How much time for pictures after ceremony?

My FH and I will see each other before hand so we will do what our photographer called family pictures for probably 30-45 minutes before guests start to arrive. That way, we will be able to catch the tail end of cocktail hour and start greeting guests (we are not doing a receiving line). She told us given this scenario, she will only need us for 30 minutes after the ceremony then she will grab us near sundown for more pictures of just us.

We spoke to 3 photographers, they said if there are NO pictures taken before the ceremony, it can run at an hour or longer depending on what kinds of pictures you are having taken. One photographer said it could take two hours...we were not going to leave our guests in the lurch for 2 hours.

We are not seeing each other before the wedding and I didn't realize that gaps between ceremony and reception was frowned upon so we have a full 3 hours for photos. My parents were nice enough to host a tea for the guests during the break so hopefully they can happily mingle while we do photos and while our room gets reset.

2 hours for photos is certainly do-able. If you do 1 hour you can probably still get some good shots it just won't be a whole stack of them and you're probably limited to 1 photo location. Your photographer can give you opinions from their point of view, but keep in mind that for them the photos are THE MOST IMPORTANT THING of the whole day, even if that might not be your priority, or your guests'.

We also did not see each other before the ceremony and our photos took exactly 53 minutes.

We had two photographers which helped (is we could pose/shoot two different shots at the same time). I couldn't imagine standing there taking photos for much longer anyway.

Oh and we had well over 1000 edited images from the day - about 250 were from that 53 minutes, so quantity wasn't an issue.

We are planning on an hour at the church and an hour at the reception site (it's a country club so has GORGEOUS views). The guests will have cocktail hour while we wrap up pictures at the site. I didn't want us to feel too rushed, but I also didn't want a two hour gap with nothing for guests to do.

We will be taking all BMs & Bride pics, GM & Groom pics, and the BMs with Groom and GM with Bride before the ceremony. My FH refuses to see me fbefore the ceremony. So that leaves half, to less than half of the pics taken before hand!! We then have the ceremony at 3:30, so from 4;30-5:30 is the happy hour (drinks and appetizers ) for the guests to have while we finish the pics and continue the day.

Hope my idea for the timeline helps you with ideas! good luck

We are not doing a first look either. our ceremony will end close to 5pm and the reception starts at 6 but we arent entering until about 6:30. So we are allowing about 90 mins for photos!

My husband and I didn't see each other prior to the ceremony either, but we did do group pictures separately with our respective bridal parties. We had set aside an hour prior to the ceremony starting to get the group shots done, so I got pictures done for a first look with my dad, shots with both of my parents, me with all of my bridal girls, and while we were doing that, my husband did his with his groomsmen and family as well.

After the ceremony, we used the cocktail hour for group shots; we got individuals with every couple from the bridal party, and then group shots with our families, after which, we went outside into a private courtyard for more pictures of just the two of us, and for all of that, we used just shy of the entire hour, before our grand entrance into the reception.

After we finished eating (because you'll be served first, you'll finish first) we stepped out of the reception, and shot a few more with just the two of us, which only took about 15 minutes. Overall, we ended up with a little more than 400 gorgeously edited photos. Just make sure you leave a little more time than you think you'll need, and keep everyone on schedule, and moving along when it comes to the group shots!

Our timeline in its entirety was:

0800: Woke up, showered & got dressed

0900: Bridal ladies breakfast in the hotel (while the guys slept in)

1000: Nail appointments began - Guys woke up and grabbed breakfast

1200: Hair appointments began, we ate lunch while we were having our hair done

1400: All the ladies headed back to the hotel suite to start getting ready - Guys grabbed lunch

1530: Separate group photos began in separate areas inside and outside of the hotel

1630: Photos ended, girls and guys escorted into separate private holding suites

1645: Guests began to arrive

1730: Ceremony began

1800: Ceremony ended, cocktail hour began, group photos began

1900: Cocktail hour ended, guests allowed to enter reception to be seated - Photos ended, bridal party escorted into a private holding suite

1915: Grand entrance into the reception began

1920: Speeches & dinner prayer

1930: First course served, dinner begins

2000: Cake cutting during dinner - We stepped out for more photos

2020: My husband and I wondered off together alone to catch our breath and just be together

2030: First Dance - Father Daughter Dance - Mother Son Dance - Mother Daughter Dance

2045: Cake served - Dance floor opened

2100: Bridal dance - Cookie tables opened

2130: Bouquet Toss - Garter Toss

****: Dancing & Fun!!

0100: Our Last Dance

It goes by like a whirlwind...so enjoy and soak up every. single. minute.

I allowed 45mins of this necessary evil

At least an hour. Have someone from each family help round everyone up as they are needed so it goes faster.