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Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the best length of time?
Do you recommend a Mock Departure?
As far as the time goes, 5 hours is a minimum
amount. I used to do a 4 hour wedding, but it was just too short of time. I
know people try to keep the expenses down as much as possible, but it was
frustrating trying to do a good job in 4 hours. And 5 hours is still barely
enough time. With a 5 hour wedding, we start 1.5 hours before the ceremony
start time...giving 3.5 hours after the ceremony start time. Lots of people go
with the Basic...and add an hour...or just go with the Enhanced (up to 6) or
add an extra hour (up to 7).
Actually, the right amount of time is right at
about 5.5 hours...giving 1.5 hours before the ceremony...and 4 after. Any
longer, and most of the guest are gone...or they are flaking off fast. The
longer package, which is UP to 7 hours, allows for more time before the
ceremony, which is nice...helps get the whole day captured...as well as
includes additional events...and provides for the added time at the end of the
reception.
As far a mock leave...we have done them
plenty...although it does prompt some people to leave. Sometimes it works to
gather just a few people (NOT announce to the crowd). But really, I am never
really fond of a mock leave...but I also don't like a departure with just a
few people....and, honestly, we have been standing around shooting the last
bit of a reception when most of the people are gone...and there is only so
many dance pictures you can take, etc. There are some photographers who stay
until the very end...but the number of quality pictures do not increase.
As far as trying to time it all...it just depends
on what you are wanting that day and the type/quantity of guests. Some people
are leaving for a destination. Others aren't leaving until the next day. Some
have lots of young friends that are going to party and dance all night. Others
have a few close friends...and a lot of friends of their parents. And
then there is everything in between. Also, the type of reception is a big
factor...is it at the church...or at a different location.
It is definitely a tricky call. You want to have a
good long reception. But you also want to balance hiring the entertainment and support
staff, etc. with how long people will really be there. If your ceremony starts
at 7:00...and last 30 minutes, pictures last about 30 minutes...you can figure
actually arriving at 8:00 (later if not at the same site), setting a departure
time of 11:15, then that gives you a 4 hour reception (reception starts at
7:30 even though you are not there...runs until 11:30)...and a photographer
hired for 6 hours (5:30 to 11:30).
Follow-up to more discussion
regarding a "Mock Departure":
Okay so back to the "staging" the
leave... do people do that? normally? does that cause the guests to want
to leave as well, kinda mess up the mood... or no?
All the time. Really. Maybe not 50/50 but a lot.
Actually, I have had less recently...because I dropped the 4 hour package. I
don't like mock leaves as much as you do. Now that I think about it...I used
to do them all the time...because those booking a 4 hour wedding just didn't
have enough time. Why offer it? Well, people need to have options...and
there are ALL types of people getting married. Really. I have people ask me
ALL the time for a 2 or 3 hour package. Sometimes they just want a little
coverage at the ceremony and/or reception. I just won't do those because it
takes too much out of my life to commit a Saturday...the mental prep before
the wedding, prep on the day of...and processing 300 pictures take almost as
long as 600, etc. Anyway, the point is, I dropped a lot of the need for a
mock leave when I dropped the 4 hour package. The 5 hour wedding covers a
lot. If the reception is going to be longer...add an hour. It may seem like
a lot of money...but for every hour we shoot...we generally generate 100+
pictures. Also, for every hour we shoot...it takes us 3+ hours in post
processing.
Yes, there are photographers who stay until you
leave, no matter when that is. There are those who shoot an exact
number of pictures...and there are those who show up at breakfast time
and shoot the whole entire day. I have just found that after a couple
hundred dance pictures...you pretty much got it covered. The 7 hour wedding
package is nice because we add time BEFORE the ceremony AND AFTER...which
helps with a long reception. But if you have a really long
reception...and you have a bunch of people that are going to
party/dance long after the friends of your parents go home...then you may
still want to consider a mock departure
Actually, now that I think about it...I did just
do one recently. But they weren't doing it necessarily for me...it was just
time. They drove off...then came back to pack up, etc. That is not how
my wife and I did it. We were packed and ready to go before the wedding.
Reception was over...and we hit the road. Almost ran right into a tornado in
Dallas...but we got there. :)
But to answer your question, yes, a Mock
Departure can and will cause the wedding to appear over...and a lot of people
take that opportunity to leave. Not always...but it does happen....even if you
have the DJ announce that it is a Mock Departure. But the reality is the guest
were getting ready to leave. And more often than not, the departure is late in
coming...where most everybody was gone or been ready to go...and the party was
over! A mom one time said, "Thank God...it's about time!" when they
finally announced the departure. LOL!
One strategy that can work is to NOT announce a
Mock Departure...grab a few people and take a few shots at the car...but it is
not the same. The bottom line is that only you know the type and quality of
your guests and the length of reception they will tolerate/enjoy.
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