Any brides-to-be thinking of getting formal portraits done before the ceremony? It was recommended to me that this would free up alot of time during cocktail hour for us and the bridal party to mingle more and not be stressed for time.
Any brides out there who've done this and found it a good idea?
Our vendor includes a formal portrait session at the studio. Since we are already styled we will go to the studio and take the formal shots there before the ceremony. We will continue taking some further shots with the bridal party and the parents before the whole event starts so that it frees up some of the time. Once you are inside the reception room it is hard to leave and get out of the hall for formal shots. And remember: you are paying big bucks for it. So you do want to take the shots without any rush.
We're meeting up before the ceremony and having our formal photos then - I always hate that "killing time before the reception" bit so am avoiding it on our guests' behalf.
We did it before the ceremony and it was nice to get great wedding party shots without rushing to the reception.
Personally, I hate having to wait 1-2 hours while the B&G have their photos taken, so I tried to be thoughtful about that while planning our wedding.
Also, we just scheduled a private moment for the groom and I to see each other before we left for pictures. It was still an emotional moment and nice not to have 200 sets of eyes on us for the first time we saw each other dressed up in our wedding clothing.
After much discussion and thought, I've also decided to do portraits before the wedding. The photographer and DOC will create a "moment" for FI and me to see each other. I want to get to the party, and it's actually saving us money because otherwise we would have needed to do hors d'oeuvres and stuff for the guests.
We're doing it, mostly because we're having a garden wedding just before sunset and want to be sure to get photos of us in the beautiful surroundings while the sun is still up. Also, our reception is going to be short (3 hours), and we don't want to miss a minute of it!
Amysue, we're doing it for exactly the same reasons. We're getting married in a 4:00 ceremony in October in Valley Forge National Park. Our photographer works best in available light and asked us to consider doing photos beforehand, just to be sure we got all of the daylight ones we wanted. We're not getting married RIGHT in the park, but about 1/4 mile down the street, but I don't want to risk not getting photos in such a perfect place! When the photographer first suggested it, I thought - NO WAY! But when she told me that it's sometimes nicer to have a private moment before the wedding, I totally reconsidered. Now I'm really glad we're doing it :)
I was a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding last summer and we spent about an hour and a half taking portraits between the ceremony and the reception, including driving to a third location. It was really ridiculous I thought and the guests, espcially our escorts were getting weary of waiting for us for the party to begin.
I plan on taking as many of the portraits before the ceremony as possible, but I don't want them all to be at my church. The inside is beautiful, but you can't exactly be snapping photos while guests are assembling in there, and the exterior is nothing special. My reception site is much more beautiful, an historic ranch, and I want to be sure to get portraits there too, so we might have to sneak out for a bit. I just don't want that long lag and I think you're wise to try to minimize that for your guests.
We will do all photos that don't include bothe of us beforehand. We don't want to see each other (I'm superstitious that way). He will take pictures with the groomsmen, bridesmaids and his family, (and maybe my brothers) and then I will take pictures with the bridal party and my family. This means that after the ceremony we only have a few combined bridal party and family photos and our couple portraits. Since our reception will be within walking distance and the photog thinks that this will only take a 1/2 hour; we won;t miss much of our reception. The Photog will continue taking photos as we walk to the reception sight. We will also steal away at sunset to take a few more couples photos. During weddings in my family the guests frequently stick around to watch and take photos of the couple and family as well. Socializing with the couple while they take pictures. We will have water, iced tea and lemonade for our guests there so that they have something to drink before and after the ceremony before heading over to the reception spot.
Any brides-to-be thinking of getting formal portraits done before the ceremony? It was recommended to me that this would free up alot of time during cocktail hour for us and the bridal party to mingle more and not be stressed for time.
Any brides out there who've done this and found it a good idea?
Thanks!
posted by jennkimchee 5 posts 9 months agoI plan on doing it that way for all the reasons you mentioned above.
posted by Niki 432 posts 9 months agoOur vendor includes a formal portrait session at the studio. Since we are already styled we will go to the studio and take the formal shots there before the ceremony. We will continue taking some further shots with the bridal party and the parents before the whole event starts so that it frees up some of the time. Once you are inside the reception room it is hard to leave and get out of the hall for formal shots. And remember: you are paying big bucks for it. So you do want to take the shots without any rush.
posted by Camille 131 posts 9 months agoWe're meeting up before the ceremony and having our formal photos then - I always hate that "killing time before the reception" bit so am avoiding it on our guests' behalf.
I also don't want to miss any of the fun! :)
posted by kangaroo 38 posts 9 months agoWe did it before the ceremony and it was nice to get great wedding party shots without rushing to the reception.
Personally, I hate having to wait 1-2 hours while the B&G have their photos taken, so I tried to be thoughtful about that while planning our wedding.
Also, we just scheduled a private moment for the groom and I to see each other before we left for pictures. It was still an emotional moment and nice not to have 200 sets of eyes on us for the first time we saw each other dressed up in our wedding clothing.
I totally recommend it.
posted by Reby 24 posts 9 months agoAfter much discussion and thought, I've also decided to do portraits before the wedding. The photographer and DOC will create a "moment" for FI and me to see each other. I want to get to the party, and it's actually saving us money because otherwise we would have needed to do hors d'oeuvres and stuff for the guests.
posted by kleverkira 139 posts 9 months agoWe're doing it, mostly because we're having a garden wedding just before sunset and want to be sure to get photos of us in the beautiful surroundings while the sun is still up. Also, our reception is going to be short (3 hours), and we don't want to miss a minute of it!
posted by amysue 640 posts 9 months agoAmysue, we're doing it for exactly the same reasons. We're getting married in a 4:00 ceremony in October in Valley Forge National Park. Our photographer works best in available light and asked us to consider doing photos beforehand, just to be sure we got all of the daylight ones we wanted. We're not getting married RIGHT in the park, but about 1/4 mile down the street, but I don't want to risk not getting photos in such a perfect place! When the photographer first suggested it, I thought - NO WAY! But when she told me that it's sometimes nicer to have a private moment before the wedding, I totally reconsidered. Now I'm really glad we're doing it :)
posted by Puffy 44 posts 9 months agoI was a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding last summer and we spent about an hour and a half taking portraits between the ceremony and the reception, including driving to a third location. It was really ridiculous I thought and the guests, espcially our escorts were getting weary of waiting for us for the party to begin.
I plan on taking as many of the portraits before the ceremony as possible, but I don't want them all to be at my church. The inside is beautiful, but you can't exactly be snapping photos while guests are assembling in there, and the exterior is nothing special. My reception site is much more beautiful, an historic ranch, and I want to be sure to get portraits there too, so we might have to sneak out for a bit. I just don't want that long lag and I think you're wise to try to minimize that for your guests.
posted by ErinSea 129 posts 9 months agoWe will do all photos that don't include bothe of us beforehand. We don't want to see each other (I'm superstitious that way). He will take pictures with the groomsmen, bridesmaids and his family, (and maybe my brothers) and then I will take pictures with the bridal party and my family. This means that after the ceremony we only have a few combined bridal party and family photos and our couple portraits. Since our reception will be within walking distance and the photog thinks that this will only take a 1/2 hour; we won;t miss much of our reception. The Photog will continue taking photos as we walk to the reception sight. We will also steal away at sunset to take a few more couples photos. During weddings in my family the guests frequently stick around to watch and take photos of the couple and family as well. Socializing with the couple while they take pictures. We will have water, iced tea and lemonade for our guests there so that they have something to drink before and after the ceremony before heading over to the reception spot.
posted by tberry 232 posts 9 months ago