Timeline Suggestions

I have been to both on the same day and will be at Cooper for my ceremony on Tuesday! I would be clear about when your ceremony starts at Thorncrown. I think you will likely start at 6 and end at 6:30 - but you need to know that for your invites. Just ask Thorncrown for the time of ceremony for the invite. I would assume that the guests will leave within 45 minutes of that to travel to Crescent. Allow them 15-20 minutes to get to their cars, leave the parking lot (that road can sometimes be busy), get to Crescent, and then get to your area at Crescent. Your timeline works, but you need a bit more information. Congratulations!!!!!

Eta: If your ceremony begins at 5:30pm then your guests might have some time between, but I'd keep everything the same. A cushion in timing is really helpful - you could be delayed, traffic could be a factor, someone forgets their flowers, Grandma Sally wants to see you before you walk down the aise, etc. - All sorts of things can happen so don't change anything. Weddings are like making a flight on time - always pad time into your schedule.

Hi Jennifer! I'd definitely follow Laura's advice and factor in that travel & buffer time between venues!!

Your photographer might also have suggestions on how early they want to be at the ceremony venue, and how long you'll need for golden hour pics! 🌅

View Quoted Comment I have Thorncrown booked from 5:30-7:00 so I assume I can start my ceremony whenever as long as it starts and ends in that time block. And I think that’s my problem. I’m not sure what time to start the ceremony. I really want to spend “Golden Hour” (5:30-6:30) taking pics or at least 30 minutes. But, that may not be realistic to have the ceremony from 6:30-7:00 if everyone has to be out by 7:00. If that’s the case, I think you are right that I should have the ceremony from 6:00-6:30 or 6:15-6:45 (although that’s kind of a weird time). 30 minutes for Golden hour photos may be enough at the Chapel and we can always take Bridal Party and Family photos before at the Crescent Hotel. The issue is that guests start arriving at 5:30-5:45 for a 6 PM ceremony and the best Thorncrown chapel photos are when it’s completely empty. The sun sets at 6:30 PM so there would be no more Golden Hour photo op after. As odd as that time is, the 6:15-6:45 time frame might work out the best. That gives us around 15-30 min for Golden Hour photos. I’ll ask my photographer how much time he needs for those photos.

Remember while golden hour is from 5:30-6:30 that doesn't mean that 5:15 isn't golden nor 6:45. As long as you're in that general time-frame - and you are - you'll have golden hour photos. I think I'd do guests at 5:30, ceremony at 6 ... the rest of the time is all photos and photographers can shoot allot in 30 minutes. You can do photos before if you don't mind him seeing you before the ceremony. But that doesn't seem to help much because everyone needs out by 7. You could also do some photos at a park in Eureka before Thornton so you can focus on the photos you want while there. I think talking to your photographer is a good idea. It will work out! Promise!

View Quoted Comment Yeah, I don’t mind him seeing me before. Haha he’s already seen me in my wedding dress since we picked up together 😅 We are doing couple photos only probably at Thorncrown and doing most of the family/bridal party at Crescent so he’ll have seen me by then anyway. The only problem I have with doing photos after is having to rush guests out because we want to take photos lol. But, I don’t feel as bad if they’re rushed out because Thorncrown needs the place for another wedding by 7 🤣. I don’t really want to do the Golden Hour photos somewhere else because omg they are absolutely gorgeous at Thorncrown 😱. We are doing the traditional wedding so no lengthy vows and we have a very small bridal party. I think in total, there are 6 pairs walking down (including me and my dad and our parents in this count) so the ceremony is like 20 min at most. The aisle is pretty short at Thorncrown. I came up with 3 different variations: 5:30-6:00 Photos, 6:00-6:15 Guests arrive, 6:30-6:50 Ceremony OR 5:00-5:15 Guests arrive (may have to wait at parking lot if there’s a ceremony before, but it’s on a Sunday so maybe not?), 5:30-5:50 Ceremony, 6:15-6:45 Photos OR 5:30-5:45 Guests arrive, 6:00-6:20 Ceremony, 6:30-7:00 photos. With the last 2 options, guests may have to wait 30 min before doors open at Crescent reception unless I can convince Crescent to move back my reservation from 6:30-10:30 PM instead… they probably won’t care since the place is already set up then 🤷‍♀️ I have to ask. I’ve been emailing back and worth with my photographer and his preference is to start photos before 6:30 so that’s why I didn’t even entertain option 3.

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I like either the 5:30 or the 6:00 ceremony option. Ps. Thorncrown should be scheduling time between ceremonies. So you'll be fine either way. With both, you have a half hour for photos as close to golden hour as possible. And honestly, 30 minutes between locations is nothing. I would not even change your Crescent reservation. It might be a 10 or 15 minute drive, but it gives people time to chat, walk to their cars, park at crescent, and find then walk to your area there. I really, really, think it's perfect as is!