Photo Question- Arriving to Ceremony

Wegl13 · July 2014

We are having a heavy app afternoon wedding (ceremony at 2, reception to follow, over by 5ish). FI doesn't want to do first look. Plan was to do separate bridal parties together before wedding, formal portraits (10-15 minutes) at front of "church" while caterer is switching over ceremony to reception, then while everyone is getting seated and starting to eat/getting something to drink, go get a few pictures at a close location (10 minute drive away where FI and I started dating and got engaged). I don't think this will take us longer than 30-45 minutes.

1. Is this long enough to set up 10 tables, put linens on them, and put a centerpiece down (the 10-15 min)?

2. Is it okay for the two of us to not be there for this amount of time as long as everyone can eat? We're not going to bring the whole WP out there so that we cut down on time we are away.

3. We aren't having a dj, just an iPod playing music (nothing that is crazy dancing, but stuff you can dance to if you want)- would it be okay to ask a cousin or friend to turn it to our first dance song when we came in? I'm not wanting them to man the station all night or anything, just press a couple buttons when they saw us come back. This wouldn't be a "I'm going to honor you with this task" type thing- just, hey when we come back, can you press this button so this song plays? I was thinking of getting them a small token of thanks for doing that, too. Alternatively, is this something you could ask (and appropriately tip) the catering staff to do?

AddieCake · July 2014

So there's no cocktail hour, just straight to the appetizer reception? I think I would feel funny starting the actual reception and eating the actual reception food w/o the bride and groom there. What if there is a problem and you are gone for longer? Having to drive to another location always increases the chances of that.

Yes, it would be fine to ask your cousin to turn on the iPod.

Wegl13 · July 2014

Should we just serve them tea and like cookies or something? It seems weird to have apps before the apps.......

Jen4948 · July 2014

I think that if the couple isn't ready to appear at the reception as soon as the ceremony's over, there does need to be something served to the guests that isn't the actual "meal" or "refreshments" of the reception. Light appetizers and drinks would be fine. They just need to tide the guests over while they wait for the couple to appear, at which time the actual "meal" or "appetizers" can be served.

RebeccaFlower · July 2014

Since everything will be over by 5pm, is there a reason why you can't take pictures after the reception so you can go straight into your reception?

As far as question #1: I don't think that's nearly enough time. Even with multiple people, setting up tables takes a while. I would say closer to a half hour.

tigersgirlgv · July 2014

^^This. I'd take your pics at the other location after the reception is over.

I think it's fine to ask a cousin to start the music, but just be sure that they are reliable and will actually do it. At my sister's wedding, they asked a friend to turn on their music and he didn't. Leading my other sister's boyfriend to do it in a rush. Well, he didn't know that the music was in a carefully arranged order after the first dances, so he just hit shuffle... Not a big deal, but I knew what song was supposed to be first and was confused. It worked out fine, but we were kinda stressed as the BF wasn't planning on being in charge of music.

theartistformerlyknownas · July 2014

If all the reception food is apps and nobody's sitting down to a meal, I wouldn't have a problem eating before you get there. I would expect everyone to nosh the whole time. Just make sure multiple rounds of things keep coming out, so things are always fresh. And get there as soon as you can!

JCbride2015 · July 2014

I think your plan sounds ok from a guest standpoint-- as Lolo said, if the whole reception is apps, it's fine for guests to mingle and eat while waiting for you. Maybe bring out the lighter apps first and then bring out the heavier apps when you arrive.

But if possible, taking the photos at the other location would probably be less stressful if you just do it after the reception at 5pm. You won't be rushed. Depending on time of year, you could have really good afternoon light or a nice sunset. Either would be pretty!

monkeysip · July 2014

I second (or third is it?) taking the other location pictures after 5pm. They'll turn out prettier at that time, you won't have to rush, and you'll have more time for your guests. Your reception is already on the shorter side, so it will fly by and you'll wonder where the time went.

Asking a friend to turn on the first dance song when you arrive (whenever that is) sounds fine. It's not asking much.

jacques27 · July 2014

1. 10-15 minutes is most likely not enough time, unless your caterers are there ready to pounce with the tablecloths and centerpieces in their hands circling around your ceremony and they have at least 10 dedicated staff members to JUST handle that while others are also getting the food ready to set out.

2. You say you'll be gone 30-45 minutes, but it's a 10 minute drive (that's 20 minutes total - and since I don't know where your wedding is, is that with or without potential traffic and road construction detours and the amount of time spent parking and walking to/from your locations?). Your photographer will have to put their equipment away and pack it in their car (no photographer is just going to set their camera unprotected on the passenger seat while they drive - what if they have to stop suddenly?). So let's add 5-10 minutes for packing and unpacking the equipment. Plus a little primping time to make sure hair didn't get too windblown, dress and suit didn't get too wrinkled, bouquet if you're bringing it didn't get banged up, and the photographer also checking the lighting, figuring out the best place to put you, retaking a few photos when one of you blinks, etc. Things will always take longer than you anticipated. 30 minutes will become an hour, and your reception as is only about 2.5 hours long maximum - you'll be gone for a minimum of 40% of your reception.

QueerFemme · July 2014

jacques27 said:
1. 10-15 minutes is most likely not enough time, unless your caterers are there ready to pounce with the tablecloths and centerpieces in their hands circling around your ceremony and they have at least 10 dedicated staff members to JUST handle that while others are also getting the food ready to set out.

2. You say you'll be gone 30-45 minutes, but it's a 10 minute drive (that's 20 minutes total - and since I don't know where your wedding is, is that with or without potential traffic and road construction detours and the amount of time spent parking and walking to/from your locations?). Your photographer will have to put their equipment away and pack it in their car (no photographer is just going to set their camera unprotected on the passenger seat while they drive - what if they have to stop suddenly?). So let's add 5-10 minutes for packing and unpacking the equipment. Plus a little primping time to make sure hair didn't get too windblown, dress and suit didn't get too wrinkled, bouquet if you're bringing it didn't get banged up, and the photographer also checking the lighting, figuring out the best place to put you, retaking a few photos when one of you blinks, etc. Things will always take longer than you anticipated. 30 minutes will become an hour, and your reception as is only about 2.5 hours long maximum - you'll be gone for a minimum of 40% of your reception.

I agree with all of this. I think you'll end up being gone over an hour at least. And for a 2.5 hour reception, I'd be irritated if I were a guest I suspect if you did this, you'd get back and find that some of your guests decided to leave

Wegl13 · July 2014

It's really not going to take that long, as it is less than 2 miles in each direction on a country road in the middle of nowhere (10 minutes was me being liberal) but we are going to consider the post-reception picture idea. Mostly because I'm thinking we may have our "departure" then have to come back in like 30 minutes to help clean up (who cleans up after a wedding anyways? When there's no "venue" people in charge?).

jacques27 · July 2014

Even still, unless you're rushing off to catch a flight, as long as there is still some daylight left when the reception ends then I think there really is no good excuse to take time away from your reception to do those photos instead of spending the time with your loved ones given the shorter nature of your reception.

Clean up? My friend hired some local high school kids who were friends of her cousin to do it and a family friend to supervise.

QueerFemme · July 2014

You either hire someone to clean up, or you do it yourself.

RebeccaFlower · July 2014

You clean up. Please don't stick it with someone else. I had a friend leave everything at her self-made venue and call me on the way to her honeymoon to clean up. I was so pissed and she knew it.

lazykat9 · July 2014

So glad I opened this thread! My daughter's wedding will be very similar and no one has considered the photographer's "timetable". The original plan was ceremony and reception at same venue but the guest list has grown and we've moved the ceremony to a larger venue. We were planning to leave from the church to the reception site immediately and form a receiving line after which photos would be taken, but that bit about 30 minutes becoming an hour rings way too true. Also, the point about better light later in the day is especially true in our area. I've bookmarked this page to discuss with her later!

Photo Question- Arriving to Ceremony

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