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Time??

merkey884merkey884
First Comment
in Wedding Reception Forum

New here, hello!!  I'm currently talking with photogs and DJ's and they all are spitting out packages with 4 hours, or 6 hrs (just as examples)  I have no clue how long I need for a photographer, and also how long our reception should be!  It's making it somewhat difficult for me to make a decision just because I don't know how long everything last or should last!  Ceremony and reception are in the same venue.  Input and help will be greatly appreciated :) Thanks!

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Re: Time??

  • PookiesonPookieson member
    500 Comments Third Anniversary 25 Love Its First Answer
    First you need to know what your time line is.  When is the ceremony?  When wil the reception start and how long can you be there?  You have to start there before you can answer how long you will need any vendors.  Our vendors are hourly but this is our timeline:
    Ceremony @ 4 pm
    Cocktail hour 430-530
    Introductions and First Dance at 530-545
    Dinner 6 pm
    Toasts and cake cutting around 7 ish
    We have to be out of our venue by midnight.  We are starting pictures at 130 so I'd need my photog from 130-prob 730 is so 6 hours and the dj from 430-12 so also around 6 hours

    Good luck

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  • loca4pookloca4pook member
    1000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper First Anniversary
    Keep in mind, you might also want a photographer for longer than the actual reception if you want him/her to be with you taking pics of you getting ready...
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  • CallaLily25CallaLily25 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_time-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:2f79dc15-6f1d-4f2f-b76b-085d693d94cePost:48eb44e4-9b9d-425c-b505-11ce49466938">Time??</a>:
    [QUOTE]New here, hello!!  I'm currently talking with photogs and DJ's and they all are spitting out packages with 4 hours, or 6 hrs (just as examples)  I have no clue how long I need for a photographer, and also how long our reception should be!  It's making it somewhat difficult for me to make a decision just because I don't know how long everything last or should last!  Ceremony and reception are in the same venue.  Input and help will be greatly appreciated :) Thanks!
    Posted by merkey884[/QUOTE]

    This depends on a few factors, but I'd say in general, if the ceremony and reception are in the same place...

    Ceremony: 30 minutes
    Cocktail Hour: 1 hour
    Reception: 4 hours

    So, that's 5.5 hours right there. If you want photos before the ceremony and of you getting ready, I'd say it'd be best to go for an 7 or 8 hour package.

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  • mlg78mlg78 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    The photographers I contacted also said they didn't stay for the whole reception...  Mine is hoping to scoot out around 10....which means he'd be there 4 hours (plus the ceremony and getting ready time before).  My ceremony is at 4pm...and he's coming at 2pm so he can get some of us getting ready.
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  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    I wanted my photographer there for the entire night so I went with an 8 hour package.  My ceremony was at 7 and the reception was from 7:30-11:30.  I was going to have my photographer arrive at 4:00 when I got dressed and stay until midnight.  She ended up coming at 3:00 so she got shots of me getting ready as well.
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  • merkey884merkey884
    First Comment
    Thanks, all, for the info!  We're having a December wedding and I really want pictures of us outside in daylight, but we're not doing a first look.  So that means the ceremony has to be over before the sun starts setting/is set.  One of the photographers told me it will be set at 5:18.  I just wasn't sure how long things should last to determine how long I would need the photographer and DJ.   I want daylight pictures, but I want my reception to go into the night!  With everything being in the same venue,  I'd really prefer the DJ be set up (but out of the way) before the ceremony. That way people are entertained while we get our pictures done.  I'm enjoying the planning, I'm just ready for stuff to finally fall into place!  :)
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  • Andama08Andama08 member
    100 Comments
    Here's my tentative TL for our Friday afternoon wedding. The ceremony and reception are in different places.

    Wedding - 3pm
    Receiving line - 3:30
    Pictures - 4:00-5:00
    Cocktail Hour - 5:00-6:00 (or earlier, the venue will definitely let them in before this time)
    Dinner/Mingling/Cake - 6:00
    Party time - 8:00
    Reception ends - midnight

    My photographer is giving us 10 hours of shooting time which is more than enough, she will do pre-wedding shots of us getting ready, we'll go off site for pictures in between the ceremony & reception
    The DJ will be around for 6 hours, 2 hours of quiet dinner music and 4 hours of dance music
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  • kipnuskipnus member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    Our decision was based on budget. Six hours was what we could afford. Fortunately, our photographer was nice enough to allow us to split up our time. She started shooting getting ready pics at 12:30, the ceremony was at 3, and we did family/BP pics until 4:30. Then we snuck away from our reception at 7pm for another two hours of just me and H, when the light was just right. My best friend, who loves photography, took photos during our (very casual) backyard reception.
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