Is an hour after the ceremony long enough to take bride and groom photos, or would you suggest a longer gap between the ceremony and reception?

An organized hour should be enough. The key is to have a good plan. What we do at True Photography is make sure that our photographers know what to do before the wedding, and aren't just figuring where to shoot for the first time. We show up with a game plan. We know the type of lighting we want to achieve, and the feeling that we are trying to evoke. This allows us to be much more efficient within each hour, including the hour following the ceremony.

In order to make the post-ceremony photography as efficient as it can be, it takes cooperation. Everyone involved (i.e. your family) needs to know exactly where they need to be after the ceremony, and they should be ready to listen during those formal photos. If we have to chase after Uncle Joe for five minutes, that's five less minutes that you get for your own portraits. We suggest using this example to share with your family, so they understand the importance of being on time!