Post # 1

Member
4480 posts
Honey bee
- Wedding: March 2010 - Calamigos Ranch
We’re doing a first look for sure, but we only have 2 hours between when we can arrive at the venue and when the ceremony starts. Do you think we’ll be able to finish most of our portraits (family, bridesmaids, groomsmen, maybe of us?) in that time? How long did your portratis take/how much time are you allowing?
Post # 3

Member
4123 posts
Honey bee
2 hrs is plenty. The one thing to consider is that you’ll need to make sure that the entire wedding party, including the boys, are ready to go, dressed, and all that. Also, family is usually harder to do before hand unless you’re just talking parents/siblings. The more extended you go, the more likely people will be late or un-reachable
Post # 4

Member
5399 posts
Bee Keeper
I think two hours will work. We have huge families, so all the formal family stuff took about an hour. So, that leaves you another hour to get pictures of just the two of you and some stuff with the bridal party. Your photographer can also be really helpful in answering this question for you since they see all kinds of weddings and how long it takes and/or takes them to get all the shots you would like.
Post # 5

Member
739 posts
Busy bee
Yes, two hours should be enough time, but there are things to consider. Are you getting dressed and or ready there? Will everyone in the photos be ready in time, when are people due to start arriving for the ceremony and are you going to be in an area where they can see you leading up to the ceremony. You should work with your photographer to create a shot list of the family poses and a time line, we calculate about 5min per grouping. Some times its more with larger groups and sometimes its less. If you are not going to be doing a rock-the-dress/trash-the-dress/day after session then I would give yourself at least a half an hour for photos of just the two of you.
Post # 6

Member
102 posts
Blushing bee
I’m so glad you asked this question because I’m in the same boat. The earliest we can be at our venue is 4pm and the ceremony starts at 6pm. I wanted to have *some* getting ready photos at the venue because there are some awesome photo-ops there, but I just don’t know if there is enough time.
Are you going to have to do anything at the venue when you get there, or is someone else taking care of all of that?
Post # 7

Member
2781 posts
Sugar bee
We’re doing formal portraits after the ceremony – I think we’re going to end up with something like 2 and a half hours to do what we want to do! And we’re still going to be early to our reception! Seriously though, 2 hours should be plenty of time. Especially if you’re doing a first look.