You’re a bride. Your days are spent researching centerpiece ideas, changing your mind over colors for the 17th time, and sampling every flavor of wedding cake imaginable. It. is. the. LIFE! Well, sort of. :) Let me be the first to say I KNOW wedding planning is overwhelmingly stressful. So I thought it might be helpful if I tackled one of the largest items on your list from a photographer’s perspective. That item being, your wedding day timeline.
The following sample timeline is one that I’ve found works best for ME as a wedding photographer. There is definitely room for adjustments depending on weather, transportation needs for you and your wedding party/family, and most essentially, sunset time. I’m a HUGE proponent of portraits shot in natural light. But all in all, what is broken down below is a timeline that prioritizes what will best help you remember this most important day in your life: YOUR IMAGES.
Also keep in mind that while the length of time I have allotted for various things may sound crazy, it is essential for ensuring enough cushion should the inevitable happen. I.e., You think it will only take five minutes to put on your dress, but you find a random wrinkle that MUST be steamed. The groom and his entire entourage get stuck in traffic due to an unforeseen parade right before your first look. Or Uncle Bobby goes MIA, but you need him for family formals. :) I have been through this with enough brides to tell you, something unexpected might definitely happen. But the beauty is that if we nail down a solid timeline that allows for cushion ahead of time, your day will be that much less stressful. That much more enjoyable. And that much more memorable through photographs.
Without further ado, a wedding day timeline that assumes that all prep, as well as the pre-ceremony, ceremony, and reception festivities occur at the same venue. It also includes a first look, which I truly believe is the best option for ALL brides and grooms. (Here’s why!) I’ve also included in parenthesis the exact length of time needed for specific segments of coverage, should your ceremony start time differ from the sample.
12:30PM – Begin bride’s hair (dependent on hair style of course!)
1:30PM – Begin bride’s makeup
2:00PM – Photographers arrive to photograph details and final prep (1 hour)
3:00PM – Bride puts on dress (0.5 hours)
3:30PM – Bride & groom’s first look/portraits (0.5 hours, but 45 minutes would be even better!)
4:00PM – Wedding party portraits (0.5 hours)
4:30PM – Family formal portraits (0.5 hours, but 45 minutes would be even better!)
5:00PM – Final primping while wedding guests arrive; Photographers shoot ceremony/reception details & decor
6:00PM – Ceremony begins (1 hour-ish before sunset)
6:30PM – Short cocktail hour
7:00PM – Grand entrance/first dance/prayer
7:15PM – Meal is served
8:00PM – Toasts/special dances
8:30PM – More dancing
9:00PM – Cake cutting/bouquet toss/more dancing
10:00PM – Photographers leave
Our full day coverage translates to eight hours. It’s my hope that this post helps you realize that all you want out of your wedding day images is more than possible with a well-planned timeline! And your photographers are always willing to help you in this capacity! :)
Westminster Wedding Expo timed with height of planning season | wedding - […] Creating a Killer Wedding Day Timeline | Alyse French Photography … […]
Kristin Nicole - Amen to that
Danielle - I love you for posting this. I had no idea where to start.
Jess Z. - So you know how I have an obsession with planning/ being early to almost everything in life? Well, this is amazing and while I have yet to receive a certain question, I would LOVE it if I could make this into a Word document and put it in my “planning” folder, with your name written all over it! Whatd’ya say to being (yet again) in my planning files?! (Because yes, you are already in there under “Photographer,” which is also the absolute shortest list that I have so far.) <3
Cesilia - I “attempted” to make my own timenline but knew my times were so off. Thanks, indeed a HUGE help! None the less I will be going over this with you come a month before the wedding, just incase :)
Ashton Gardens Wedding: Megan & Chance | Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer - […] single wine cork you never thought you’d use! Megan and I worked together to create the BEST timeline I’ve ever experienced. How was it possible? With a first look! Pre-sunset light makes me […]
Hotel ZaZa Wedding: Kristen & Rob | Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer - […] two boys, Maddox and Maverick. :) Because Kristen and I worked closely to come up with a solid timeline that included a first look and portraits prior to the ceremony, the two were able to enjoy their […]
- The Collective - […] write and then link back to blog posts that help educate our clients. Examples include how to create a killer wedding day timeline, and why we think having a first look is the best option for every […]
Gloria Dei Wedding: Andrea & Kyle | Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer - […] It’s where hair and makeup prep is AT. Andrea and I worked together to create the BEST wedding day timeline I’ve ever worked around. And this timeline included a first look so portraits could be […]
Our Brand, Fully-Vetted | Windsor Collective - […] Resourceful blog posts […]
What’s Worked For Us: Helpful Blog Posts for the Bride and Groom | Windsor Collective - […] […]
What’s Worked For Us: Setting Expectations | Windsor Collective - […] leaves 10 minutes to shoot 20 family formal combinations, that simply will not work. We provide a timeline blog post our clients can refer to, to help them plan their […]
Abby Grace - I’m totally bookmarking this and sending it to my brides. Effff I love first looks!
Admiral on Clear Lake Wedding: Cesilia & Israel | Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer - […] C stunning? I adored Cesy’s taste in jewelry… Cesilia and Israel’s timeline enabled us to get a few shots of Cesy solo just prior to their first look! To read more about why […]
Kim Son Wedding: Tammy & Sonny | Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer - […] for Tammy to get glammed up a second time. Tammy and I worked together closely on the wedding day timeline to ensure enough time for portraits of just the two of them. This meant having a first look, which […]
Giddings Stone Mansion Wedding: Sara & Robert | Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer - […] with! Robert, the dashing groom, prepping for the camera. ;) Sara and Robert and I worked out a wedding timeline that allowed for all portraits to be taken prior to the ceremony! This timeline included this most […]
Brett Eklund - I know this is an older post, but Awesome!! I am currently planning my own wedding right now, and did a quick search and im glad your article came up!! I have definitely used it and greatly appreciate you sharing!