The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Photography Timelines
The Secret to Stress-Free Wedding Photography: Schedule Enough Time!
Planning a wedding is no small feat, and a well-crafted wedding timeline is integral to making sure everything falls seamlessly into place and you’re able to enjoy your wedding day stress free. As an experienced wedding photographer, I’ll delve into the wedding photography aspects of a wedding timeline, from the getting ready to the sparkler exit, and we’ll explore it all step by step.
But before we get into the nitty gritty details, if there’s one thing you take away from this guide, I hope it is this: The real secret to a successful wedding photography timeline, where everything gets done and you fully enjoy yourselves, is to schedule plenty of time for each aspect of the day, including buffer time. A wedding is filled with small, beautiful moments, and to allow those to happen, a timeline needs to allow for room to breathe.
Before Building Your Wedding Timeline
When working with your wedding planner or wedding coordinator, they’ll probably start the process of writing your timeline by asking you a few questions first and helping you make some key decisions.
What Time is the Wedding Ceremony?
Every part of a wedding timeline centers around the main event: the moment you say “I do.” This is a decision that you’ll make with your venue coordinator and/or your wedding planner. As a wedding photographer, though, I’d urge you to take sunset into consideration, including the portraits you may plan to take after the ceremony. I’d recommend planning for your wedding ceremony to end one hour before sunset. That way, your cocktail hour will be during that last hour of natural light, and you’ll be able to get that beautiful, glowy lighting for both your ceremony and your portraits.
This isn’t always possible—for example, here in Southern California, in the summer the sun doesn’t set until around 7:45 or 8:00 PM. (If you planned your ceremony around sunset your guests would be having a pretty late dinner!) So there are other factors to consider, and there’s no hard-and-fast rule.
Should You Have a First Look?
In the wedding photography world, a “first look” is when the couple chooses to have a private moment before the ceremony to see each other. It’s set up by your wedding photographer, usually away from family and friends so you’re able to make that moment just about the two of you.
The decision of whether or not to have a first look is entirely up to the couple. Many couples do still prefer to opt for the tradition of seeing each other for the first time from across the wedding aisle during the ceremony, and this is still beautiful.
One advantage of a first look is being able to get all of your wedding party photos, family photos, and most of your romantics (that is, portraits of the bride and groom) done before the ceremony, leaving you free to join cocktail hour and relax right after the ceremony.
Are You Planning on a Grand Exit?
Some weddings end with a big event, such as a sparkler exit (where guests line up outside of the wedding venue with sparklers, and the couple runs through as they depart), a bubble exit (similar to a sparkler exit, but with cute bubbles), or driving away in a classic car. Other weddings simply end when they end. Your choice of whether or not to have a grand exit will impact your wedding photography timeline, as you will likely want a grand exit to be covered by your photographer and will need them to stay until the very end of the celebrations. However, if you don’t have a grand exit planned, you may not need your photographer to stay all the way through and can probably end your photography coverage a little after the cake cutting.
In my experience, this is usually the biggest determining factor with my couples when they’re deciding between the 8 hours wedding photography package and 10 hour package.
Consulting with Your Photographer
As you’re planning your wedding with your wedding planner or coordinator and writing your timeline, be sure to keep your photographer in the loop. Every wedding photographer has their own approach to weddings and may have their own preferences when it comes to how long they need for certain photo sessions during the day, such as family photos and your first look.
In my own work flow as a wedding photographer, I meet with my couples a month or two before their wedding to write a wedding photography timeline, which is built around the timeline that their planner or the venue already gave them for the wedding ceremony and reception. That way, I can make suggestions about when I think wedding party photos should be, when the getting ready photos should be, and so on, but those recommendations will work harmoniously with the existing timeline.
However, I also welcome my couples to consult with me earlier in the process, if they want my input when they’re deciding on their ceremony timing or for other parts of the day. It’s not required, but it’s lovely when I’m able to make suggestions.
Major Parts of a Wedding Day
In this section, I’ll dig into each major part of a typical wedding day and break down how long I usually recommend each section should be, with an eye toward the wedding photography side of things.
Bear in mind that you don’t necessarily have to have every part of the day that I write about here. Lots of couples pick and choose what they want photographed. Some don’t necessarily need getting ready photo coverage, some don’t have traditional parties, and some celebrations end right after the ceremony, with no reception.
Also, a note about heteronormative language: To keep this guide simple, I’ve used “bride” and “groom” throughout. But just as there are couples for whom parts of this timeline won’t be applicable, the timeline is also adaptable for two brides, two grooms, nonbinary folks, and anyone else who is in love.
With that being said, I’ll jump right in. (In the section after this, I’ll put it all together into sample timelines.)
Getting Ready
Detail photos: 30 minutes. The very first thing I do when I arrive in the bridal suite is start with detail photos, such as photographing your invitation suite, rings, jewelry, flowers, and dress. I aim to arrive about 30 minutes before the bride’s hair and makeup is finished, so I can also take some candids of the last few minutes of that process. At the end of this portion is also a great time to grab a few cute group photos of the bride and bridesmaids before they put on their dresses, if they have matching robes or pajamas.
Groom getting ready: 30 minutes. After the detail photos, I’ll head over to the groom’s suite (giving the bridesmaids time to get dressed and the bride time to relax). The groom should already be wearing his dress shirt, pants, and belt. I’ll start by taking a few detail photos there too (a groom’s details are usually just what he’s going to put on), and then I’ll photograph him putting on his shoes, tie, watch, cuff links, and jacket. If he wants any of his groomsmen or a family member included, they can help him out—usually with the tie, cuff links, and jacket. We’ll end his getting ready photos with some casual group pictures with his groomsmen and anyone who is hanging out with him, and maybe candids of their boutonnieres being put on.
Bride getting ready: 30 minutes. I’ll return to the bridal suite. Hopefully by this point, the bridesmaids are all dressed and ready to be included in the bride’s photos, and the bride will be wearing her dress but not buttoned up yet. Once I’m there, we’ll start photos with her mom or a bridesmaid buttoning up her dress, then the bride putting on her jewelry, and finally somebody helping to put on her shoes. Throughout, I’ll do my best to make sure all of her bridesmaids are included in at least one of the photos. Once the bride is dressed, we’ll take a few portraits of her. The bride can decide whether she wants to wear her veil at this point or if she wants to wait until the wedding ceremony.
Overall, allot 1.5 - 2 hours for getting ready photos. (I’d recommend 2 hours so there’s a 30 minute buffer, in case it’s necessary. Hair and makeup could run late, hotel elevators can be slow, videographers can get locked in hotel stairways—I’ve seen it all.)
First Look
Getting the groom in position: 10 minutes. To start, I’ll walk with the groom to the location we’ve picked out for the first look—preferably someplace away from the action, where you’ll be able to share the moment together privately. Once the groom is in place, I’ll leave my second photographer with him and then head back and bring the bride.
First look: 5 minutes. The bride will usually walk up to the groom and tap his shoulder or let him know when to turn around. I’ll hang back and let them have their moment, photographing from a distance. Sometimes couples read vows to each other, sometimes they catch up on their day, and sometimes they just giggle. After they let me know that they’re ready, we’ll take some photos.
Portraits: 10 minutes. Even though we’ll do more portraits later on in the day, I like to take this opportunity to do some portraits with the bride and groom. You never know what’ll happen over the course of a wedding day—maybe the weather will change, maybe the ceremony will run late, or maybe the bride and groom will just want to enjoy their reception and stop taking photos. Getting a few portraits right now, when the couple is fresh and excited for the day, is just a good idea.
Overall, allot 30 minutes for the first look (with that extra 5 minutes as a buffer, to get to the group photo location).
Wedding Party Photos
Before the first look, we’ll communicate to the wedding party and the family members where we’ll be doing the group photos. After the first look, the couple and I will meet them there.
Full Wedding Party: 10 minutes.
Bridal Party: 10 minutes.
Groom’s Party: 10 minutes.
Overall, allot 30 minutes for wedding party photos.
Family Photos
If you’ve ever attended a wedding, you’ll know that the family photos right after a ceremony are nobody’s favorite part of the day. Everybody’s excited, chatting, and wants to go to cocktail hour. From the perspective of a bride and groom, imagine the emotional high of just getting married—followed by 30 minutes of standing in one place, smiling at a camera.
Getting to do family photos before the ceremony is one of the biggest points in favor of doing a first look, in my opinion.
But regardless of when it’s scheduled, I always recommend having a list of family photos in hand before the wedding day and keeping it to 15 groups at the very most, so it doesn’t take over your day.
Overall, allot 30 minutes for family photos.
Couple Portraits
The timing for the couple portraits—also known as romantics, bridals, wedding portraits, sunset photos, or bride and groom portraits—depends on the timing of your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception events, and we’ll work together to find where this best fits into your wedding schedule. Whenever possible, I always recommend doing your wedding portraits right before sunset, for the most beautiful lighting of the day.
Overall, allot 30 minutes for wedding couple portraits.
Sample Wedding Photography Timelines
In this section, I’ll put all of it together and show you two sample wedding photo timelines: one with a first look and one without.
Please note that both of these timelines assume that the couple is getting ready and holding their wedding ceremony and reception all at one wedding venue, meaning no time needs to be added for travel. If this were not the case, you would just add the appropriate travel time wherever applicable.
Sample Wedding Timeline #1:
10 hours, with a First Look + Sparkler Exit
12:45 PM: Photographer arrives and begins detail photos
1:15 PM: Groom gets dressed
2:00 PM: Bride gets dressed
2:45 PM: First look
3:15 PM: Wedding party photos
3:45 PM: Family photos
4:15 PM: Couple tucked away; photo coverage of ceremony space decorations
4:30 PM: Guests begin to arrive
5:00 PM: Ceremony begins
5:30 PM: Ceremony ends; cocktail hour begins; couple portraits
*5:55 PM: Sunset
6:00 PM: Couple joins cocktail hour; photo coverage of reception decorations
6:25 PM: Guests enter reception space
6:30 PM: Grand entrance
6:35 PM: First dance
6:40 PM: Welcome toast
6:45 PM: Dinner (photographers take their break)
7:30 PM: Couple greets tables
7:45 PM: Speeches & toasts
8 PM: Special dances
8:10 PM: Open dancing
8:30 PM: Cake cutting
8:35 PM: Bouquet toss
8:40 PM: Garter toss
8:45 PM: Open dancing
10:30 PM: Sparkler exit
10:45 PM: Photo coverage ends
Sample Wedding Timeline #2:
8 hours, with No First Look + No Grand Exit
1:45 PM: Photographer arrives and begins detail photos
2:15 PM: Groom gets dressed
3:00 PM: Bride gets dressed
3:45 PM: Couple tucked away; photo coverage of ceremony space decorations
4:00 PM: Guests begin to arrive
4:30 PM: Ceremony begins
5:00 PM: Ceremony ends; cocktail hour begins; family photos
5:20 PM: Wedding party photos
5:40 PM: Couple portraits; second photographer photographs reception decorations
*5:55 PM: Sunset; guests enter reception space
6:00 PM: Grand entrance
6:05 PM: First dance
6:10 PM: Welcome toast
6:15 PM: Dinner (photographers take their break)
7:00 PM: Couple greets tables
7:15 PM: Speeches & toasts
7:30 PM: Special dances
8:40 PM: Open dancing
9:00 PM: Cake cutting
8:05 PM: Bouquet toss
8:10 PM: Garter toss
8:15 PM: Open dancing
9:45 PM: Photo coverage ends
I hope this overview of wedding timelines has provided you with valuable insights and empowered you to plan a seamless and beautiful photography experience on your wedding day!
Remember, a well-structured timeline and a little buffer between events are the secret ingredients to capturing your wedding day with grace and authenticity. By collaborating with your wedding photographer, you can create a timeline that reflects your unique vision and ensures every moment is beautifully preserved.
HI THERE, I’M PAMELA!
I’m the owner and lead photographer at Pamela Tatz Photography. I know that the choice of the best wedding photographer is a deeply personal one, and I’m grateful you found your way here.
My rates for wedding photography and photo sessions are all available, as well as some answers to frequently asked questions. You can learn more about me and my business, as well as check out some resources I’ve put together to help anyone planning their California wedding, destination wedding, elopement, or engagement.
If you’re interested in working with me or just want to say hi, feel free to reach out! ♥
