Crafting Your Perfect Wedding Timeline
Creating a wedding timeline requires thoughtful consideration, and it plays a big role in deciding how many hours of coverage you’ll need from your wedding photographer.
My comprehensive guide is based on what I’ve seen works best and I includes tips, suggestions, and how much time to allocate for each portion of the day.
Enjoy and please leave any questions or thoughts in the comments section below!
First, consider this:
Keep at the top of your mind the moments and details that hold the most significance to you. Here are some examples of important questions to discuss when working together with your photographer and/or your wedding planner:
What are the parts of the day that matter most?
When you look back at your wedding, what do you think those core memories will be?
How important are the detail and prep photos?
Is there anything you put special thought, time, and care into such as the invitations, florals, or decor?
Are you incorporating family heirlooms that have a story behind them?
Will there be a first look?
How many people make up the wedding party?
How much time would you like to spend on the bride and groom portraits?
How many family members and BFFs do you want to include in the formal images?
Do you want photography coverage of the entire reception till the end?
A Note On Hair and Makeup
Have your photographer arrive 30-60 minutes before completing hair and makeup. On average, brides need at least 2 hours for hair and makeup to be done. This allows for a comfortable and relaxed experience. Some with simpler preferences may need only an hour. Be sure to discuss details with your stylists!
Photography Timeline
Preparation: 60-90 mins
30 minutes: Detail shots.
This includes the invitations, rings, shoes, the dress, the scene, and any other details that make up the big picture.
30-60 minutes: Final touches + group photos.
Final touches include pinning the boutonnieres, zipping up the dress, putting on the veil, and individual portraits of the bride, groom, wedding party, and VIPs (IE intimate friends and family members).
Group photos of the bride with VIP’s and/or bridesmaids, and groom with his VIP’s and/or groomsmen.
First look or first touch, personal vows, and initial b&g portraits: 15-20 mins
I love first looks and how they facilitate the flow of the day. They allow for the wedding party and family formals to be mostly completed early on, which means you can flow right from your ceremony to private, intimate moments with your new hubby/wife, and then right into enjoying cocktail hour with your guests!
Wedding party, VIP, and family formals: 30-45 mins
Depending on whether or not there’s a first look, this will take place before or after the ceremony.
How much time the formals take largely depends on how many people there will be and how many group photos you’d like.
Delegate someone with a big voice to call out names and assist in wrangling the group!
Guest arrival & ceremony prep: 20 mins
Couple and the wedding party move to a holding area. Allow 20 minutes for guests to arrive without seeing you. Set up a guest book table for them to sign!
Take a breath, drink some water, have a snack, go to the bathroom, relax.
Ceremony: 30 mins (or 1+ hours for Catholic ceremonies)
Ceremonies can take around 20 minutes.
Block out a half hour to allow for buffer time and any potential delays.
Bride & groom portraits: 20- 30 mins during cocktail hour
If you had a first look and got the wedding party + family formal photos done, you’ll go straight into bride and groom portraits after the ceremony while guests enjoy cocktail hour. If a first look did not take place, bride and groom portraits will likely take place after formals.
We’ll steal away from the crowd for intimate, romantic moments. The majority of couples consider the bride and groom portraits to be the most important photos from their wedding. Allocate as much time to this as you feel is needed!
These shots ideally take place 45-60 minutes before sunset for that golden hour light!
Dinner & Reception: 1 hour
Guests are ushered to the dinner reception.
Grand entrance, first dances, toasts, and speeches usually happen within the first 20 minutes.
Everyone sits down to eat including vendors.
Dancing & party time: 1-2+ hours
Cake, dancing, bouquet and garter toss!
Grand departure to wrap up the celebration!
If departure photos are not a priority for you as a couple, I recommend having your photographer present for ~1 hour after cake cutting.
