How long does it take between the ceremony and reception for pictures?
For us the pictures took about 30-45 minutes after the ceremony. But that was the full wedding party and the parents. Personally I’d seriously recommend you wait until after the ceremony. Seeing my wife in her dress for the first time coming down the aisle was a great experience. And the big smile on your faces once you’re actually married will make the pictures a bit nicer.
Generally pictures are taken right after the ceremony within the hour and then again during the reception. However, if you are going to be driving around to different locations you better add 2 more hours. Remember you may want to change and retouch your makeup before you head to the reception and that takes some time as well. Think about how fast you will be and far you will travelling to other locations for pictures and also the location of the reception. If you are not sure use yahoo maps to determine how long it will take to drive from one place to another then add 30 minutes for the photo time for each location you will be taking photos at. Then add the time you need to fix yourself up and change outfits to drive to the reception.
Leave two hours free for portraits. You will want photos taken with the two of you married – not just the ones taken before the ceremony when you two weren’t! So a good timeline – have your ceremony at 2, you’ll be done by 3, then go for photos. Schedule cocktails for your guests for 5 p.m., then your wedding party arrives at the site for the dinner just before 6.
If you want to take some pics, and drive around the town I would give yourself 2 hours at least. Depending on how far you are from the reception. But think drive to pics [10-20 mins], pics[20-30 mins], drive around town [30-40 mins] and then drive to reception. I would do more than an hour, maybe hour and a half but its just that what are your guests going to do between ceremony and reception. Unless they can go straight over and have cocktails.
