A Wedding Day Timeline to Fit Your Wedding Story
Weddings are unique to each couple. If you want a large production with a multitude of wedding attendants, two flower girls, three ring bearers, and your golden doodle, then that’s what you should have. If you’d rather your ceremony be an intimate event with an officiant, the two of you, and only a handful of guests, then have it! That’s your prerogative. Or maybe you fall somewhere in-between, and that’s great too! You get to decide what you want your wedding story to be. Regardless of the size of your wedding or length of your day, as a wedding photographer, I’ve found it’s helpful to have a well-structured, stress-free photography wedding day timeline.
A Stress-free Wedding Day Timeline Example
Highlighted areas are specific to your wedding day timeline. This timeline is an example of an eight-hour wedding day. It highlights a couple who is interested in a handful of preparation photos. They want a First Look. There are two separate locations for the ceremony and reception. They are interested in the traditional dances during their reception and a toast and cake cutting but not a garter or bouquet toss. They want more candid photos than posed. And to end their amazing wedding day, a fun sendoff is planned at the end of the night.
- 2:00 Photographer arrives at Location One and scouts best place for portraits
- 2:15 Photographer documents Partner One during preparation and details
- 2:45 Photographer documents Partner Two during preparation and details
- 3:15 First Look and portraits of Couple together and individually (This blog includes reasons why a First Look is helpful.)
- 4:15 Portraits of Couple and others
- 4:45 Couple rests and everyone prepares for ceremony
- 5:30 Ceremony
- 6:00 Sunset portraits with Couple
- 6:30 Everyone departs Location One
- 6:45 Everyone arrives at Location Two for reception, Couple eats privately, photographer eats
- 7:15 Couple announced
- 7:20 Couple’s First Dance
- 7:30 Traditional dances for Couple and Parents
- 7:45 Cake cutting and toast between Couple
- 8:00 Dancing, mingling, and candid and informally posed portraits
- 9:30 Everyone prepares for Sendoff
- 9:45 Couple’s Sendoff
- 10:00 Photographer leaves
Food for Thought on Your Stress-free Wedding Day
- Be mentally prepared for small setbacks; timelines aren’t carved in stone and things may change slightly
- If things “go wrong” only you will notice; no one else knows exactly how you envisioned each detail
- If you plan to have professionals do your hair and makeup, begin two hours earlier than you think you should
- If you have a large wedding party also needing hair and makeup, hire multiple hair and makeup artists
- Pack a small “needs kit” with Band-Aids, Chapstick/lipstick, deodorant, bobby pins, safety pins, dental floss, gum and/or mints, fashion tape/lingerie tape, stain remover pin, phone charger
- If you have a list of details you’d like photographed, have them gathered in one place so that your photographer’s time can be used as efficiently as possible; this includes rings, both the engagement rings and wedding bands (assuming you’d like them photographed-they’re often forgotten)
- Don’t forget to eat something; time will slip by and nourishment is good for energy, especially during long days
- Drink water, in particular if you drink alcohol; you want to remember your once-in-a-lifetime day
- If you drink alcohol, avoid red wine; it not only stains teeth and lips, it will stain anything it may be spilled on
- Try to be present, and remember, this day is about you and your partner
Please contact me if you’re interested in wedding photography. I would love the chance to talk about the details of your day. Let’s see if we’re a good fit!
