The Wedding Timeline - Important Tips
This section is going to touch on wedding timeline tips, but most of the tips will be related to all things happening before the ceremony. Why? Because once the ceremony happens, the flow of the rest of the day usually falls to the dinner service, floral installation moving, flipping of the venue space, etc. Your planner will ensure this goes smoothly! The best way to make this happen is to get as many of the “planned photos” done before the ceremony, such as family, wedding party, and couples portraits.
A Crash Course on Pre-Ceremony Timeline
Let’s assume your ceremony is at 4pm, and you’re getting ready at the venue.
If your ceremony is at 4pm, expect for coverage to start at 1pm for getting ready.
If you don’t need or want getting ready photos, expect for coverage to start at 2pm with family and couples photos.
If you have professional hair and makeup, ask them to be finished / on just touchups at around 1pm.
If you are getting ready at a different location, please allow an additional 30-60 minutes to account for travel time. (Not just driving, but calling Ubers, collecting personal items, etc)
Common Pre-Ceremony Timeline
12:45pm: I arrive! I say my hellos, scope out the place, and pick the best spot for portraits.
1:00pm: Photography coverage starts. I photograph Partner 1 getting ready. Partner 2 doesn’t care much for getting ready photos, so they will arrive for first look. (If both partners want to be photographed getting ready, we’ll add more time to accommodate)
2:00pm: First look scheduled
(Partner 1 is still getting ready, getting everything together, last minute steaming, etc.)
2:20pm: The first look actually happens! We’ll get some couples portraits together here after you’ve had a few moments.
2:30pm: Wedding party and family photos scheduled
2:40pm: The wedding party joins us for group photos. (Take some time to pin flowers / dry off bouquets that arrived)
2:45pm: Wedding party photos
3:00pm: The family is just arriving
3:10pm: Family photos start!
3:30pm: Guests are arriving, time to head back inside to rest, take a break before the ceremony. I walk over to photograph the ceremony space and guests arriving.
4:00pm: Ceremony!
Leaving extra buffer time will help make the early afternoon feel much more relaxed.
This is precious time - Savor it!
Before the Ceremony
Getting Ready & Preparations
If possible, it’s highly recommended for everyone to get ready at the same location or within 5 minutes of the venue. Limiting the amount of travel / driving on the day of the wedding is the easiest ways of making things less stressful. If your venue allows a space to get ready on the property, take full advantage of that!
In my experience …
Bring a pair of tiny scissors to cut off hanger loops, and cut the tags off of garments before the day.
Have whoever is helping you get into your wedding dress already dressed and ready.
Steam your clothes early in the morning — It takes longer than you think, and the heat and steam can affect hair and makeup.
If you want individual items photographed, set them aside for me. If you’d like a flat-lay of your details / invitations, please budget an additional 20 minutes into getting ready time as well as setting those items aside for me and letting me know in your questionnaire and check in meeting.
If you are wearing a wedding dress, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get into it, all buttons / ribbons done. I encourage you to start putting on the dress 30 minutes before the next scheduled thing happens. I will keep track of time and gently remind you when it should be happening soon.
If you are wearing a bow tie, please practice tying it before the wedding day!
Couples Photos
Most couples now are opting to forego the old tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremony, and instead carving out space in their day before the ceremony to connect. We’ll discuss how you envision this part of the day to flow. Sometimes it’s a private, set up “first look,” sometimes it’s just walking into the same room after getting dressed.
This is usually the time I’ll take those classic portraits of the two of you, but it doesn’t have to be overly lengthy. Consider this not as “portrait time” but as a time for the both of you to be together and take a moment alone before being swept up in the happy rollercoaster of emotions that is your wedding day. So while on the actual timeline it might say “Couples Photos,” for 30 minutes, use this time to yourselves, however that might look like. It might be sitting together sharing a drink, it might be taking a little walk together. There is no expectation of you being models. The guidance I give is gentle and natural, to draw out your existing connection and help you feel comfortable.
We can also take 5 minutes during sunset if you’d like, to take advantage of the softer light, and the fact that you’ll have all the post-ceremony jitters gone :) Always quick, and never taking you away from your guests for long.
Important note: If you would like to NOT do a first look and see each other at the ceremony instead, that is absolutely fine and we will work together on a timeline that allows for that!
*** Would rather not have any planned portrait time? I love that and can guarantee I’ll still get awesome candid photos of the two of you. Just have a conversation with me about what matters to you!
A Quick Note About “First Looks”
A quick Google search and wedding blogs will tell you that the first look is a super emotional moment, some people might tell you that it is a must have, and I have personally witnessed videographers make a couple redo the first look so they could get a different angle or have a different reaction. The wedding industry has turned this moment into quite the spectacle, but that doesn’t mean every couple feels the same way about this.
See my post about first looks here. Let’s have a conversation about what it means for you.
Family Photos
Most couples want to get the family photos done at the venue before the ceremony. This is the best way to make sure that once the ceremony is over, you can soak it all in and focus on mingling with guests during cocktail hour. Ideally, you’ll want to stick to immediate family before the ceremony. Additional groups such as extended family can be done after the ceremony. 6 - 8 family groups typically works for most couples. See my family group formals guide here.
As a general rule of thumb, I suggest having your immediate family arrive at the venue ready to be photographed at least 1.5 hours before the ceremony.
After the Ceremony
Extended Family Photos
If you have any additional group photos you want with extended family members or friends, we usually do them during cocktail hour. Since we’ll have done your immediate family and wedding portraits before, you’ll have more time to spend with guests during cocktail hour.
Reception
Your planner will have worked closely with the DJ and your caterer to make sure any scheduled events occur seamlessly! I always recommend planning to have my coverage cover at least 1 hour after the general dancing begins. Or better yet, have me stay until the event ends. It leaves a good buffer room in case things run a bit late, and you’ll not only get a variety of dancing photos but also candid moments of everyone enjoying the night as they like - including folks quietly eating cake :)
My full wedding coverage usually covers close to the end of the reception. And as always, you can add extra hours to cover more of the daytime parts or after parties.
