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There are a variety of reasons that lead to delays and stress robbing you of your opportunity to enjoy your own wedding reception. Here are some of the most common things that can reduce the amount of time you and your guests have to dance and enjoy the reception: 1. Ceremony Starts Late - Despite the best planning, situations arise that result in the delay of the start of the wedding ceremony. If you plan on the ceremony lasting 25 minutes, (average), then ALWAYS figure an hour. In my experience, most weddings start approximately ten minutes late, and EVERYONE wants to congratulate the Happy Couple when it's over. Scheduling 60 minutes gives you the time necessary to relax and enjoy your time in the sun. 2. Gathering Belongings At The Church - Most often, wedding party members get dressed at the church or ceremony location. Once the group photographs are taken after the ceremony, someone must go back to the dressing rooms to collect these belongings. This can delay the start of your reception. I recommend that you pre-pack everything and get it back into the car BEFORE the start of the ceremony. There are plenty of people to assist in this and this prevents misplaced belongings and delays leaving the ceremony. It can also help reduce theft of phones and other valuables that are left unattended. 3. Group Photography Takes Too Long - I want to stress that most experienced professional photographers will spend a reasonable amount of time taking group shots after the ceremony, (bridal party shots and groomsmen shots are done separately before the ceremony). In a survey of photographers, most indicate that the average session after a ceremony lasts approximately 30 minutes, but no longer than 40 minutes. Any longer, and guests are forced to wait an inordinate amount of time. In fairness, lengthy photo sessions that last too long are NOT always the photographers fault. Photographers report that people wander off during the photo session, unnecessarily extending the time it took to get the group photo's that were requested. Sometimes the Bride and Groom provide a lengthy list of photo requests. Speak with your photographer and come to an agreement on a reasonable time limit for the photography session after the ceremony - find a balance between the shots he needs and the ones you want, keeping in mind, that as a professional photographer, they have the experience of what sort of shots are most popular and work best. Communicate this time limit to everyone you want in those shots so they can be present and paying attention to expedite the process. Another problem arises at the reception when the photographer takes bridal party and family members away from the reception for additional group photos. While pictures are important, this is not a photo-feature in a magazine…this is a live event involving YOU, your family and friends! When you finally arrive at the reception, take candid shots with the people you've invited while your party progresses, every shot doesn't have to be studio-posed and perfect. Some posed shots are sometimes taken at the reception when there are opportunities for sunset photographs and other scenic outdoor images. This type of photo session lasts no more than 10 minutes and the Bride and Groom return to the festivities before they're missed. 4. Bridal Party Don't Go Directly To The Reception - If you are expecting to do a receiving line, it is crucial that you all arrive at the reception site together. Don't "stop by" the store or home, remind everyone before that morning to have everything they need on hand to avoid these delays, they can make a checklist if necessary, whatever it takes to make sure that they're focus is on the successful execution of your well-planned and expensive event, not on whether or not they have "smokes"! In Conclusion... The good news is that the Bride and Groom can prevent much of this with planning and communication. Address these issues and your concerns with all parents and wedding party members, emphasize how important it is to you for everyone to be prepared and disciplined the day of the wedding. The reception should be a time where the Bride and Groom can relax, dance and mingle with friends and family. With a little cooperation and pre-planning, your reception will flow just as you've always dreamed. |