A wedding is a whirlwind of events, go in the blink of an eye. There’s nothing more important to a perfectly executed event than an organized timeline. If you are looking to effectively plan out your wedding day with your wedding coordinator or fiancé, here’s a look at a typical wedding photo timeline from our point of view. We are here to help assist you in planning out your day so that you don’t miss a beat.
6 HOURS BEFORE THE CEREMONY
I’ve just finished packing my bags and I’m now going over the wedding information form and having a meeting with my team to talk about the details of the day.
4 HOURS BEFORE THE CEREMONY
I leave the studio for the wedding site. The bride’s hair and makeup should be well underway to leave plenty of time for family and couple photos.
3.5 HOURS BEFORE THE CEREMONY
I arrive at the preparation site to capture the finishing touches of hair and makeup and to document the bride getting into her wedding dress and the groomsmen making their final preparations.
2.5 HOURS BEFORE THE CEREMONY
We arrange for a “first meeting” for the bride and groom where they see each other before the ceremony. Immediately after this, we begin formal photographs with the entire wedding party and the bride and groom’s immediate and extended families.
2 HOURS BEFORE THE CEREMONY
The bride and groom’s portraits begin. We work in a variety of locations and capture a wide range of poses. About an hour before the ceremony we stop to allow you to freshen up, collect your things, and make it to the ceremony site on time.
30 MINUTES BEFORE THE CEREMONY
I leave the preparations site to set out for the ceremony site. Here I coordinate with my assistant and set up any equipment we need during the ceremony. We take a last look around and find where the light is coming from to best document the ceremony. At this time you should have a quick refreshment and take 15 minutes of quiet time with just the two of you; you’ll want to regroup before all the excitement begins!
30 MINUTES AFTER THE CEREMONY
We arrive at the reception site and immediately begin photographing candid shots of arriving guests and continue into cocktail reception. If there are any additional formal photographs desired we will take this time to finish them in plenty of time for the reception.
45 MINUTES AFTER THE CEREMONY
We enter the dining room before the guests arrive to photograph the cake and floral decor. We also take this time to set up room lights and spotlights if we find they are needed. Right before the guests arrive we touch base with the catering manager or wedding coordinator to see if there were any last minute changes to the reception schedule.
1 HOUR AFTER THE CEREMONY
At this time we strictly document the reception candidly as it unfolds, including the first dances, toasts, dancing, and cake cutting. But don’t worry; we are always available for any photo request you may have throughout the evening. Just ask!
4 HOURS AFTER THE CEREMONY
We pack our equipment and prepare for our departure. But first, we will check with you to make sure there aren’t any further photos you would like or an overtime request. We may go outside for a night “time exposure” photograph of the both of you to showcase the beauty of your location at night.