Help!! Dont want to miss sunset!

LAM524

Hi ladies,

I would really like your feedback! As of now this is our timeline: Ceremony 6:30, Cocktail hr. 7-8:00, dinner served 8:30-9:00pm. (holding ceremony & reception at same venue) I just spoke to a photographer we are considering, turns out sunset is 8:12pm. Ugh! Will miss it. I called my venue wedding coordinator and she said we could shift the timeline by half an hr. which is what photographer suggestion would work. My question/concern: Is 9-9:30pm too late to serve dinner? Living in Florida with venue by the beach, I really dont want to miss the amazing photo ops with sunset! I also don't want to be rude and seem inconsiderate to our guests. What are your feelings?

kmbryant2413

That is pretty late. I would check the Farmers Almanac for the date you are looking for and see what time the sun is setting. I wouldn't necessarily rely on the photographer unless he consulted the Almanac.

lyndausvi

If the photographer said "8:12" I would think he check his sources.  I mean, who just randomly picks :"8:12" as a sunset time?

MayberryAfterMidnight

Honestly, I think 9-930pm is a bit too late for dinner for most people. I actually googled the time of the sunset for our wedding, mainly because since we're having an outdoor ceremony on a hill and the guests will be facing west, I didn't want the sun right in their eyes. Why not just go with your original timeline, but just agree to do some more pictures at the end of the cocktail hour, when the sun is setting? I'm not sure if that would be considered rude or not (ducking out on most of your guests while you go take more pictures), but I think it would be preferable to moving dinner back that late.

bunni727

If it's all at one location, could you just slip away and get some sunset pics? As in, take as many photos as you can without sunset, join your guests, mingle a bit/thank them for coming, and then while dinner is being served slink out and grab those last few at sunset.

itzMS

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_help-dont-want-to-miss-sunset?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:a7213c24-0284-478d-81b1-ea474eeabfa4Post:c767d209-f949-4d01-aff8-fd5931f51ddf">Re: Help!! Dont want to miss sunset!</a>:
[QUOTE]If it's all at one location, could you just slip away and get some sunset pics? As in, take as many photos as you can without sunset, join your guests, mingle a bit/thank them for coming, and then while dinner is being served slink out and grab those last few at sunset.
Posted by bunni727[/QUOTE]

This, exactly.

Our photographer would politely come up to us, say she had some shots lined up, meet her by the fountain (or wherever) in 10 minutes.

That allowed us to wrap up our conversation, refresh our drinks, and slip away to take a few photos. She always had us back within 15 minutes.

Do you think you could arrange a setup like that with your photographer?

QueerFemme

I think that is a little to late for dinner.  Also, if sunset is at 8:12, the sun will likely start going down at around 7:45.  it will be SET at 8:12.  So, you probably will still be able to get good pictures with the sun on the horizon in the background.

winelover123

Ask your photographer to go and get you for a few additional pictures with the sunset. I don't think it's rude to pop out of your reception for a few minutes for some pictures. Plus cocktail hour is usually when couples take photos, so I don't think anyone would bat an eye at you leaving. Like PP said, 8:12 is when the sun actually goes down. You'll want a few pictures before then.

efmcc67

It's not like you have to get your pictures at 8:12 exactly. The sky will look like sunset for a while before and after that, which gives you a good chunk of time to sneak of and grab a few pictures.

LAM524

Boy, you guys are brilliant! I didn't even think about "sunset" being  sun down! duh-me! I think you are right! The sun going down should be beautiful enough! hmmmm...I guess the photographer was thinking cathing it on the horizon! Coordinator said we will be announced around 7:30 so if we do intros and 1st dance Im wondering if we would have enough time to sneak out afterwards and get back in time for the dinner blessing/prayer. Also, The problem with the sneak out is where photographer wants to catch sunset is off venue about 10 minutes away.  So its cutting it so close. This is taking into account everything runs on exact time, which I doubt. I really do feel having dinner closer to 9:30 is so late. Boy, if I don't figure this out I will stress about it for the next year! I think I could settle for the sun being in back ground not necessarily on the horizon.

Thanks everyone!! btw, the photographer and wedding coordinator did consult the atlas.

LAM524

Check out his amazing photos and notice the sunset ones! Beautiful!

http://joecapasso.com/

QueerFemme

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_help-dont-want-to-miss-sunset?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:a7213c24-0284-478d-81b1-ea474eeabfa4Post:88d2c1f6-bf37-4507-8d35-8d245ab630f4">Re: Help!! Dont want to miss sunset!</a>:
[QUOTE]Check out his amazing photos and notice the sunset ones! Beautiful! <a href="http://joecapasso.com/" rel="nofollow">http://joecapasso.com/</a>
Posted by LAM2228[/QUOTE]

Maybe you could do a trash the dress shoot sometime after the wedding, so you can get your gorgeous pictures without inconveniencing your guests.

LAM524

hmmmmm...theres something to think about. Thanks!

LindsayP101

9pm is a bit late for dinner...our photographer told us he would keep an eye on the sky at our wedding and will pull us away from dinner (or whatever is happening when the sun is setting) for a few mins to get the sunset shot...no biggie - I'm sure you're guests won't mind if you slip out for a bit during the dinner if it's really important to you.

CrazyCatLady3

Are you serving a lot of food at cocktail hour?  If so, I think 9:30 is fine for dinner.  The last few weddings I went to, we were so full from all the cocktail hour stations that we could have waited for dinner.  However if you are only serving really light apps for cocktail hour your guests might be really hungry (and tipsy) by then.

LAM524

Thanks everyone. Im still not sure what to do you. Advice is basical split down the middle. I suppose I will meet with photog on Monday and try to plan it so that we arent running dinner at 9:30. I just feel thats too late..even though only a half hr difference...still.