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Sample Wedding Timeline

The sample timeline below is designed for couples doing a First Look.

11:00 AM: Getting ready and details photos. When I arrive, brides/grooms should be in the finishing stages of getting ready but not in their dress/suit yet. Details typically include the dress, shoes, jewelry, perfume, invitations, and bouquet.

PHOTO TIP #1:

The bride should have all wedding rings/bands along with her engagement ring for these detail shots.

PHOTO TIP #2:

Tell your hair/makeup artist you need to be ready 30 minutes before the actual time. If they are running late, the whole timeline is affected.

12:30 PM: Bride gets into her dress. If the bridesmaids have robes, it’s fun to do a champagne toast. If the Mother of the Bride is around and in her dress, it’s nice to have her help you get into your dress along with your bridesmaids.

12:45-1:30 PM: Bride with Bridesmaids. We’ll get some fun shots of you hanging out together as well as bridal portraits.

1:30-2:30 PM: Groom and Groomsmen prep. The guys should be finishing up getting dressed. We’ll get some fun shots of them hanging out together as well as groom portraits.

3:00 PM: First Look! This can be an emotional part of the day and it’s always everyone’s favorite. This moment is more about the bride and groom and less about the photos. Once you’ve had some time to take it all in, we’ll start with couples portraits.

3:15-4:00 PM: Bride and Groom portraits.

PHOTO TIP #3:

Portraits should be scheduled at optimal lighting time if possible. Anytime after 2pm (as long as there is some shaded areas/trees to work with on the property), is the best time to plan your portraits. The best light occurs just after sunrise and 60-90 minutes before sunset.

4:00-5:00 PM: Family Portraits and Wedding Party Photos. Give families a heads up, especially if there are children in the wedding party. Designate someone to take the lead on rallying the troops during family photos. Someone has a loud voice and doesn’t mind taking charge usually helps.

PHOTO TIP #4:

When it comes to family photos or important people in your life, you can totally have a shot list. Just remember, more people=more time needed for photos. I estimate about 3 minutes per photo combination.

5:00-5:30 PM: Preparing for the ceremony. Now that the formals are out of the way, everyone has a few minutes to just relax before guests start arriving. I’ll be taking photos of the ceremony location and details before guests are seated.

5:30 PM: Ceremony.

PHOTO TIP #5:

This is for anyone walking down the aisle, try not to look down at your shoes and smile!

6:00 PM: Cocktail Hour. We can either venture out and take more fun couples shots in the dreamy, golden hour light or if you wish to enjoy the last half of cocktail hour, that’s totally up to you. If there isn’t a second shooter, I will need to leave early to take photos of the reception venue before guests arrive.

PHOTO TIP #6:

Make sure you check sunset times for your wedding day and how that will affect the timeline above. This usually matters most for winter weddings.

PHOTO TIP #7:

Account for travel time between locations. If the travel time is 15 minutes, add another 15-20 minute buffer in the event of traffic or delay.

6:50 PM: Guests arrive at reception.

7:00 PM: Reception begins. DJ announces grand entrance with your wedding party.

7:10 PM: Speeches.

7:30 PM: Dinner is served.

8:00 PM: Cake cutting.

8:10 PM: First dance and special dances

9:30 PM: Photographers Exit. It’s rare for photographers to stay to the end of a reception unless there is a grand exit planned in which case more hours can always be added to the day if needed. You can always do a staged exit if you want to do a sparkler send off or something special.

*Reminder that this is just a sample timeline and yours can look totally different. After all, it’s your day! We’ll work together to create a unique timeline 6-8 weeks before your wedding.