception is 5-10. I have photographer for 9 hours, 1130a-830pm

carazimages

I'm going with an unlimited package (all day, start to finish) for my wedding.
You only get married once right?
Don't pay more that $2700

Cara

OHwedding2010

My ceremony is at 2:30 and I have the photogrpaher starting around 1.
The reception is 5-10 and we will prob keep him there until 7.
So I'll have him from 1pm - 7pm.

unplainjane

i'm on a tight budget so i'll be having the photographer there for 4 hours to cover some pre-ceremony, the ceremony, do group shots and shots of just us after, cocktail reception and beginning of dinner. so from 2:30-6:30pm.

~mRm~

Our package included all day coverage. Our photographer arrived at 11am to capture getting ready shots and stayed to the end of the reception at 11pm - so for us it was 12 full hours.

angel31

It depends what you want photographed... if you want the photographer to cover you getting ready then you will need an 8 hour coverage... the photographer does not need to be there through the end of the reception... after the cake is cut, there is not much more you need pictures of! Unless you are doing a send off... you need to figure out what you want photographed and then you'll know your hours.