What time of day?

AshnRobo

I have to set a ceremony and reception time for our invitations. Everyone keeps saying sunset will be best for photos, and I agree. I'm just worried about all the guests walking in the woods after dark. It is a manageable problem b/c we're already going to have lanterns and stuff. I also don't want to do it too early in the afternoon b/c of the heat.

I'm worried about starting too late and guests being hungry or to early and guests not being hungry. Or the lighting being to harsh. Or whatever...

According to www.sunrisesunset.com, solar noon on 6-2-12 is 1:23pm and sunset is 8:23 pm.

Any suggestions on time to start??

L&J2012

How long is your ceremony? If you do a 7pm start time, guests should know to eat dinner beforehand (I would still inform them of the type of reception on the invite), and then you can just have an hors d'ourves/heavy appetizers/dessert reception. I think you'd still be able to get good pictures with that start time without having to worry about it being too dark.

chelseakopperud

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_time-of-day?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:cec83f26-be7d-4de2-a1ea-22a155005eeaPost:698489e1-40be-44ab-ae13-e2e89ef8882f">Re: What time of day?</a>:
[QUOTE]How long is your ceremony? If you do a 7pm start time, guests should know to eat dinner beforehand (I would still inform them of the type of reception on the invite), and then you can just have an hors d'ourves/heavy appetizers/dessert reception. I think you'd still be able to get good pictures with that start time without having to worry about it being too dark.
Posted by L&J2012[/QUOTE]

I agree with this.

AshnRobo

We've already made arrangements to serve dinner, and my dad is extremely excited about the meal. If we include on the invites that dinner will be served after the ceremony that would be okay?

I think 7 would be a good start time...Our ceremony shouldn't take more than 20 mins, but we haven't figured out our ceremony completely yet...

Neither of us like long drawn out ceremonies so that shouldn't be a problem.

chelseakopperud

Are you planning on having a cocktail hour? If you are, that might get pretty late to serve dinner. If not, I think it would work.

If you want pictures at sunset, you could do your ceremony earlier, then have a cocktail hour and during that take all of your pictures with your WP and H, that way you capture that great lighting. Then get to the reception for dinner.

SheilaDancer43

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_time-of-day?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:cec83f26-be7d-4de2-a1ea-22a155005eeaPost:ec151b51-2a11-4220-a39d-d9d0299760fe">Re: What time of day?</a>:
[QUOTE]Are you planning on having a cocktail hour? If you are, that might get pretty late to serve dinner. If not, I think it would work. If you want pictures at sunset, you could do your ceremony earlier, then have a cocktail hour and during that take all of your pictures with your WP and H, that way you capture that great lighting. Then get to the reception for dinner.
Posted by chelseakopperud[/QUOTE]

I think this sounds good! If you start at 7, end at 7:20/7:30, then still have to take pics and all, you won't be eating until like 8:00 or even later maybe.

sleblanc72

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_time-of-day?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:cec83f26-be7d-4de2-a1ea-22a155005eeaPost:ec151b51-2a11-4220-a39d-d9d0299760fe">Re: What time of day?</a>:
[QUOTE]Are you planning on having a cocktail hour? If you are, that might get pretty late to serve dinner. If not, I think it would work. If you want pictures at sunset, you could do your ceremony earlier, then have a cocktail hour and during that take all of your pictures with your WP and H, that way you capture that great lighting. Then get to the reception for dinner.
Posted by chelseakopperud[/QUOTE]
This is my thought as well.  We'll be doing what Chelsea suggested with our ceremony being around 4:30 and then later with the sunset we will make sure to get some pictures of at least the 2 of us.

AlliJae

This seriously stresses me out, too! It's complicated having an outdoor wedding. I talked a lot with my photogs to figure out what would be best. We are having our ceremony in a shaded area, so that works out okay for lighting and I trust that they will be able to get good pictures no matter what! Our main concern was actually the heat and keeping our guests out of the sun.

So we are starting the ceremony at 6:30 and hopefully we will be eating dinner by 7:15/7:30. And we are hoping for some more pictures after dinner at somepoint to capture the sunset light a little better.

I was worried about people being hungry, but if you have the dinner start time on the invitation people who know they need to eat by 6pm (or else!!!) will eat before they come.

I would suggest talking with your photog about how the lighting will work and the timeline of the day. They might be able to give you a better idea/clarity with the situation! Good luck!

kipnus

We live far enough north that for June, our photographer finds the best lighting is around 8pm. What we'll do is have our ceremony at 3, then quickly do family and WP photos (indoors at the local college which has super cool architecture), with our reception going from  3:30-8pm, and then we'll do pics of just the two of us AFTER the reception, when the lighting is prime! I'm excited. I think it will be nice to have a private photo session, then head off to our hotel for the night.  

gregamywedding

We are doing our ceremony at 6pm. Dinner will be served at 7pm. We are also doing all of our pictures before the ceremony. FI and I will probably sneak out right before sunset to get a few pics of just us. Our ceremony and reception will be at the same place so I am hoping we can get a few by the gazebo (where the ceremony will be) at sunset.

MMRoberts11

What if you did dinner before so it wasn't so late and then did the ceremony? 

I'm having my ceremony at 5:30 and during the reception just stepping out for a few minutes to get some pics with my FI.

doeie04

What about doing the ceremony, then dinner, and then do pictures with the sunset later? (If you were worried about having the ceremony too late.)

I think a 7pm ceremony would be fine. It is still around dinner.

strawberry5889

My ceremony starts a 6pm, ive always wanted a night wedding since im a night person!

Purple&7

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_time-of-day?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:cec83f26-be7d-4de2-a1ea-22a155005eeaPost:61b63002-45db-4482-ad15-65a114c667b0">Re: What time of day?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm having my ceremony at 5:30 and during the reception just stepping out for a few minutes to get some pics with my FI.
Posted by MMRoberts11[/QUOTE]
This what we're doing! Since our venue is on the beach we're going to try and take some sunset pictures on the beach! It makes me excited just thinking about it <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />