Planning the timeline for your wedding day is one of the most crucial steps in the planning process. Allowing enough time for the photos you want captured can make or break the entire day’s experience for the bride and groom. As a photographer, I LOVE helping plan the timeline for your day. Being a part of the process helps me ensure that I will have enough time to capture the photos that are most important to you and helps maximize the hours you’ve booked your photographer for.
A month prior to the wedding date, I touch base with my couples to finalize details, go over family groupings, let me know their must-have shots, and tweak any aspect of the timeline as needed to accommodate all requests of the bride and groom.
Seven to eight hours is a standard, full-coverage day of wedding photography. Generally speaking, I always work backwards from the time of sunset when building a timeline. This ensures I am able to grab a few portraits and amazing outdoor shots with dramatic landscapes during golden hour. This is when the light is at its absolute best! The warm, even light of golden hour is something you just can’t get any other time of day.
SAMPLE 8 HOUR WEDDING DAY TIMELINE:
1:00 PHOTOGRAPHER ARRIVES
1:00 – 1:30 BRIDE’S DETAILS (30 MIN.)
Finishing touches on make up. Hair is complete. Photographer is shooting dress, shoes, bouquet(s), bridesmaid dresses, jewelry, rings (groom’s ring should be present), invitations, and any other details. Bridesmaids are dressed and ready to help bride into her dress. *It is SO helpful if your bridesmaids use this time to straighten up the getting ready area and remove all bags and miscellaneous items cluttering up the space. Having a nice, neat space makes your getting ready photos beautiful with no distractions from clutter.
1:30 – 1:50 BRIDE GETS DRESSED (20 MIN)
Unless you have an intricate lace-up dress, 20 minutes is usually plenty of time for the bride to get into her dress as well as put her shoes, veil and jewelry on.
1:50 – 2:15 GROOM’S DETAILS AND GETTING READY PHOTOS (25 MIN.)
2:20 – 2:55 FIRST LOOK AND BRIDE AND GROOM PORTRAITS (35 MIN.)
2:55 – 3:35 BRIDAL PARTY PHOTOS (40 MIN.)
3:35 – 4:05 FIRST LOOK WITH FATHER OF THE BRIDE AND IMMEDIATE FAMILY PHOTOS (30 MIN.)
Reception and Ceremony site should be completely set up with all details in place.
4:10 – 4:30 PHOTOGRAPHER SHOOTS CEREMONY AND RECPETION SITE (20 MIN.)
This is BEFORE guests arrive. Bride and groom are relaxing before walking down the aisle. Bride is hidden so no guests see her.
4:30 – 5:00 PHOTOGRAPHER IS CAPTURING GUESTS AS THEY ARRIVE (30 MIN.)
5:00 – 5:30 CEREMONY (30 MIN.)
5:30 – 5:55 EXTENDED FAMILY PHOTOS (25 MIN.)
Cocktail hour starts for the rest of the guests.
6:00 – 6:30 BRIDE & GROOM JOIN COCKTAIL HOUR OR MORE PHOTO
6:30 – 7:20 DINNER (50 MIN)
Bride and groom are traditionally served first with the bridal party to follow. Toasts can immediately follow while everyone is still seated and attentive.
7:30 – 7:50 TOASTS AND CAKE CUTTING (20 MIN.)
7:55 – 9:05 FIRST DANCES & DANCING BEGINS (70 MIN.)
8:30 – 8:55 SUNSET SESSION WITH BRIDE AND GROOM (25 MIN.)
9:00 PHOTOGRAPHER’S TIME ENDS
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER:
- Travel time to another location: Different locations for pictures or travel between separate ceremony and reception sites must be factored in.
- The first look: If you are wanting to stick with the tradition of first seeing the bride when she walks down the aisle, then the bride and groom portraits, bridal party photos and ALL family photos MUST be done after the ceremony (approximately 1.5 HOURS before the bride and groom will join the reception [35 minutes for family portraits, 40 minutes for bridal party, 30 minutes for bride and groom portraits])
- A second photographer: Having a second photographer can help alleviate a time crunch. The second photographer is capturing different angles WHILE I’m shooting giving you a larger variety of photos in a shorter amount of time. The second photographer assists in the flow of family portraits by rounding-up all family members and ensuring all family groupings on our list have been accounted for. The second shooter can also help cover more ground during cocktail hour so that more candid shots of guests are captured OR can provide photo booth coverage during the reception.
- Reception coverage: Many brides first envision their photographer capturing the complete day in its entirety. The reality is that eight hours provides sufficient coverage of the day and will allow a complete story to be told throughout your wedding album. Most typically the photographer’s coverage ends prior to the reception being over. Unless you are planning a grand exit, the extra hours of dancing coverage does not add tremendous value to your gallery of images. The best way to maximize the time you’ve hired your photographer for is ensure you’ve allotted enough time for the important portraits with the bride and groom and for the family/bridal party photos. These are the photos you will look back on and will incorporate most in any prints, canvases and albums.
