How To Create Your Wedding Day Timeline
MY GUIDE TO CREATING THE PERFECT WEDDING TIMELINE
Creating the perfect wedding timeline for your day insures that everything goes as smoothly as possible! With that being said, I think being intentional and planning your timeline is super important! As a wedding photographer I have shot countless weddings and have seen each day in action. In addition, having your timeline ready for your wedding photographer is essential! We need to know what is going on and where throughout the day so that we can capture all those special once in a lifetime moments! In conclusion, my goal with this sample timeline is to help you plan out the flow of your day, choose events that you know you want to include in your day (ex: first look, grand exit, etc.) and to ease the stress in another wedding planning process necessity!
BELOW, YOU WILL FIND TWO SAMPLE WEDDING DAY TIMELINES THAT I CREATED.
The first one is the wedding timeline with a first look. A first look is when you have an intimate moment, seeing your partner in their wedding clothes before the start of your ceremony. If you are doing a first look before the ceremony, bridal party photos can be taken before since the bride and groom have seen each other already.
The second timeline is planned if you are not doing a first look! Bridal Party Photos will be taken after the ceremony therefore the timeline will be a little bit different and the bride and groom’s first time seeing each other will be at the altar.
MORE TIME IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN NOT ENOUGH!
Other things to consider when planning your wedding timeline is how many hours you have at your venue, how many hours you hired your photographer for, and travel time if your ceremony & reception are at two different locations! In addition, if you are getting ready at a hotel and then driving to the venue, be sure to overestimate how long that trip will take. You will inevitably run into hiccups on the day of. You might misplace your keys, not be able to find your shoes, or be running behind on hair and makeup. This happens more often than not and my couples are always glad they had extra time to spare! Add an extra 15-20 minutes onto travel time to account for the unexpected.
Lastly, if you are having a hard time fitting everything into the day, remember that if your package comes with a second shooter, we can be in two places at once. During getting ready time, I can be with you and my second can be with your partner. While I am shooting family photos, she can be shooting cocktail hour, etc.
WEDDING DAY TIMELINE / WITH FIRST LOOK
1:00 - Photographer arrives and begins shooting details
1:30 - Getting ready (I will bounce between both of you)
2:30 - First look
2:45 - Bridal party photos
3:30 - Leave for venue
4:30 - Ceremony
5:00 - Ceremony concludes / family photos begin
5:30 - Couples portraits
6:00 - Entrance to reception / first dance
6:30 - Dinner
7:25 - Sunset photos
7:45 - Start speeches
8:15 - Special dances
8:30 - Cake cutting
8:40 - Open dancing
9:00 - Fake exit / Photographer leaves
WEDDING DAY TIMELINE / WITHOUT FIRST LOOK
1:00 - Photographer arrives and begins shooting details
1:30 - Getting ready photos with partner 1
2:15 - Getting ready photos with partner 2
3:00 - Leave for venue
4:00 - Ceremony
4:30 - Ceremony concludes / family photos begin
5:00 - Bridal party photos
5:30 - Couples portraits
6:00 - Entrance to reception / first dance
6:30 - Dinner
7:25 - Sunset photos
7:45 - Start speeches
8:15 - Special dances
8:30 - Cake cutting
8:40 - Open Dancing
9:00 - Fake exit / Photographer leaves
8 hours is the most commonly booked package but depending on what you are needing and wanting, 6-10 hours could work! Each wedding is different therefore each wedding timeline will be different! Below I have listed the time that I recommend for photos for each part of your day!
BRIDE GETTING READY PHOTOS - 45 MINUTES
Setting aside 45 minutes for getting ready photos is something I think is super special! Moments like getting ready with your bridal party, putting on your wedding dress, and those quiet moments before the day officially starts are such great memories to have!
45 minutes gives your photographer enough time to capture those moments.
GROOM GETTING READY PHOTOS - 30 MINUTES
We can’t forget about the grooms either! If you are both getting ready at the same location, this makes it easy to bounce back and fourth to make sure we capture both the bride and groom getting ready photos!
FIRST LOOK - 20 MINUTES
First looks are some of the sweetest and special moments! If you are planning a first look, you should account for about 20 minutes for first look photos and a few bridals after because this emotional moment is definitely something you will want to remember!
Keep in mind: You’re “first look’ doesn’t need to be only with your groom! You can do a first look with your Dad, grandparents, friends or who ever you want!
BRIDAL PARTY PHOTOS - 20-30 MINUTES
With all your best friends in those coordinated outfits, the bridal party photos are so important! Depending on the size of your bridal party, 20-30 minutes is the perfect amount of time to get some group photos and photos with each person in the bridal parties.
FAMILY PHOTOS - 20-60 MINUTES
All those people that came to support you and are so excited for this day! Family Photos are something that I do at every wedding! 20 - 60 minutes depending on the size of your family! These can take up a good chance of your time so we will plan accordingly so we can get you back to the wedding!
BRIDALS/COUPLES PORTRAITS: 45 MINUTES
You two are the stars of the show and the reason this day is happening! Bridal Photos on your wedding day are a must! Capturing the emotion and excitement of that just married feeling is something you will love and look back on forever! 45 minutes is a great amount of time to shoot some photos of just the two of you! This time can also be split up depending on your timeline so that we can get at least 10 minutes during sunset!
OPEN DANCING: 30 MINUTES
Capturing images of the party are so much fun! With all the guests on the dance floor celebrating the newlyweds there are definitely some moments you want to remember forever! 30 minutes is the maximum amount of time I recommend!
GRAND EXIT - 10 MINS
If you are doing a grand exit whether it be sparklers, bubbles or anything else, make sure to set aside atround 10 minutes! These moments are so much fun to capture and to keep as memories forever!
I know this part of the wedding planning process can be stressful! I hope this blog post helped you plan your perfect wedding day timeline!
