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Wedding Photography and Videography Forum

How long does it take to photograph between ceremony and reception?

Hello Ladies!

My fiance and I are having our ceremony at church at 4pm and our reception venue is ~45 minutes away. We haven't decided on whether to begin our 1.5 hr cocktail hour at 6 or 6:30 pm (We're thinking 6:30 but not sure if this makes dinner too late).

We are wondering how long it takes to take photographs together after the ceremony?? We really don't want to see each other until the ceremony although it it seems very practical to take pictures before.

Our ceremony will be ~an hour so if we leave at 5pm we should get to the reception venue at about 6pm. We are shooting at the reception venue (botanical gardens)... how long does this usually take??

Thanks :)

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Re: How long does it take to photograph between ceremony and reception?

  • lorifrank2003lorifrank2003 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My photographer knocked out everything in 45 minutes 
  • geminagigeminagi member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    If the session is just you 20-25 minutes. If it will involve wedding party and family/close friends, the method I have seen work the smoothest. Is about ten minutes with friends & family, roughly 10-15 with the bridal party and about 15-20 with the couple. That averages 45-55 minutes. With that in mind as each set is done, they may proceed on to the reception venue to avoid mini-traffic jams.
  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    You can always take the pictures that don't have both you and your FI in them before the ceremony (you with the girls and your parents, him with the guys and his parents, etc.).  This will at least help things on the back end.  All in all, bridal party pictures are going to take 45 minutes to an hour, not including portraits of you and your husband alone--I would say another 20 minutes for that, although you can steal away and do those during the reception.

    We started our dinner at 8:15 and it was fine. Our ceremony was at 7 and cocktails started at 7:30, everything at one venue.
  • edited December 2011
    If you can do the ''first look'' go for it, its 100% better. 

    Now if you can't, here is what you must consider:

    Right after the ceremony:
    15 minutes for thanks you/congratulations
    10 minutes for all guest/group shot
    30-45 minutes for family and group shots
    15 minutes drive
    15 minutes buffer time in case you get arrested by paul the alien
    45 minutes for your formal/romantic photos
    15 minutes back drive.

    Michel Gauthier
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