3 hrs for posed formals?

I'm attending an outdoor wedding this weekend where the wedding is over at 2 pm, reception starts at 5pm, because the bride has given the photographer 3 hours of her day for posed formals outside. Everyone has to leave and come back 3 hours later for cocktail hour and reception. I have never heard of a photographer asking for 3 hours, nor a bride giving 3 hours of her special day, but ok, it is her day to spend as she wishes. How about you? I know it isn't typical, but have you ever encountered this? (I've seen this photographer's work, it is very good, so it isn't the case of a newbie manipulating the bride because of inexperience.)

This is why I can't attend weddings as a guest. Sounds a bit long, but gives time for some great photos.

I went to a wedding last winter that had a long gap in between ceremony and reception. I thought surely it was for pictures. It turns out that the pics were an ALL day event. I attend the church where the ceremony was. A couple of days later I found a schedule of pics taped to one of the walls in the church. Pics started at 9 and the ceremony was at 1 and reception was at 5 (or something like that...I don't remember exactly). The pics were all scheduled out with each step give 10-15 minutes. Bride getting ready, mother of bride getting ready, bridesmaids getting ready, etc., etc. At least she got all the "required" shots in, I guess. My son and dil had a rookie who didn't even take a pic of just the bride. :/

a bit confused. is it the bride or photographer that requested 3 hours?

nothing wrong if the bride has 3 hours of free time for pictures, except the fact that the pictures are at 2-5pm!!!! Going to be some horrible light right now unless they intend to shoot indoors, but ive never done a wedding where it was even remotely possible to shoot a large group indoors.

I shoot off camera flash at weddomgs and have my stands, modifiers and all, and often request 1-2 hours for portraits.

and greetings from HB!

That does seem excessive. I normally try for half that time. However, I had a wedding in Arkansas last month and was told I had 15 minutes to shoot all the formals (wedding party, family, bride and groom)! I was blown away. Talk about boring photos...everyone had to run in, pose and smile, then run out. Yuck. I did manage to steal the bride and groom away for 30 minutes later that evening, but it was like pulling teeth.

I shot another photographers wedding a few years ago. Both he and his wife wanted to spend two hours just shooting pics. We did, and I got some of the best photos I've ever shot. We also had a great time.

jcolman wrote in post #16150495
I shot another photographers wedding a few years ago. Both he and his wife wanted to spend two hours just shooting pics. We did, and I got some of the best photos I've ever shot. We also had a great time.

^^^^^^^^^^^^
This

Just depends on what the clients want to do and what they are after. We typically ask for 3 hrs to do a first look, bridal party formals and family formals before the ceremony. If we have a 2:ooPM start time, we are shooting by 10:oo-10:30 with a first look scheduled by 11:30-11:45AM. Especially large bridal parties. Smaller groups we can cut back by 30-45 minutes. The more time I can get the bride and groom alone, the better the day is for me.

The longest I've had was about 5-6 hours with just the bridal party. 5 locations over a 100km distance between the ceremony and reception locations. Now that was an awesome day.

After the ceremony I normally average 5 minutes for a large group photo, 20-35 minutes with family and friends shots (around 25-50 groupings). The I tend to get 1.5 to 2 hours with the bridal party (excluding travel time) at various locations.

The more time I get, the more and can experiment which is fine by me.

i see nothing wrong with 3hrs. i did a couple of nearly 3hrs bridal party. its more relax than shorter hrs. they can have breaks inbetween. they can go for locations that are far apart. its the couple once in a lifetime.

3 hours isn't uncommon for my weddings. I don't get that many more photos, but I run it at a very relaxed and fun pace, we usually stop to grab a bite to eat, and chill. It also give them a chance to select multiple locations to shoot at. I'm all for it if the bride gives it to me.

3 hours would be nice.
It's usually more like 45min to 1.5 hours.

i get 3 hours all the time. i find it odd that you find it odd.

bespoke wrote in post #16151453
i get 3 hours all the time. i find it odd that you find it odd.

I find it odd that you get 3 hours as a rule rather than the exception.
I usually get 20 minutes.

The most I get at my weddings is 1 hour, typically more like 20 minutes. I would love to have 3 hours to get to some nice near-the-venue locations.

jcolman wrote in post #16151473
I find it odd that you get 3 hours as a rule rather than the exception.
I usually get 20 minutes.

i guess a lot of my weddings begin with asian tea ceremonies that start at 9-10 and end around 12. then change into wedding dress/suit, take pictures, then back to the reception hall at 5 or 6 to set up.