Planning your wedding day timeline can be a daunting task! Every wedding that I attend, I am learning more & more about what can make a timeline successful. Keep in mind that all weddings are different & that these tips are just a guideline for more traditional weddings! The time allotment, photo locations and the order of the day can differ greatly from wedding to wedding, but these are just some general tips to help you plan your best timeline!

It is so crucial for me to know your timeline inside & out because I am typically the person who is trying to keep the day going according to schedule! This is why you will fill out a very detailed pre-wedding consultation, and we will go over it together before your big day.

Getting Ready & Details

• Time allotment: 30-40 minutes.
• When I first arrive, I will photograph your details first. Have your dress/suit, shoes, jewelry, invitation, flowers, and any other important piece all together in one area when I arrive. Getting ready areas can be wonderfully chaotic, and sometimes I will need to take your dress/suit to a quieter, better lit area, which can be anywhere from a hotel hallway to the outdoors.
• Have the bride get hair & makeup done AFTER all the bridesmaids so everything stays perfect! This will also move my start time later in the morning so that I can stick around later in the day!
• Let me know if you would like both the bridesmaids & groomsmen getting ready to be captured. Locations must be considered in this situation. If you have only booked one shooter, but the bridesmaids & groomsmen are getting ready at places that are an hour apart, it might not be possible for me to shoot both.
• Have a ‘first look’ with your Dad – these are always so sweet & emotional.
• If your Mom is helping you put on your dress, have the bridal party leave the room for some special moments with your Mom.
• Have a ‘first look’ with your bridesmaids after you get your dress on!

Ceremony Details

• Time allotment: 10 minutes.
• With so much going on, sometimes it is easy to miss all of the details of the ceremony venue. I will aim to show up to the venue before all of the guests arrive to capture some photos of the all of the ceremony details! I will then be able to capture the excitement of the guests as they arrive!

Ceremony

• Time allotment: 30 minutes to one hour.
• This differs for each & every wedding depending on religion, culture, and how the ceremony is structured!

First Look

• Time allotment: 20-30 minutes.
• The first time a couple sees each other on their wedding day can be a very emotional time & some couples choose to do so without all of their guests so that they can share the special moment to just be together. There are many couples who love doing a first look, and others who want to save that special moment for walking down the aisle.
• There are many pros to a first look which includes that ability to shoot the bridal party photos before the ceremony, leaving more time after the ceremony to shoot family shots & bride & groom portraits.

Family Photos

• Time allotment: 25 minutes.
• Depending on your ceremony venue, I would suggest that family photos be taken at the venue to ensure that no one gets lost, or is late, showing up to the location chosen for bridal party & portrait photos. If this is not possible, you must ensure that all family arrives promptly at the location. These photos will be taken before the bridal party photos. Make sure that you have sent me your shot list so that everything stays on time and so I can ensure that no one, or no grouping of people gets missed.

Bridal Party Photos

• Time allotment: 30-45 minutes.
• If these photos are not taken prior to the ceremony after a first look, they can be done immediately after the family photos. I will typically photograph the bridal party & bride & groom all together first, and then the bridal party is free to go while we shoot the bride & groom portraits!

Bride & Groom Portraits

• Time allotment 20-45 minutes. Depending if there was a first look.
• If you decided not to do a first look, you will need to allot around 45 minutes for portraits.

Reception Details

• Time allotment: 15 minutes.
• Just like the ceremony detail shots, it is important for me to capture all of the work & details that go into making your venue a magical evening such as the centerpieces, the cake, and any other important touches! This can happen during cocktail hour.

Reception

• Time allotment: varies!
• This is the time for me to capture all of the sweet speeches, toasts, and first dances that happen in the evening.

Golden Hour Shots

• Time allotment: 15 minutes
• I ALWAYS suggest that you & your partner make time to sneak out of your reception at sunset for a quick portrait session. In the summertime, this is when the light is the most ‘dreamy’ & some BEAUTIFUL shots can be created. As photographers, we are obsessed with light so we ALWAYS want to shoot during golden hour!

Other Things to Consider

• Take into account travel time between locations.
• If possible, have the bridal party all travel together in one or two vehicles. I mean, it’s your wedding day, maybe go all out & rent a party bus?!
• However long you think hair & makeup will take, add 30 minutes.
• Make sure to schedule time for you & your bridal party to EAT! This can be easily forgotten & then people can get tired & woozy, or drunk. Very drunk, very quickly. Trust me, even if your ‘not hungry’ eat the food, you will thank me later.

Some Fun Extras

• Write your partner a love letter for them to read while they are getting ready for the day.
• Have your maid of honor bring a bottle of champagne to pop with your loved one or your bridal party – these always make for some fun photos!
• Pack a bag of food & drinks for yourself & the bridal party for during the day. Remember earlier how I said it’s important to eat?! I kid you not, if you don’t have food on hand, you will forget to eat!
• Have your maid of honor pack an ‘survival kit’ filled with a comb, eyelash glue, lipstick, tweezers, deodorant, medicine like tylenol or advil, breath mints or gum, phone charger, and bobby pins. This list could go on & on, but making sure you at least have the essentials is key!

I will always be here for you to ask questions, but if this whole wedding planning thing really stresses you out, take a look at The Knot’s website. They have EVERYTHING to help you plan for your big day!

Always remember that your timeline for your day is JUST a guideline & that things are always bound to change or to go later than expected. DON’T STRESS! It is your day to enjoy & things will happen when they happen.  I always love to hear things that bride & grooms would have done differently looking back on their day, so if there are any tips you have for future brides, please share them below in the comments! Also please let me know below what other things you might want to know, or what other topics interest you! I love writing these blog posts & can’t wait to write more! 

Be sure to check out my other wedding tips to help you plan your best day without a hitch!