@thumper1, Being that the ceremony is outside, I would see what the lighting is like this coming memorial weekend and then decide.
Memorial Day…plenty of daylight!
Re: brunches…we considered that option. But the cost at our venue was almost the same per person as a dinner.
My daughter’s wedding was Labor Day weekend with an outside ceremony, here in the south 
The only item in their planning that I was a bit forceful in them changing, was to start the wedding after 6:00; I wanted the sun time to fall behind the historic home where the wedding and reception was held. I had check the sunset time for their date, and then the year before, I drove by the venue for a week at approximately the same time to see where the sunlight was on the wedding spot. Call me a bit crazy (my daughter did,) but only one groomsman was in the sun, and the Rabbi had him shift over; no melting guest, bridal party or bride!
@snowball, thank you for that tip. Our S’s wedding is Labor Day weekend, but in the northeast. Invitations call for 5:30pm with the ceremony scheduled at 5:45pm. I hadn’t considered where the sun will be but may take a trip to the venue to check it out! Their photographer has worked at this venue before so I assume she knows what she’s dealing with re: lighting…natural or otherwise.
D1’s photographer wants to take few pictures of the couple around sunset on the venue’s rooftop. Their ceremony will be indoor, so it is not going matter. They plan on having a light cocktail hr (wine & beer) right after the ceremony, so we could take pictures. The full cocktail and reception will be at a different venue.
D1 was a bridesmaid recently. She said the bride was in too big of a rush to get to the reception that picture taking was cut short. The bride thought there would be plenty of time to take pictures, but at the end she thought it went by too fast and not enough pictures were taken. I think it is good to come up with a list of pictures you want for the wedding and review it with the photographer before hand. It is also good to ask people you want to be in the pictures to standby so you don’t waste time looking for them. Let your photographer know who are the “important people” you want pictures of.
Totally agree on having a list of pictures you want. Our photographer actually had a list…and we reviewed it…and added two additional small groups we want.
All of the bridal party pictures will be taken before the ceremony takes place. We have some nice places nearby that the photographer suggested…and we agree.
Then we will come back to the venue…freshen up a little. Ceremony is there. Cocktail hour to follow.
He thinks most of the family shots can be taken during the cocktail hour…but he also wants the bride and groom to be AT the cocktail hour…and the guests too. He says he has a plan…and it works…we know several others who have used the same photographer…and they told us not to worry!
It helps that he has a second shooter…so while he is taking group photos, his second shooter can be taking pictures of the cocktail hour.
I did suggest that not very many pictures be taken the last hour of the reception. By that time…everyone is a little bedraggled. The photographer says a few candids are good…but he says an important pic is when the couple leaves the reception. He says some of his best pictures are of that.
We intended to take some before the ceremony, but the hair appointment ran 1 1/2 hours over. I’m not sure my DD impressed upon them how much hair she and her sisters have and I knew we were in trouble when it took them over an hour to do mine. Bride DD had 147 bobby pins in hers and my other two almost as many.
@Marian - I wanted a morning wedding with a champagne brunch reception by my parents and H voted me down.
I went to an absolutely wonderful wedding yesterday with some fun twists:
- Along with wedding photos of the couple’s parents and grandparents, they had the dresses of the MOB, MOG and bride’s late grandmother on dressmaker forms in the country club foyer. It was suggested to the MOB by the venue coordinator and everyone just loved it.
- A Polaroid guest book where guests had their instant photos to go with guest book signatures. The only drawback was the long line and it was hard to get everyone together.
- A “cigar bar” with an assortment of cigars and cigar cutters near a door to take outside. I realize this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but my H and Ss loved it - I had to drag H back in to dance.
The weather was perfect for an outdoor wedding and the food stations were unbelievably good, especially the steamship round of beef, pasta, seafood and mashed potato bars. Way better than a sit-down dinner IMHO. The bride was the daughter of our best couple friends and it really was special evening.
Last year I went to a ‘bridal fashion show’ at my church, which was of wedding dresses of church members. The teen group was raising money to go on a trip, and several modeled some, but others were around the room with the stories of the brides and the weddings. It was really fantastic with dresses from the 20’s all the way to the 90’s. One family had had 3 brides married on Dec 27, and the dresses were winter themed. One dress was made by the MOG, and she was at the show. Cowboy boots and a hat from the 70’s, cake toppers.
What a great idea to show the old dresses at the wedding.
Sure, as long as it’s handled sensitively. It’s entirely possible that one or more of the mothers or grandmothers got married at City Hall in a street dress or sold her bridal gown to a consignment shop. If one side of the family tends to have fancy wedding dresses and to keep them, while the other side of the family doesn’t, things could be awkward.
" A Polaroid guest book where guests had their instant photos to go with guest book signatures. The only drawback was the long line and it was hard to get everyone together."
This worked great at a wedding I attended. Someone went from table to table to get the pix and let people sign the book… No line. Quite fun. If someone missed it at their table they just went over and waited a couple minutes. Most pix were of couples (and even a couple groups) so it wasn’t too bad.
“The name issue isn’t one for us. The bride and groom are inviting only people who actually know THEM. No business acquaintances…or distant parent friends.”
It’s a problem when the bride or groom have fairly common names. You may know Joe the groom but know six other Joe’s also.
We are using first and last names.
Plus…all of the guests have already received an email about this event because it’s a holiday weekend.
Everyone knows this couple.
I really liked those throwaway camera box things that took 20-30 shots each for weddings. Leaving one on each table so people could take candids that the couple could develop them later was great. Of course, they used film. Is there such a thing any more, perhaps in digital form? Or does everyone just use their phone? Then you have to depend on people to share them.
When my niece was married, they urged everyone to upload photos they took to a particular website and then whomever wanted could view and buy photos.
For those of you who’ve already had one of your kids get married:
What kinds of things needed to be taken care of at the last minute – or in the last week? What can the rest of us anticipate?
@Marian Confirm, everything!
Yes, I’d be interested in any last minute words of advice. We have less than 2 weeks to go. I think I’m a very organized person and I’m staying on top of things. The problem is - the FOB and the bride - are both ADD and I cannot count on them to stay on top of this stuff. Its a little overwhelming. They don’t really understand that we’re up against some hard deadlines. Guess they think I’ll work my magic, once again. Can you tell I’m getting just a little stressed??
DD and FSIL are with us, and thankfully it looks like their guests attending will be under 150, which is what we have seating for in the main area. We are going over RSVP. She has some that have a deadline of the 22nd and some with the 26th. So we are making sure on the nos and keeping open for the RSVP on the ones that say they can make it but haven’t said so on the web site.
I like the photographer list. Wants pictures before the ceremony - thinking 12 noon for the 1:30 pm ceremony. I will have her ask if she has some of the large groups first (if they are all there) and mix in with small group pictures to move along. I imagine photographer can say what works best.
They love the digital camera and family member running it. And it is theirs!
Ordered navy table cloths came in, and are in DD’s vehicle.
Pleased that things seem to be on track.