Reception Schedule

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

Sounds like your guests are staying at the same hotel as the ceremony. If that's the case then yes I could totally see them going back to their rooms and then coming back down.

 

I know what it's like planning a wedding with children myself, I'm having probably 11 kiddos.

 

Making cozy pillows and stuffing them once I arrive and buying some blankets there so kids can lay on the Bali beds at our reception and nap.

 

Well congrats!!

[calgarybride2015]

Totally depends where your wedding is!

 

At my resort the private area is about a 15 min walk just to the resort - not sure how far from the rooms themselves, so we are actually renting the golf cart to shuttle everyone. That said, we are planning events etc. with the realization most guests won't be able to leave/go back to their room, not even to find a drink!  So that is why I am paying for so much open bar/cocktail hours, etc.

[LauraM]

Our photographer ends at 10pm (5 hour block and they must arrive at 5pm, 1 hour prior to ceremony).. I'm now concerned that they won't have time to capture any of the wonderful candid moments during my party, since I have things all planned out until 9:30... i guess there's no other option though?

Edited August 29, 2014 by LauraM

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

There's always options!

[tygrrlily]

@@LauraM - you can prob pay for another hour if you want them longer. We have our photographer booked for 8-10 hours because I want the party covered too! I love dancing candids

 

I'm still finalising our timeline and trying to get my WC to reply and confirm times with me so I can also confirm with our DJ! I think ours is going like this:

 

2pm - ceremony (December wedding - shouldn't be too hot)

2:30-5pm - group shots, bridal party shots, bride and groom shots, and break for guests. We are all on resort so we prefer to have the break so people can change, nap, etc.

5:00-6:00pm - cocktail hour. We deliberately put this after pics and during sunset because we want to attend it too

6:15pm - entrances

6:30pm - bride/groom dance and bride groom speeches (we want to get them finished first so we can relax and drink and enjoy the rest of the night)

7-8:30pm - buffet dinner and cake cutting. Will prob have MOH and best man speak during dinner.

8:30-11pm/12am - dance party! And hope to continue on at the hotel bar if we want to

 

We're paying to extend our reception by 3-4 hours (3 hours included). It's $60/table per hour so it'll be $900-$1200 to extend. We want our wedding to be a similar timeline to a normal reception. Choosing not to do the father/daughter, mother/son dances and no garter or bouquet toss.

Edited August 29, 2014 by tygrrlily

[LauraM]

You're timeline seems perfect! May I ask, which photo company are you using and how much are they charging for additional hours? If i had a December wedding, I would do the mid-day break like you're doing, will be nice for your guests.

[tygrrlily]

You're timeline seems perfect! May I ask, which photo company are you using and how much are they charging for additional hours? If i had a December wedding, I would do the mid-day break like you're doing, will be nice for your guests.

Thanks Laura! We knew we wanted the photographers for at least 8 hours so while I really liked companies like Del Sol or Elizabeth Medina, they were way over budget for all the hours we wanted. We went with Lancelotti photography and our package includes 8-10 hours, 2 shooters, all edited pics and a ttd shoot another day. We have our videographer (indigo wedding) for 8 hrs too I think.

[KAT2015]

Our photographer ends at 10pm (5 hour block and they must arrive at 5pm, 1 hour prior to ceremony).. I'm now concerned that they won't have time to capture any of the wonderful candid moments during my party, since I have things all planned out until 9:30... i guess there's no other option though?

 

What we are going to wind up doing is bringing a photographer with us.  I found someone who just wants us to pay travel costs for her and her fiance (her assistant).  The cost is about the same as hiring someone with the vendor fee, or upping our package to the resort.  

 

However, with her coming down as a guest, there is no vendor fee.  As well, she is giving us:

 

• the full day of coverage (from bride getting ready to last formality of our reception)
• an engagement shoot (we already had one done but she said she can swap it for something else on site - maybe a photo booth or a 1 hour period where she can do photos for our guests on the beach)
• a trash the dress session
• coverage of rehearsal dinner or another event

 

So we get everything we want/need, for the same cost.  And she gets a few days vacation.  We are even arranging for her to fly in the day before our wedding - we get married on a Monday, but she is shooting in Ontario the Saturday before.  So she is coming in the day before, and then we will fly her back on the Thursday so she can organize and still be able to book another wedding on the following Saturday (decreases her losses on the travel side).

 

So we get about 1.5 days of coverage total (because we won't have another event for her to shoot in that time frame), and she gets 1.5-2 days of beach time to herself (we will give her at least one whole day without anything to do - probably the day right after the wedding).

 

Might be a better option for you

[LauraM]

@@KAT2015 That's a great idea! How special that you found someone willing to do that for you, and she also gets a vacation with a great addition to her professional portfolio... so smart. Wish I had looked into that sooner! Sounds like you will be able to capture an array of special moments. More brides should look into this option....(i already booked... but i love this idea! Thanks for sharing!!)

[calgarybride2015]

What we are going to wind up doing is bringing a photographer with us.  I found someone who just wants us to pay travel costs for her and her fiance (her assistant).  The cost is about the same as hiring someone with the vendor fee, or upping our package to the resort.  

 

However, with her coming down as a guest, there is no vendor fee.  As well, she is giving us:

 

• the full day of coverage (from bride getting ready to last formality of our reception)
• an engagement shoot (we already had one done but she said she can swap it for something else on site - maybe a photo booth or a 1 hour period where she can do photos for our guests on the beach)
• a trash the dress session
• coverage of rehearsal dinner or another event

 

So we get everything we want/need, for the same cost.  And she gets a few days vacation.  We are even arranging for her to fly in the day before our wedding - we get married on a Monday, but she is shooting in Ontario the Saturday before.  So she is coming in the day before, and then we will fly her back on the Thursday so she can organize and still be able to book another wedding on the following Saturday (decreases her losses on the travel side).

 

So we get about 1.5 days of coverage total (because we won't have another event for her to shoot in that time frame), and she gets 1.5-2 days of beach time to herself (we will give her at least one whole day without anything to do - probably the day right after the wedding).

 

Might be a better option for you

 

Since I am also a Calgary bride I am curious who you chose!

 

I looked into this today, more for curiosity, and most wanted $4000 AND their trip paid for!