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Beginner September 2022

Ceremony timing help

Carmela, on December 2, 2020 at 11:54 PM Posted in Wedding Ceremony 0 11

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I’m having a bit of a dilemma I just booked my venue tonight because the venue is having a deal before the new year including two extra enhancements (such as Viennese and raw bar). However, I am having such an issue with my church. I would be getting married on a Friday and the times for Friday weddings are either 4 pm or 5 pm. I just feel that is too late for a ceremony. My church also has not opened its 2022 book until January. I am concerned because there are limited days at the venue and have reserved oct 21 2022 (because I love the fall) but am not sure what to do because I know it gets darker earlier and I’m not sure if I will have enough time for pictures. I am going to see if the church can pencil me in tomorrow but I would really want a 3 pm ceremony just because the venue is already 30 minutes away and I feel 4 is pushing it. Has anyone else had this problem?

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11 Comments

Latest activity by Allie, on December 3, 2020 at 10:46 AM

Beginner September 2022
Carmela · on December 2, 2020 at 11:57 PM
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I also feel some sort of sentimental memories with this church in particular because I basically grew up and went to elementary school there so really don’t want to change it
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Master April 2021
Michelle · on December 3, 2020 at 12:05 AM
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If you do the pics before, ceremony at 4 (which should last around 30 mins), out the door & @ the venue by 530 for the cocktail hour. Having dinner by 630 is very doable. While others are enjoying cocktails, you guys can be taking more pics at the venue.
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Champion July 2019
Veronica · on December 3, 2020 at 7:15 AM
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I don't think 4 or 5 is really that late especially for a Friday wedding. Your guests might have to work that day so having it later is actually better. Our wedding was at 4:30 and it worked out perfectly. Since pictures are a concern, take as many beforehand as possible. We did most of our photos prior to our ceremony.
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Master October 2020
Yasmine · on December 3, 2020 at 7:25 AM
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I agree with this!
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Legend November 2019
Caytlyn · on December 3, 2020 at 7:57 AM
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4 pm is very early for a Friday wedding, assuming most of your guests have jobs. I would stick with a 5 pm ceremony at the earliest and do photos before the ceremony so lighting isn’t a concern.
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Beginner September 2022
Carmela · on December 3, 2020 at 8:21 AM
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Did you and the groom take pictures together? Just wondering because I didn’t really want to do a first look because I’m more traditional
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Champion July 2019
Veronica · on December 3, 2020 at 8:32 AM
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We did, but you don't have to. You could take photos of you with your bridesmaids, him with his groomsmen, you with your family and him with his family. Then you'd only need to take group photos and your photos with your fiance after the ceremony. This would help cut down on time separate taking photos during cocktail hour. My brother and his wife waited to take all of their photos until after the ceremony and they took forever so cocktail hour went way longer and their photographer pulled them from the reception to take photos of just the two of them so they missed a huge portion of their reception as a result.
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Beginner September 2022
Carmela · on December 3, 2020 at 8:35 AM
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That’s a good idea! I’m wondering if I can cut down ceremony time too at the church to 30 mins or so
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Champion July 2019
Veronica · on December 3, 2020 at 8:43 AM
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It depends on what all you want to include. We didn't have a religious wedding, but we still had a non-religious reading. We also wrote our own vows, but we had to still say the traditional vows as it was a state requirement to be legally married. We also did a sand unity ceremony as a part of our ceremony. Our entire ceremony was less than a half hour. We had a receiving line, but you could skip this and just walk around to each table at the reception. We did both since we wanted even more time talking to each guest, but it isn't necessary. I will also add that my brother-in-law and his wife did sunset photos and they were absolutely beautiful so that's always an option if it is starting to get dark.
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Master April 2021
Mrs. Spring · on December 3, 2020 at 9:35 AM
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No, never had this issue. Avoided it by marrying somewhere free and simple.
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VIP November 2021
Allie · on December 3, 2020 at 10:46 AM
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We are having a late fall wedding and our ceremony is starting at 4. I picked 4 because I looked ahead at the time the sun is supposed to set and for that day it was 4:35 pm. Our ceremony is going to be very short, only 30 minutes, so we can do photos before the skies go completely dark and we will do some in the dark (my photographer’s specialty is night photos and they’re drop dead gorgeous). We don’t want to do the first look either. So maybe do some research into when the sun will set and plan from there? Remember that it takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes from the sun setting for it to get dark so you’ll still have a little bit of light after for a short period of time.
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