planning your
wedding day
timeline
Planning your timeline can be a little intimidating, and chances are, you may be unsure where to start. No worries! Luckily, I’ve done this a few hundred times, and am happy to help guide you every step of the way. Below you’ll find a detailed breakdown of each potential portion of your wedding day with an estimate of the time needed to document each one fully, as well as a sample timeline (cheatsheet!)
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Details
30-40 minutes
Most wedding days begin with documenting bridal & groom details, including rings, shoes, veil, dress, garters, jewelry, invitations, bouquets, gifts etc. These details are typically the first thing I will photograph upon arrival on a wedding day, and having them set aside and ready to go is a huge help on the day of! After the details are finished, we will move into candid getting ready photos of you and your wedding party, as well as the bride putting on her dress.
Getting Ready Photos
30 minutes EACH
Exactly as it sounds – during this time I’ll document the final moments as you and your wedding party get ready for the day! For the bride, this might include final hair & make-up touches, putting on your dress, jewelry and shoes. For the groom, putting on your jacket, shoes, and boutonniere, etc. Allow 30 minutes for each. *If you opt for a second shooter, bride & groom getting ready can be photographed simultaneously!
First look
20 minutes
If you opt to see each other during a first look, this private moment between you and your partner will take approximately 20 minutes. This gives me time to get you placed, give you instructions, and then let the moment unfold! A perfect opportunity to take a breath and soak it in before the ceremony.
Couples portraits
45-60 minutes
Okay, so remember all of the beautiful portraits you looked at on my website & instagram when you decided to book me? Those were created during this magical window of time and glorious pause from the chaos, haha. If you value beautiful portraits of you and your love, WORK THIS INTO YOUR TIMELINE! Honestly, this might be the only alone time you will have throughout the entire day, and these photos will be the ones you print and frame and show your grandkids. Trying to squeeze these into the 10 minutes after family portraits, right before your reception will be something you regret, I promise. Make time for your memories! Trust me, you will be so happy you did. Most couples like to utilize all of the beautiful and interesting places available at their venue as a backdrop for these portraits, and having them done prior to your guests’ arrival gives us the freedom to explore and enjoy a private portrait session that incorporates the unique details of your wedding day that you worked so hard to create! It’s a great opportunity to see all of your planning come to life for the first time as a couple, and makes for a beautiful addition to your wedding gallery.
Wedding party portraits
45-60 minutes
These can be scheduled prior to the ceremony (usually the best option if you opt to do a first look), or immediately following the ceremony. Line-up includes: bride with her bridesmaids, groom with his groomsmen, the full wedding party together, including flower girls, ring bearers and ushers if desired, and any individual portraits or groupings your heart desires! Depending on the size of your wedding party, this could go a little longer or wrap up a little sooner.
Pre-Ceremony
45-60 minutes
Once portraits are wrapped up, we’ll make sure you’re hidden safely away approximately one hour prior to ceremony start time to avoid being spotted by earlybird guests. This is a great time for final hair & make-up touch ups, restroom breaks, snacks/water, and relaxation. While you’re chillin’ I’ll be out snapping photos of the ceremony site, details, and guests.
Ceremony
30-60 minutes
Of course, this will depend entirely on how long your planned ceremony will be. I recommend adding a 10-minute buffer time to allow for a late start, just in case 😉 Also, I highly recommend skipping a ‘receiving line’ following the ceremony as this can eat into valuable portrait time. Instead, consider using the end of your cocktail hour and/or reception to greet your guests.
Family & formals
30-45 minutes
Prior to the wedding day, we will prep for family photos and come prepared with a list of groupings & shots to accomplish during this time. Depending on the size of your families, this could go longer or shorter. If there is no first look, wedding party portraits and couples portraits will take place during this time as well. It’s advised to plan a longer cocktail hour (90 minutes) if you decide against doing a first look so we’ll have ample time for all portraits.
Reception & dinner details
20-30 minutes
Typically during the tail-end of cocktail hour, I’ll sneak into the reception site to capture all of those beautiful details, including table settings, floral arrangements, decor, etc. *If you opt for a second shooter, one photographer will photograph the reception details while the other focuses on candid photos of guests during cocktail hour.
Dinner
30 minutes
You need to eat. I also need to eat. Chances are neither of us has eaten much by this point, so in the interest of NOT passing out, we’ll set aside a little time to chow down and get ready for the party!
Reception
60-90 minutes
Alllllll of the fun stuff! Toasts, first dances, cake cutting, bouquet/garter tosses, and those amazing, boozy, open dance floor moves. If you’re planning a special departure or send-off, make sure you plan your timeline to include enough hours of coverage so I can be there to capture it.
Sunset time
The sun is integral to my photography style, which leans on natural light and outdoor portraits for the majority of the day. Take into consideration the sunset time on your wedding date, and if at all possible, leave about 60-90 minutes of sunlight between the end of your ceremony and the start of your reception. This will allow for well-lit portraits following the ceremony and also ensures that your ceremony photos (if held outdoors) fall safely under the golden light of late afternoon, versus the harsh light of morning & mid-day, or the rapidly vanishing light of dusk.
Distance between locations
If you want to get the most out of your photography coverage time, consider keeping your getting ready, ceremony, and reception locations as close to each other as possible. Keeping everything confined to one venue is even better! It takes time to move large groups of people from location to location, and traveling on your wedding day can introduce unwanted variables, like traffic & parking issues, forgotten items, and late arrivals. If your locations are spread out, be sure to include a generous amount of travel time in your wedding day schedule!
example one
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8 hours of coverage
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One photographer
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First Look
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8:15 pm sunset time
9:00 – Bride & bridesmaids arrive
9:30 – Hair & make-up begins
12:30 – Photographer arrives / photographs bridal details
1:00 – Bride & bridal party getting ready photos / candids
1:00 – Groom & groomsmen arrive
1:30 – Groom’s details photographed / getting ready photos / candids
2:00 – Bride puts dress on
2:30 – First look / couples portraits
3:00 – Wedding party photos
3:30 – Immediate family photos
4:00 – Wedding party tucked away / guests begin to arrive
4:15 – Ceremony space / details photographed
4:30 – Ceremony begins
5:00 – Ceremony ends / guests ushered to cocktail hour
5:00 – Extended Family Photos
5:30 – Bride & Groom join cocktail hour
5:30 – Reception area details photographed
6:00 – Reception begins
6:05 – Grand Entrance / First Dance / Parent Dances
6:15 – Main course served / speeches & toasts
6:30 – Open dance floor
7:15 – Bride & groom private golden hour portraits
7:45 – Open dance floor
8:15 – Cake cutting / dessert & coffee
8:30 – Photographer departs
example two
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8 hours of coverage
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two photographers
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First Look
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8:15 pm sunset time
10:00 – Bride & bridesmaids arrive
10:30 – Hair & make-up begins
1:30 – Lead Photographer arrives / photographs bridal details
2:00 – Bride & bridal party getting ready photos / candids
2:00 – Groom & groomsmen arrive
2:30 – Second Photographer arrives / photographs groom details & getting ready
2:30 – Bride puts dress on
3:00 – First look / couples portraits
3:30 – Wedding party photos
4:00 – Immediate family photos
4:30 – Wedding party tucked away / guests begin to arrive
4:45 – Ceremony space / details photographed
5:00 – Ceremony begins
5:30 – Ceremony ends / guests ushered to cocktail hour
5:30 – Extended Family Photos
6:00 – Bride & Groom join cocktail hour / Second photographer shoots candids
6:00 – Lead Photographer photographs reception area details
6:30 – Reception begins
6:35 – Grand Entrance / First Dance / Parent Dances
6:45 – Main course served / speeches & toasts
7:15 – Open dance floor
7:30 – Bride & groom private golden hour portraits
8:00 – Open dance floor
9:15 – Cake cutting / dessert & coffee
9:30 – Photographers depart
example three
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8 hours of coverage
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two photographers
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no First Look
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90 minute cocktail hour
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8:15 pm sunset time
BRIDAL PARTY / LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
11:00 – Bride & bridesmaids arrive
11:30 – Hair & make-up begins
2:00 – Lead Photographer arrives / photographs bridal details
2:30 – Bride & bridal party getting ready photos / candids
3:00 – Bride puts dress on
3:30 – Bride & bridal party photos / bride with immediate family (time permitting)
GROOMSMEN / SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER
2:30 – Groom & groomsmen arrive
3:00 – Second Photographer arrives / photographs groom details & getting ready
3:30 – Groom & groomsmen photos / groom with immediate family (time permitting)
4:00 – Wedding party tucked away for ceremony