This ideal wedding photography timeline will keep you on track before and during your wedding day, formulated from personal experience photographing many weddings.
Your wedding day schedule sets the tone for your big day and how you envision it playing out. The timeline for your wedding day keeps everything aligned and keeps your dreams from straying afar. I've worked many weddings that have had schedules way behind, perfectly on-time, and even running ahead of schedule! SOO... I've seen it all.
I'm one to always appreciate a detailed schedule and to know when everything is happening. I always create a day-of timeline so I can stay on track and get you where you need to go.
So I've created an ideal photography timeline for your ease of mind before and during your wedding day.
1 Month Out
We like to finalize timelines and shot lists about a month before the wedding day so we know who will be in the formal photographs beforehand. This allows us to prepare properly and adjust our photography schedule on the day of the wedding. This timeline is a general guideline that has worked best for us and we will always cater to your wedding day needs and schedule. After this conversation, we can usually sync up the photo timeline with the wedding planner's schedule as well.
I like to talk to the couple 1 week before the wedding to go over any timeline changes or additions to your wedding day expectations. I've found out that having this conversation earlier than 1 week before, there can be MANY changes to your wedding day schedule.
Two to Three* hours before the ceremony
Upon arrival, your lead photographer (Liz) will capture the final touch-ups of hair and makeup for the ladies getting ready. We will photograph the wedding dress as soon as use arrive to ensure the bride is able to get dressed and we are able to capture those "getting ready" shots.
The gentlemen will be photographed once they have arrived and have their flowers pinned on and their ties all straightened up. Once they're ready to go we will go straight into the portraits with the groom, groomsmen, immediate family of the groom (typically 15-20 mins.)
Once the gentlemen are photographed, we will focus on the bride's portraits with bridesmaids, immediate family members. We typically do extended family after the ceremony if not captured before the ceremony. We try and get as much as we can done before the ceremony without the bride and groom together so there will be less family photos afterwards.
During this time we also like to photograph the detail shots of the dress, jewelry, invitations, and more. We ask that you collect all your items you want photographed for detail shots and have them ready to go when we arrive so this allows us more time to focus on the more tedious shots.
First Look (Optional) - Typically 45 Minutes before
A lot of couples are doing this and it's completely dependent on the couple on whether they prefer it or not. BUT - there are a few benefits of doing a first look:
If you close to do a first look with your fiancé, I recommend doing a first look after your individual portraits and right before the ceremony. We want to ensure you are hidden away before the guests arrive so we would want to finish up at least 15 minutes before the ceremony start time. This gives couples a few minutes to enjoy some time alone and even being able to read each other personal vows if desired. This allows a picture-perfect opportunity and time for you to get tears out of the way hehe.
If you do a first look, this allows you to knock all of the formal family portraits out of the way with the immediate and extended family that are present before the ceremony. This allows more time after the ceremony to capture any family photos of members that hadn't arrived yet or larger groups of family members. And a little bit more time for portraits of the couple :)
If you want to do your first look and then formal family portraits, I would recommend doing so 60-80 minutes before the ceremony start time.
Ceremony
Most ceremonies run from 15-30 minutes long depending on officiant and ceremony customs. This is pretty self explanatory. If you have any special requests, items, or words spoken during the ceremony, don't forget to remind us beforehand.
Post Ceremony
We will all reconvene in the agreed upon formal portrait location and gather all the family members for phtoos directly following the ceremony. We will photograph you with immediate and extended family members if they haven't been taken already beforehand. I typically start with the largest group first, and dwindle the family members down so we can send them to cocktail hour. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes depending on the size of your family. The more time we have during this time, the more variety of photographs we will be able to produce.
** If you choose to have a second photographer, they will be covering your cocktail hour and guests at this time.
**REMEMBER: I recommend reserving formal family portraits for immediate and extended family so that we can get those photos done and then focus on portraits of the bride and groom.
New Couple Portraits
I typically will do these after the formal family portraits, if not taken before the ceremony. I've taken couple portraits in anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes. I want to make sure we photograph you in a few different wonderful locations at your venue so you have some variation of portraits.
BUT I recommend not skimping on your new couple portrait time. This is the time to capture beautiful portraits between you both and get the photos that YOU want. We will keep you on schedule, but we love couples that are willing to spend a few extra minutes grabbing the perfect sunset photo or under the double rainbow before entering the reception. We will always have you on time for your reception entrance because it's YOUR day and YOUR schedule so really no one can "start" the wedding reception without the couple :)
Reception
We will be around capturing all types of moments during the reception. We will be sure to have a timeline either from the planner or one I've created. We will be there during every special moment happening from toasts to breaking it down on the dance floor.
Grand Exit (If there is one)
I recommend planning to round up your guests for a grand exit approximately 15-20 minutes before your desired departure time. Sometimes it takes a while to round up folks (especially if guests have been drinking) and we want to ensure everyone is prepped and ready to go for your memorable exit. If you're doing a private last dance or having a last call, be sure to do so before this allotted time to ensure a smooth and precise exit.
Every part of your day is equally important and in my experience, spending quality time on your portraits to be a little late to your reception entrance has NEVER been a regret of any of my couples, because we always got to spend a little more time on couple portraits or catching that beautiful sunset photo that'll hang on your wall for years to come :)
I promise the only important thing on your wedding day is celebrating your marriage the right way - in your own way. Hopefully this helped ease your mind about wedding photos on your big day.
Still unsure about something? Click here to schedule a brief phone call with Liz.
BONUS TIP:
Just beginning to plan your wedding? Not sure what time to begin your ceremony? We suggest planning your ceremony to END around two hours before sunset (especially if you want sunset photos). Your ceremony start time may be non-negotiable due to the venue or church, but if you have the opportunity to take advantage of the beautiful lighting, definitely do so!
A few things to remember when you're planning the ceremony start time...
Daylight Savings Time - Will it be dark at 5 PM or 8 PM? I use this tool to determine sunset hours https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/ . Just Plug in the date, year and location of your wedding ceremony to find out the sunrise/sunset.
The direction of the sun in relation to the alter. You don't want to be staring straight into the blazing sun during your ceremony so ask the venue contact the recommended ceremony locations at the venue if you're unsure.
IF your ceremony is on the beach, take into account high and low tide. Be sure to ask your planner or venue contact about this.
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