How long did you have your photographer at your wedding?

As Nicole mentioned, a sparkler send off isn't to signal the end of the wedding. It's more for the older crowd that want to leave early but still see the bride and groom off. Most wedding's we've attended had their send-off around 8-9pm and the reception actually ended at 11pm.

Your timeline actually sounds a lot like what ours will be like! Our photographer will be there for 8 hours only and she said that gives her plenty of time to take a few 'key shots' for getting ready photos, family portraits, bride and groom portraits, bridal party, ceremony, cocktail hour, first dances, and a few reception pieces.

I think the $2000 option is your best bet judging by what you said your timeline will be like!

We have our photographer for 10 hours and video for 2,000 I think personally longer the photographer is there the more pictures they will take which means more memories captured. To my fiance and I photography was number 2 on our list because it's the only thing you will keep from your wedding, and there are things that you will miss from your wedding and have the photos to look back on.

Those are some great prices! Our photography package included a 1 hour engagement shoot, 10 hours of coverage on our wedding day, and a 30 page album. We paid $5000 for the package (but we're also in a large city where prices are expensive). I would personally do the 9 hour option in your case, but the 7 hour option would also be fine as long as you have a detailed timeline to follow so that you don't miss any important shots.

Typically 8 hours is the minimum if you want some getting ready. If you want them to stay through to the very end then I would recommend adding an hour or two to that package.