The Ideal WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE

With all of the details to plan for your wedding, you can easily get swallowed up in things like dresses, centerpieces, and flowers, but most brides don’t think about the actual “flow” of their day until just before the wedding. By creating a detailed schedule + plan for your day will help make sure things run as smoothly as possible. Utilizing the below templates will also aid you in determining how much photography coverage you’ll need for everything you want captured! For all of my couples, I put together a timeline that is perfect for your unique wedding day! It’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about! 


Having an idea or rough outline of how much time each portion of the day will take allows you to plan farther in advance and allows you to prepare for your vendors, most notably, your photographer. Having a wedding photography timeline is integral to a wedding that flows seamlessly. Your photography timeline also helps you to budget appropriately for your photographer.


There’s always some wiggle room for getting photos unique to your own day and event, but I’ve outlined a standard 8 and 10 hour day in order for you to have a general idea of how and when photos are taken throughout the day. Keep in mind the photos aren’t typically just designated to a quick ceremony and first dance. You’ll want ample time to have pictures taken getting ready, posed family portraits, and a first look if you choose to do one.

01 GETTING READY: THE BRIDE + GROOM


1 to 2 hours total: Depending on travel between locations and size of the bridal party. Plan for 15 extra minutes of you are planning a first look with each other! Typically, the Bride’s side takes about 1 hour for getting ready photos (or more) and the Groom’s side is about 30 minutes maximum.

02 THE WEDDING CEREMONY


15 Minutes to 1.5 hours: The length of your ceremony may vary widely. If your wedding is a traditional religious ceremony, it could take 30 minutes. For Orthodox weddings, 1 hour or longer, and for civil ceremonies, 15-30 minutes including processional and recessional. Consider travel time between locations for your portraits. Photography time usually starts when you ask the photographer to arrive, and is consecutive including travel.

03 FORMAL GROUP + FAMILY PORTRAITS:


30 minutes – 1 Hour: Formal portrait timing can vary widely depending on group size and family / group combinations. If you need less time, or would like to allocate more time elsewhere, communicate with your family that you would prefer to have immediate family members in portraits only, and save photos of extended family members for candids during the reception. If you have large families (more than 10 on each side for immediate family) consider group photos to include everyone.

04 WEDDING PARTY + THE NEWLYWEDS:


1.5 – 3 Hours: Timing can depend largely on the locations, travel and size of bridal party. Without travel and a small to average bridal party (3-4 on each side) plan for 1.5 hours of photography time. Add more time for each location (30 minutes or more for each location).

05 THE RECEPTION:


2 – 6 Hours: Your reception includes your cocktail hour (mingling), dinner, first dance, cutting of the cake, games, speeches, and dancing.

8 HOUR SAMPLE TIMELINE


If you’re like me and love visuals, this little extra bonus is just for you! For example, an ideal wedding day timeline might look like this (based on an 8 hour wedding day):


WITH A FIRST LOOK:


12:30pm: Photographer arrives and greets bride & groom!

12:30pm: Getting ready, candid & detail photos of bridal party, or just bride & bridesmaids as time allows (hair/makeup, dress, shoes, rings, invitation suite, ceremony space, etc.) – about 1.5 hours* (* I highly recommend having me arrive about 1.5 hours before you slip into your dress)

2:00pm: Bride gets dressed

2:10pm: First Look and a few portraits of bride & groom – about 30-35 minutes

2:40pm: Bridal party portraits – about 40-45 minutes

3:20pm: Bridal party / bride / groom tucked away 30-45 minutes prior to ceremony

4-4:30pm: Ceremony

4:30-4:50pm: Receiving line or usher guests out of ceremony space (optional)

5-5:15pm: Family portraits – about 15-20 minutes

5:20-5:30pm: Cocktail hour – bridal party / bride + groom visit with guests!

5:30-6:00pm: Photos of guests at cocktail hour, reception space, cake/dessert, tables, etc. – about 20-30 minutes

6pm: Entrance to Dinner

6:15pm: Dinner service

6:30pm: Sunset / late afternoon portraits of bride & groom – about 10-15 minutes

7:45pm: Dessert service

8:15pm: First Dance (and any parent dances)

8:20-8:45pm: Open Dance floor coverage – about 25-30 minutes

8:30pm: Photographer departs


WITHOUT A FIRST LOOK:


12:00pm: Photographer arrives and greets bride & groom!

12:00pm: Getting ready, candid & detail photos of bridal party, or just bride & bridesmaids as time allows (hair/makeup, dress, shoes, rings, invitation suite, ceremony space, etc.) – about 1.5 hours

1:20pm: Bride gets dressed

1:30-2:30: Bride + Bridesmaid and Groom + Groomsmen formal portraits

2:30pm: Bridal party / bride / groom arrive at ceremony location and are tucked away 30-45 minutes prior to ceremony

3-3:30pm: Ceremony

3:30-3:50pm: Receiving line or usher guests out of ceremony space (optional)

4-4:20pm: Family portraits – about 15-20 minutes

4:30-4:45pm: Bridal party portraits – about 15 minutes

4:45pm-5:15pm: Bride & groom portraits – about 30 minutes

5:15-5:45pm: Photos of guests at cocktail hour, reception space, cake/dessert, tables, etc. – about 20-30 minutes

5:45pm: Entrance to Dinner

6:00pm: Dinner Service

6:30pm: Sunset / late afternoon portraits of bride & groom – about 10-15 minutes

6:45pm: Dessert Service

7:30pm: First Dance (and any parent dances)

7:45-8pm: Open Dance floor coverage – about 15 minutes

8pm: Photographer departs