I realize I have some time still, but being the planner that I am, it's really starting to gnaw away at me. I also know that until I actually book the photographer (which will happen in the next few weeks) I won't totally know for sure how she'll want to handle things, but I'm assuming there's a general way things go the day of and I thought you ladies might be able to give me an idea.
My wedding start time is 7:00pm. We're planning on getting to the hotel around 11 after getting the kids and nanny settled in at Great Wolf Lodge across the street. This puts us leaving the house around 8:30 to pick up the boys' tuxes on the way in and get them checked in and then us checked in by 11:00.
This is where I get totally lost. I'm not having an official bridal party, but the 3 girls who would have been my bridal party and my sister will all be arriving around 12 to help with setting things up and for us to have girlie time in the bridal suite. Basically, all the stuff a bridal party does without the hassel of the dresses.
The biggest hitch right now is that my venue won't be available for set up until 4:00. There's a possibility it might be available sooner, but I won't know until a week or two beforehand so I have to plan for 4:00. That gives me 3 hours to tie sashes on chairs, wrap rings around napkins, etc., get ready and take pictures. It just isn't feasible even with all the help I'll have.
So, I guess I'm wondering, how soon before the ceremony will the photographer want us all ready for pictures? I really want to do as many as possible beforehand so we're not away from the reception any longer than necessary. How soon before the pictures, do you start getting ready? I'm doing all my own makeup and hair, with the help of the girls, but I don't want to start too soon and not look fresh for the pics or the ceremony.
If I have my hair and makeup done by 4 and then we get the area set up by 5 and all of us dressed by 5:30, will that give the photographer enough time? Will my hair and makeup survive? I can get the napkins done ahead of time, I'm sure, but not the sashes or the runner or any of that stuff. The coordinator said his staff could do the napkins for us, but since I'm doing ribbon with a flower in the center and using glue dots to connect the back, I'm not sure how that would work.
If she shoots the boys first and then the kids all together, that gives me more time to get ready, but then she's not there when I'm getting ready so I'm really thinking I'm going to need 2 photographers. UGH!! This has been really bugging me and I think it's stressing me out more than any other aspect! Thoughts anyone?
