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My question is two-fold about weddings, specifically the timeline for the photos and the length of the bridesmaids dresses.

I am planning my wedding for this upcoming November. I have the location, and the reception hall booked, but I am struggling with a time. It is right before Daylight Savings, so I want to time it to have daylight for photos after the ceremony, but I don’t want it so early that it becomes a totally informal affair. I was thinking maybe 4-4:30, in order to catch sufficient daylight, but at that point, what is the proper attire for my bridesmaids?

I originally wanted them in floor-length dresses, but I am afraid that may be inappropriate. I plan to have the men in tailored suits (the groom has decided that), so that doubles my fears that long dresses will be too much.

–A.B., North Carolina

Timelines for weddings are tricky, especially, like many, you are looking for a certain amount of formality to your wedding, but you also want optimum natural light for your photos. The groomsmen will NOT be wearing tuxedos, but you would like the bridesmaids to wear long dresses.

Since your wedding is in mid-November on the eve of Daylight Savings, you’re concerned about the timeline for the formal photos. The easiest solution would be have the photos taken before the ceremony, because you’ll want them shot between three and four o’clock. Between 4:00-4:30 p.m. it will already be too dark. To have the photos taken later than four o’clock, you would need professional lighting. Talk to your photographer.

Having the formal photos taken before the wedding is becoming more and more popular for several reasons:

• Because you want to catch optimal timing for natural daylight.
• Because the bridal party will be looking their best and easier to coral into one place for the photos; for instances if they are arriving from different directions.

As you know, the later in the day the wedding the dressier the attire.  Nowadays, the bridesmaids wear long dresses earlier in the evening when they are maxi-length, and barely brush the ground.

Although, here are two popular styles this year for the cocktail length, that fall above-the-knee.

This wedding happened this month (August 2016):

The timeline for your wedding is important, especially so close to Daylight Savings in November when the sun will be setting sooner rather than later.

Blow superstition to the wind and have your formal photos taken in natural light before the wedding. Ask your bridesmaids which look they prefer, maxi or cocktail length.`

Here is a possible realistic timeline for your wedding:

• 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Formal outdoor photos
• 3:45 – 4:00 p.m. Leave for the ceremony
• 4:30 p.m. Arrive at the ceremony
• 5:00 p.m. Ceremony begins
• 6:00 p.m. Reception begins

~Didi