Timeline Tips to Make Your Wedding Day Run Smoothly

Before every wedding, I talk my couples through their wedding day timeline. I like to be pretty detailed in this, because while everything doesn’t always go according to schedule, it’s so nice to have a guideline!

In order to create my timelines, I always start the planning around sunset. If you’re hiring me as your photographer, or a photographer who has a similar style to me, sunset is key! I like to have all of my formal portraits and detail photographs taken before the sun sets. Those are the photographs that my couples print and hang on their walls. Natural light is so gorgeous for portraits! Once we know what time sunset it, we can work backwards from there.

I love building in at least 45 minutes of portrait time with my couple before their ceremony, and then another 10 or 15 or so right at sunset. I know that might seem like a lot of time, but it does take some time to get comfortable in front of the camera! This is why having an engagement session helps, but even so, it’s nice to have some time to relax on your wedding day. Also, think about the portrait time as the one time on your wedding day that it will just be you and your fiance. It is time to be with each other, to share your excitement, to cry, to laugh, and focus on the commitment you are making. My approach to portraits is to create a lot of interaction between the bride and groom. That means walking, dancing, talking, hugging, and strolling. This creates a really special time just for the two of you.

Most of my wedding packages include 8 hours of coverage on your wedding day. You can always add time if needed, but I always recommend having your photographer start earlier in the day. The getting ready photographs in the beautiful light are more likely to hang on your wall than a photograph of slightly tipsy Uncle Joe breaking it down on the dance floor :) Usually an hour of dancing coverage is plenty to show off your friends doing the moonwalk and the worm! If you’re doing an exit and your budget doesn’t allow for more than 8 hours of coverage, I always recommend doing a “mock exit.” This is where we grab your family and wedding party, they grab the sparklers, glow sticks, or bubbles, and you and your new husband or wife stage the exit with the people you are closest to. Then, you go back and party! 

Below is a sample timeline for Spring and Summer, assuming sunset is around 8:15

2:00 – Photography coverage begins. Getting ready photographs

3:45 – Finishing touches of getting ready

4:15 – First look

5:00 – Wedding Party portraits

5:30 – Time to relax and get ready to be married!

6:00 – Ceremony

6:30-6:50 – Family portraits

6:50-7:00 – Bride + Groom portraits in evening light

7:00 – Join cocktail hour (yay, specialty cocktails!)

7:30 – Reception starts, and from this point on, I will just take photographs

of what is happening, and you just get to have a blast!

8:15 – Sunset

10:00 – Exit