A Guide to the Perfect Wedding Day Timeline for Photography
You’d be surprised to see how fast your wedding day goes by. Some brides say it was a blur and looking back at the photos really help them refresh their memory. That’s why having enough time, planning ahead will make it run smoothly. The best pictures are created when photographers have the right amount of time to spend capturing the details, families and the bride and groom to get the most necessary shots. To make this possible I’ve created this blog post to help with capturing your big day! Every photographer’s needs are different, but this is a great start to understand what may be needed for your photography timeline.
The Details
Time Allotment – 45 mins
Every bride loves having those beautiful shots of all the bridal details. It’s an important part of the story and can also take quite a bit of time to pick. I love having some time to shoot the dress, shoes, jewelry, invitations, veil, flowers etc. These shots allow the photographer to get warmed up for the rest of the big day. It’s also less intimidating to start with the details before capturing the people in the room. It’s the photographer’s job to capture moments candidly and without being intrusive. I normally like to allow at least 45 minutes for this part of the day. While I’m shooting details, I’m also capturing some shots of the bride and her girls getting ready, sometimes without them realizing it!
If the groom is getting ready at the same time, my second photographer will begin photographing the men getting ready. It always takes them less time to get dressed. I suggest placing all the details into one area with the most natural light. This allows us to create beautiful photos right away without having to find the details needed. Designating a key person to ensure that main items that need to be photographed are easily available is also helpful.
Bride and Groom Prep
Time Allotment – 60 mins
After the details have been photographed and the makeup is complete, it’s time for the bride to get into her dress! This is a big moment! I usually ask the mother of the bride and all of the bridesmaids be dressed by the time the bride is ready to get into her dress. This ensures that everyone will look beautiful in those images. After the bride is in her gown, she can put on her jewelry, veil, shoes, etc and then the photographer can shoot some additional bridal portraits!
It’s really important to keep the room clean for beautiful photos! In some cases, a hotel room doesn’t have enough space for the bridal party and family. Try to get an additional room that can be kept empty and to have fewer worries of crowding. I also suggest getting a house or condo on Airbnb. The benefit of getting an entire house to get ready is that everyone has space. There will be less clutter, more light, and rooms to shoot the bridal party before the ceremony.
The Ceremony
Time Allotment – 30 – 60 mins
It’s time to get married!! Ceremonies can be anywhere from are 30 to 60 minutes long. If your ceremony is longer than 30 mins, simply make the necessary adjustments to the timeline. Cherish these moments as you exchange rings and your vows. This is what everyone has come to witness between the two of you. Remember that your ceremony will pass by so quickly. Do your best to be present in the moment.
At times, your guests will want to spend time to greet you afterwards, so be sure to add a few extra minutes in the schedule to allow for those happy moments.
Family Portraits
Time Allotment – 30 mins
Family formals normally take place immediately following the ceremony in or outside of the ceremony location. It’s best to save all of the family formals until after the ceremony because ALL family members will be present at that time. We’ll need about 30 minutes for family formals and it’s good to prepare a list of the family shots that you want. I recommend doing these portraits outdoors, if possible, so that they are as beautiful as possible, especially if the ceremony location is dark or dimly lit. Always be sure to assign at least one person from each side of the family to help with organizing all family members to make this run smoothly. Believe it or not, your family photos will end up being the most important photos in your album in about 20 years from now. So don’t skim over this part, be prepared with a list of family members for portraits.
I always recommend starting with the immediate family of the bride and then the groom right after the ceremony. If there are additional family members that want pictures, in the interest of time, let them know ahead of the ceremony or we will get pictures of them at the reception.
Bride & Groom Portraits
Time Allotment – 60 mins
Are you including a First Look into your schedule? If you choose to see each other before the ceremony, this will be a great way to spend an intimate moment together and also get some of the bride and groom photographs done ahead of time. I recommend allowing at least 30 mins for the First Look.
If you choose not to, that’s okay too. I suggest scheduling at least 90 mins after the ceremony for just the two of you. It’s your wedding day after all and the last thing you want to do is rush through your portraits together. Schedule enough time, and be sure to get all the necessary permits for the location that you choose.
Bridal Party Portraits
Time Allotment – 30 mins
Now it’s time for Bridal Party shots! I suggest buffering in extra time throughout the day just in case we have some unexpected things that hold us up! One way to make sure we stay on schedule for bridal party portraits is to have someone put the boutonnieres on the guys BEFORE they arrive for portraits. During Bridal Party portraits, I will make sure to take some great shots of the guys and girls both separately AND together! After bridal party portraits are complete, the bride will go into hiding so that early guests don’t sneak a peek and the ushers will begin their duties.
The Reception Details
Time Allotment – 10 mins
If the reception is in the same location as the ceremony, I will use this time to shoot the reception decor UNTOUCHED. If the ceremony and reception are in different locations, I recommend having a cocktail hour outside of the main reception area if possible so that I can grab some great shots of your reception before the night begins and guests start laying down purses and coats on their seats. Please allow at least 10 mins before you enter so that I can capture your special room. If you’d like to have a Grand Reveal – then we’ll need about 30 mins instead of 10 mins. (The Grand Reveal is when the Bride and Groom enter the Reception room before the guests for a few pictures in the space.)
Golden Hour or Night Time Photos
Time Allotment – 10 mins
Golden Hour is one hour before sunset. It is the BEST time of day for portraits in the late spring, summer and early fall! This is when the sun is glowy and golden. I enjoy going outside and having a few extra minutes with the bride and groom to take one more shot of the newlyweds together. This may be possible during dessert or at some other point in the evening. If we miss the golden hour then we can escape out for a night time shot as well.
Reception Photos (Party Time!)
Time Allotment – Varies
This is when the bridal party lines up for introductions and the party begins!! By this part of the day, my timeline isn’t strict at all. After the sun is set and my portrait time is over and I begin focusing on the reception events. That includes things like the cake cutting, speeches, first dance, parent dances, and bouquet and garter toss. The amount of time for this can vary, I always love these moments because they are completely candid and usually full of energy and fun.
I hope this helps you with understanding the different aspects of the wedding day timeline in terms of the photography! As quickly as the day goes by, it’s the photographer’s job to create lasting memories for generations to come. Providing enough time is really important to help the process feel effortless!
~
Photography: Samantha Clarke
