CREATING A WEDDING DAY PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE

Creating a wedding day Timeline is one of the most difficult parts of wedding planning and I am here to help make it a little bit easier, no I am not going to give you a full entire wedding day timeline from the moment you wake up until you go to bed but I am going to give you a timeline of photography which is a huge part of your wedding day and that will help the question I get asked most...

"How long do I need to take wedding photos?"

Insert MEEE to help you with that! I am going to list out all the sections of a wedding day that are typically photographed and how much time you need to allot for your photographer to capture those portions!

**PS: THERE 2 FULL WEDDING DAY TIMELINES AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST! **

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Ladies Getting Ready - 60 Minutes

Getting ready photos are one of the best ways to tell the full story of your wedding day. This part of the day captures all the little in-between moments before everything officially begins.

No, I don’t need to be there while everyone is sitting in hair and makeup for 5 hours haha. Usually the ideal timing is for me to arrive once hair and makeup are mostly complete so we can focus on final touches and details.

During this time we photograph things like:

• Dress

• Shoes

• Jewellery

• Invitations

• Florals

• Final makeup touches

• Bridesmaids helping you get dressed

• Candid moments with family and friends

Plan for your photographer to arrive about 60 minutes before you leave for the ceremony.

Gentlemen Getting Ready - 45 Minutes

The guys’ getting ready portion is usually much quicker and more relaxed.

This time is used for:

• Getting dressed

• Ties/bowties

• Jackets

• Cufflinks

• Groom details

• Hanging out with the groomsmen

• A few casual portraits

If you have a second photographer, they will typically cover this portion while the main photographer is with the bride.

Plan for the second photographer to arrive roughly 45 minutes before the guys leave for the ceremony.

First Look - 15-20 Minutes

A first look is completely optional and honestly comes down to personal preference.

One thing I’ve changed my opinion on over the years is trying to do ALL wedding party and couple portraits before the ceremony. While it sounds efficient on paper, it often means doing photos in the harshest light of the day when everyone is nervous, rushed, and just trying to get to the ceremony.

Instead, I now recommend keeping the first look simple and relaxed.

A first look is a great opportunity to:

• See each other privately before the ceremony

• Calm nerves

• Take a few portraits together

• Have a quiet moment alone

If you choose to do one, I usually recommend only doing a handful of couple portraits beforehand and saving the majority of portraits for after the ceremony and later in the evening when the light is much nicer.

~~CEREMONY~~

The next part of the day is the ceremony, obviously the timing is between to your wedding officiant/minister/priest etc. A Typical wedding ceremony last roughly 30 minutes

Family Photos - 30 Minutes

Immediately after the ceremony is usually the best time for family photos.

Why?

Because everyone is already gathered in one place before they disappear to the cocktail hour or the bar haha.

To keep this running smoothly, I always recommend creating a family photo list ahead of time. This allows me to move through combinations quickly without wasting time figuring things out on the spot.

Typical family photos take around 30 minutes.

If you wan to see a sample of a family photo list> CLICK HERE

Wedding Party - 30 Minutes

After family photos, we move into wedding party portraits.I’ve found that wedding party photos do not need to take forever to get great images. Keeping this portion tighter helps the day continue flowing naturally and prevents everyone from getting exhausted standing around taking photos for hours.

This portion usually includes:

• Full wedding party photos

• Bridesmaids

• Groomsmen

• Individual groupings

• Fun candid moments

Bride & Groom - 60 Minutes (Can be spread out)

This is the most important portrait time of the entire day. BUT… this doesn’t mean you need to disappear for 45 straight minutes all at once.

One of the biggest recommendations I now make to couples is to break up portraits throughout the day instead of doing one giant marathon session.

For example:

• A few photos during the first look (20 Mins)

• A few right after the ceremony and after wedding party (20 Mins)

• Sunset photos later in the evening (20 Mins)

  
  

This creates way more variety in your gallery, keeps the day feeling relaxed, and gives you photos in multiple lighting situations instead of only harsh afternoon sun.

And honestly? The sunset portraits almost always end up being the favourites.

~~Reception~~

Once portraits are complete, I usually recommend arriving back at the reception about 10–15 minutes before your grand entrance so you have time to:

• Freshen up

• Bustle your dress

• Grab a drink

• Relax for a second before the party starts

Typical reception events usually look something like:

• Grand entrance

• Dinner

• Speeches

• Cake cutting

• First dances

• Dance floor opens

If your photographer is leaving earlier in the evening, I always suggest planning the important formalities before their coverage ends.

Sunset Photos - 15-20 Minutes

If your wedding timeline allows for sunset photos… DO IT.

Seriously.

This is usually the best lighting of the entire day and gives you a chance to step away from the reception for 15–20 minutes, breathe for a second, and get some incredible relaxed portraits together.

Summer sunsets in BC can happen pretty late, especially in June and July, but they are absolutely worth planning around if possible.

And the best part?

At this point in the day:

• The nerves are gone

• You’re officially married

• The timeline pressure is over

• You can finally just enjoy each other

That energy always shows in the photos.

**This is totally dependant on the time of year and if the weather allows us for a sunset

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Example of a Wedding Day Photography Timeline | NO FIRST LOOK

This is based of an 8 Hour Photography package and with NO first Look

1:30pm - Photographer Arrives at Girls Getting Ready

1:30pm - 2nd Photographer Arrives at Guys Getting Ready

2:15pm - 2nd Photographer & Guys Leave Getting Ready

2:30pm - Guys Arrive at Ceremony to greet & seat guests

2:30pm - Ladies Leave Getting Ready Location

2:45pm - Ladies Arrive at Ceremony Site

3:00pm - Ceremony

3:30pm - Start Family Photos

4:00pm - Start Wedding Party Photos

4:30pm - Start Bride & Groom Photos

5:15pm - Couple can have Alone Time or Join Cocktail Hour

6:00pm - Grand Entrance

6:15pm - Dinner served

MINGLE WITH GUESTS

7:30pm - Speeches Start

8:00pm - (Approx Time) Step Outside for Sunset Photos (15-20mins)

8:30pm - First Dance & Parent Dances

8:40pm - Dance Floor Opens for Party Photos

9:30pm - Photographer Departs

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Example of a Wedding Day Photography Timeline | WITH FIRST LOOK

This is based of an 8 Hour Photography package and with a first Look before ceremony

1:30pm - Photographer Arrives at Girls Getting Ready

1:30pm - 2nd Photographer Arrives at Guys Getting Ready

2:15pm - 2nd Photographer & Guys Leave Getting Ready

2:30pm - Guys Arrive at First Look Location & find a spot

2:30pm - Ladies Leave Getting Ready Location

2:45pm - Ladies Arrive at First Look Location

2:50pm - First Look Happens

3:00pm - Start Bride & Groom Portraits

3:30pm - Photos Done - Freshen Up before Ceremony

4:00pm - Ceremony

4:30pm - Start Family Photos

5:00pm - Start Wedding Party Photos

5:30pm - Start Bride & Groom Photos

6:00pm - Photos Done - Freshen Up

6:15pm - Grand Entrance

6:30pm - Dinner served

MINGLE WITH GUESTS

7:30pm - Speeches Start

8:00pm - (Approx Time) Step Outside for Sunset Photos (15-20mins)

8:10pm - First Dance & Parent Dances

8:30pm - Dance Floor Opens for Party Photos

9:30pm - Photographer Departs