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Monica
Dedicated June 2018

Is it okay to go straight into pictures after ceremony?

Monica, on January 30, 2018 at 8:24 AM Posted in Planning 0 8

We are having an outdoor 20 min ceremony followed by cocktail hour and we will be taking family photos and a few portraits during that hour and I want to have all the time that we can have because I am paying for a good photographer and our family is large and disorganized so there's no time to sit around and chat after the ceremony. We are planning to go and greet tables after we eat (it's a buffet so by the time we are done eating others will have just finished getting their food), but should I have my officiant say something like "the bride and groom will now be taking family photos please head to cocktail hour and they will greet you during dinner" obviously that's terrible wording but is there a nice way to inform guests we will greet them later and to let us take pics during one of the only free times we will have? The wedding is just outside the indoor reception venue so it's all at the same place and like a 15 yard walk to the indoor reception, but I don't really want people just "hanging out" at the ceremony cite outside when we are trying to take pictures. we have o'derves and alcohol provided in the venue during that time.

Side note: I'm not a fan of receiving lines, and since it's outside and not at a big church I don't know if we can just shoo people away

8 Comments

Latest activity by B11, on January 30, 2018 at 9:56 AM
  • Amandaw
    VIP April 2018
    Amandaw ·
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    Most people know that right after the ceremony people take pics. Most the time (at least what I have seen) a receiving line is done before the reception. If a line isn't done then the bride and groom aren't seen til they are announced.
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  • BlueHenBride
    Master March 2017
    BlueHenBride ·
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    Yes, the officiant can simply announce "the bride and groom invite you to enjoy cocktail hour inside" or something to that effect at the end of the ceremony to point people in the direction they need to go. If you need anyone to stick around for pictures, make sure you speak with them ahead of time to let them know they're needed for pictures and they should stay in the ceremony area.
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  • FutureMrsKC
    Master January 2019
    FutureMrsKC ·
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    I’ve been to a few weddings where after the bride and groom walk back down the isle together, the officiant announced that the guests are invited to cocktail hour indoors (or wherever it is) but I think most guests will know that you’re going to take pictures. I’ve only been to one wedding where guests hung out but I think that’s because they had to drive to the reception site and there was a gap in the middle
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  • B
    Dedicated May 2019
    Bride2Be ·
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    The last few weddings I've been to there was no receiving line, and everyone knew to just go to cocktail hour.
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  • B
    Dedicated April 2020
    Brittany ·
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    The last wedding I went too the wedding cordnatior announced cocktail hour and we just went there for about an hour while they took photos.
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  • CheeckyPinky39
    Devoted April 2018
    CheeckyPinky39 ·
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    We're doing the same thing - our officiant will simply announce to our guests that cocktail hour will commence in the mansion (we'll be out on the grounds) and to please head on inside as the couple and close family proceed to take a few photographs.

    You can work out all of these little details ahead of time with your officiant and your photographer together and draw up a plan of action - day of details list for everyone so they all know where to be.

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  • Shai
    VIP August 2018
    Shai ·
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    That’s what I plan on doing, takig pictures right after the ceremony during cocktail hour. I can see everyone else in the reception with a receiving line I guess that’s what you call it.
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  • B
    Super May 2019
    B11 ·
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    It’s pretty standard that the cocktail hour will be after the ceremony while the you all do photos, and then you’ll greet everyone during dinner. I don’t think you need an announcement saying that you’ll greet everyone during dinner
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