Sunset in December

I’m planning on 45-60 mins max for pictures, I don’t want to miss our party taking a million pictures!
As long as you’re feeding everyone and keeping everyone’s drinks full people will definitely want to stay until 10 at least!
We are starting at 5pm and our reception is over at 11:30. I’m picking a hotel that will let us drink in their bar so the party can continue even later. Definitely depends on your group, but as long as the dj keeps the party going you should have no problem with people staying til at least 10!

It totally depends on your photographer. My photographer wants 45 minutes for my fiancé and I and up to an hour for family photos

That’s actually my plan and I’m getting married this November and also in Southern California. Daylight savings day, lol. Our ceremony start time is 3:30pm and reception ends at 10pm. I wanted the golden hour pictures. We’re hoping family and couple portraits don’t go longer than 1 hour so we can celebrate with others ASAP. I just sent our photographers what pictures I want so hopefully they tell me a timeline soon.

Daughter's wedding was mid-January in So Cal. They did first look and most wedding party photos 1:30-2:45, then were kind of "in hiding" with light snacks as guests began arriving at the venue. Ceremony was 3:30-4. They did more photos (first extended family, then more B&G sunset shots and wedding party) during cocktail hour, 4-5. Reception began at 5 pm with bridal party announcement and ended at 10 pm. It seemed like a perfect schedule/timeline. Many guests stayed till the end, but I think by 10, everyone -- especially the B&G -- was ready to be done. They ended up with about 1150 photos from about 11 hours of coverage (began with getting ready photos at 11, with the girls and guys in two different locations).

Reception ending at 10p isn't too late

I got married in December in Sonoma and my ceremony was 3-4. We did most of our photos before the ceremony. 45 minutes is not enough time for photos unless it is just bride and groom. Here was our photo timeline:

12:30-1 detail shots and "getting ready" shots

1-1:30 first look

1:30-2:45 wedding party and VIPs

3-4 ceremony

4-4:15 signing the marriage license pics and group pics

4:15-5 (guests headed to cocktail hour) wedding party and VIP pics at church

4:15-5:45 cocktail hour (photographer took some cocktail hour pics)

6-11 reception, photographer left at 8 after dance floor was open for the night