What time of day would you consider for ceremony?

An early wedding can start 4:00 to give enough time for group and family photos. One tip is to make a photo list of groups that you want to get done and family members separate from the both families together and each side with you both. By the time you finish, Reception can start after getting some couple shots alone.

Ours has a long gap in between. Our ceremony is 12:30pm then we’re going to our reception venue for photos.


Guests can come at 5:30 for cocktails and an antipasto bar!
So a 5 hour gap for us but it’s common in my FHs European culture. Guests can go home or to their hotel and rest up for the reception!

I would have it at 2 and then do pictures after and then travel to the venue. i feel like pictures always end up taking long cuz you have to pose, figure out whose in what pictures grab that person etc etc

Our ceremony is at 4, dinner starts at 6

From what I've read on here the usual for photos is about 1.5-2 hours. Working backwards if you want dinner at 6 you need photos to start by 4/430 so depending on the length of your ceremony maybe 330.


If you're worried about the heat you could push everything a little later. Ceremony at 430, photos/rest until 630, dinner at 7 with light appetizers during the photos so the guests have something to nibble on before dinner. I would assume the later the cooler which most people will appreciate. Plus you might better better "golden hour" photos later in the evening in the summer.

Allow for 1.5-2 hrs for pics