wedding photography

OtterXO · #1 05-11-2009, 04:52 PM

Along the theme of wedding photography, and to avoid a new thread, for those of you that are married (or been involved in a wedding where they did this) I have a question. At your wedding did you go to a location for photos between the ceremony and reception? My fiance would like some photos at the beach (I know, so cliche! haha) but I don't know if it's weird since we are likely doing the ceremony and reception at the same place - which is an old estate about 2 miles from the beach. I think we can do it if we go during the cocktail hour but I don't want to disappear for over an hour. Any thoughts or advice?

KSUViolet06 · #2 05-11-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterXO

At your wedding did you go to a location for photos between the ceremony and reception? My fiance would like some photos at the beach (I know, so cliche! haha) but I don't know if it's weird since we are likely doing the ceremony and reception at the same place - which is an old estate about 2 miles from the beach. I think we can do it if we go during the cocktail hour but I don't want to disappear for over an hour. Any thoughts or advice?

It's pretty common to go to other places in between for photos (at least here it is). I've been in quite a few weddings where we've done this. Some people leave time between ceremony and reception for this purpose. I think beach photos 2 miles away is no big deal.

I personally wouldn't go anywhere too far. I was once in a wedding where the bride left 2.5 hrs between for us to go to a park that was an hour away for pics.

OtterXO · #3 05-11-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

It's pretty common to go to other places in between for photos (at least here it is). I've been in quite a few weddings where we've done this. Some people leave time between ceremony and reception for this purpose. I think beach photos 2 miles away is no big deal.

I personally wouldn't go anywhere too far. I was once in a wedding where the bride left 2.5 hrs between for us to go to a park that was an hour away for pics.

Yikes, an hour away is a bit ridiculous. I think realistically it would be like 45 minutes to an hour for the photos including travel time to and from the beach. I just don't want people "cocktailing" for a really long period of time (like 2.5 hours) and come back to a drunk group of people. That would be a bad move. Granted the location we're likely doing it at only allows beer and wine, but people can still drink a lot in 2 hours.

What about doing photos before the ceremony? I know it's becoming more common but all the superstitions, etc about not seeing each other beforehand still stick in my head.

KSUViolet06 · #4 05-11-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterXO

What about doing photos before the ceremony? I know it's becoming more common but all the superstitions, etc about not seeing each other beforehand still stick in my head.

I'm a big fan of doing pics beforehand. It makes for a smaller time gap bewteen ceremony and reception, which is always nice because I find that by the time the ceremony is over, everyone involved is starting to get hungry (bride, groom, maids, etc). I know I am. Your hair and make up is fresher because you haven't had a chance to cry/sweat, etc. It also allows you to spend more time with your guests.

Also, you're STILL seeing each other for the first time, just not walking down the aisle. So you'll still have the same feelings (at least I would hope). I've never heard anyone say "Well I wasn't excited to see him at the end of the aisle because I had seen him for pics this morning."

OtterXO · #5 05-11-2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I'm a big fan of doing pics beforehand. It makes for a smaller time gap bewteen ceremony and reception, which is always nice because I find that by the time the ceremony is over, everyone involved is starting to get hungry (bride, groom, maids, etc). I know I am. Your hair and make up is fresher because you haven't had a chance to cry/sweat, etc. It also allows you to spend more time with your guests.

Also, you're STILL seeing each other for the first time, just not walking down the aisle. So you'll still have the same feelings (at least I would hope). I've never heard anyone say "Well I wasn't excited to see him at the end of the aisle because I had seen hom for pics this morning."

That would be hilarious if someone did say that.

I've heard of a lot of people doing them before as well. Several of my friends have done it and it's nice because they can actually come to the cocktail hour and see people rather than being MIA for an hour. I think it would be nice to calm our nerves if we did see each other beforehand. That's a good point on the hair and makeup freshness. Hmmm....maybe we'll do that.

KSigkid · #6 05-13-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterXO

Along the theme of wedding photography, and to avoid a new thread, for those of you that are married (or been involved in a wedding where they did this) I have a question. At your wedding did you go to a location for photos between the ceremony and reception? My fiance would like some photos at the beach (I know, so cliche! haha) but I don't know if it's weird since we are likely doing the ceremony and reception at the same place - which is an old estate about 2 miles from the beach. I think we can do it if we go during the cocktail hour but I don't want to disappear for over an hour. Any thoughts or advice?

We did photos at the Boston Commons between the ceremony and the reception. We got married right down the road (Trinity Church in Copley Square), so it was a quick limo ride. This was during the cocktail hour, and it worked out well timing-wise; we did the photos, got back into the cars, and arrived at the reception just as cocktail hour was ending and people were taking their seats.

To be honest, I think most people expect the bride and groom (as well as the parents and wedding party) to "disappear" during the cocktail hour, because that's when most people do their pictures. At least, that's been my experience with my own wedding and the weddings I've attended (and I've attended a bunch of the past few years for college friends and family).

PhoenixAzul · #7 05-13-2009, 10:01 AM

Despite our liberal leanings, husband and I were very traditional about our wedding. We didn't want to see each other before the wedding. The photographer spent the morning with me and the girls at my parent's house, and then left to meet up with the boys at the church in advance of the ladies. We also had a late mass, at 3:15, and Saturday afternoon mass began at 5:30 (and its an old parish, people get there EARLY). So we had a game plan for our "formal" shots...we did the whole thing very quickly. As we were doing the pictures, parishioners were coming in. We got lots of hugs and waves from the old people who've known husband since he was wee (he was an altar boy up through high school). We scheduled the cocktail hour for 5pm, and it was about 15/20 minutes away from the church. It all worked out perfectly. It's possible, but it requires a bit of planning.

Munchkin03 · #8 05-13-2009, 11:18 AM

Most of the weddings I've attended recently have done a cocktail hour, during which time the whole party pictures are taken (beforehand, they did the bride and groom, and their associated peeps, separately). It didn't bug me too much--more time to sip n' socialize for me!

One wedding I went to last year did have the formal pictures beforehand, so they saw each other before the wedding. They had lived together for 4 years prior, and they're suuuuper liberal, so I'm sure it was one more tradition they were all too willing to do away with.

DaemonSeid · #9 10-14-2010, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Most of the weddings I've attended recently have done a cocktail hour, during which time the whole party pictures are taken (beforehand, they did the bride and groom, and their associated peeps, separately). It didn't bug me too much--more time to sip n' socialize for me!

One wedding I went to last year did have the formal pictures beforehand, so they saw each other before the wedding. They had lived together for 4 years prior, and they're suuuuper liberal, so I'm sure it was one more tradition they were all too willing to do away with.

Kinda late-ish but still on topic...

We took our pics ahead of time and it made the rest of the day go by smoothly...our photographer has sent back a sample and so far 2 that I really like are these: