Question for those who did NOT do a first look

Add New »

more by NeliBee

Who pays for alterations made to the bridesmaids dresses?

Question for those who did NOT do a first look

posted 2 years ago in Photography

Member

186 posts

Blushing bee

NeliBee April 10, 2010

Hi Hive,

The first time that my fiance will see me in my dress will be when I walk down the aisle.

With that being said, we want to do the traditional formals before the reception - we have 1.5 hours in between the end of the service to the start of the reception and our reception is four blocks from the church - how long does it take to get all of the formal shots done?

We don't want to miss the cocktail hour and were wondering if it would be weird to do half of the formals before the reception and the other half sometime towards the middle of the reception? Would it be weird if we just disappeared for 20 minutes to take pictures?

2 years ago

Member

2,003 posts

Buzzing bee

okqueenbee Dec 4, 2009 OKC

I don't think that would be weird at all. In fact, if I had it to do over again, I would probably consider something like that.

We only had about 30 minutes in between the ceremony & reception (at the same church), so we had to CRAM TONS of pics into that time frame. PLUS, we did formals of me & my BM's & my hubby & his GM also (we did not see each other - it was coordinated so the photog was coming to US, so we didn't bump into each other) BEFORE the ceremony.

I was so exhausted. After the ceremony all I wanted to do was go to the reception but there were tons of pics to be taken.

I know if I hadn't been so tired they might have turned out better but eh well..

(we had a 7:45 PM ceremony)

2 years ago

Hostess

2,606 posts

Sugar bee

rosychicklet September 27, 2008 Boston, MA

I would NOT plan to leave the reception. You won't want to miss any of it! I got so caught up in partying that gave up on getting shots with lots of extended family so I could just enjoy the party.

You said it's 1.5 hours between the end of the ceremony and the start of the reception. Does that mean the cocktail hour starts 30min after the ceremony?

30min might be really cutting it if you want formals with your families and bridal parties.

But 1.5h would be plenty of time.

Talk to your photog about the shots you want and how long he/she thinks it will take.

Also, check out some other brides' timelines and see where they put their formals:

http://wiki.weddingbee.com/Wedding_day_timeline

2 years ago

Member

6,643 posts

Bee Keeper

artbee February 28, 2010

i would talk to your photographer to get some of his ideas. a few weddings that i've been in have done pictures before, but seperately. the bride would get pics with her girls and her family, and the groom got pics with his groomsmen and his family. i personally wouldn't want to leave my reception. there's so much going on there. i would try to get as many pictures done ahead of time so you're not rushed after.

2 years ago

Member

161 posts

Blushing bee

Jessica Snaptacular Photos April 26, 2008 Houston, TX

Speaking from experience, it's really difficult to do two different sessions of formal photos. Most people don't understand what's happening when they take pictures before the ceremony, then have to take them again after.

We recommend either doing them all before (and accepting that there will not be formals with the two of you together) or doing all of them after the ceremony. I do not recommend planning to take photos during the reception because once you leave the ceremony venue, it's VERY difficult to gather people back up again for photos (although portraits of the two of you are fine).

2 years ago

Member

4,199 posts

Honey bee

KLP2010 October 30, 2010

When the bride and groom do not wish a first look and time is crunched this is how it usually plays out:

Before Ceremony:

Detail shots

getting dressed shots

bride

bride / bridesmaids

Groom in his room putting on jacket, cuff links, etc

groom

groom / groomsment

After Ceremony:

Family Formals (always best done right after, and tell who you want to stay before the wedding day they need to stay)

entire wedding party

just the bride / groom

Now, 1.5 hours would be plenty for me to do all "formal" shots after the ceremony... Doing two sessions they way I do it isn't difficult at all. It's actually a bit more relaxing and keeps my bride occupied before the wedding instead of sitting around staring at the clock :-) The only people you need to worry about are your wedding party / family / and yourselves. Your friends will have no prob realizing that we're doing two sessions. Now, I don't rec. breaking up family shots. Do them all at once, and preferably not during the reception. Someone will find a way to already be drunk, missing, a PITA, or something else... It never has gone smoothly for me doing a family shot during the reception. It gets turned into some huge ordeal because then more than just you is "missing the party."

2 years ago