Wedding & Portrait Photography
Wedding & Portrait Photography
Wedding & Portrait Photography
It’s arrived! You finally have everything in place, and you need to put together THE TIMELINE!
We know this isn’t the most exciting part of the wedding day, and it can feel intimidating to do!
But this is the one thing that can make or break your photography, so you need to be on top of it! We’re here to help you do just that.
This post will outline an ideal wedding day, working off of a 6 pm ceremony time.
This ideal timeline is also based on a wedding day that includes a first look and all of the wedding events in the same venue.
90% of our couples choose to do a first look. You can read more about that in our post on why you should consider doing one too here!
Remember that all wedding days are different. Your timeline may differ due to your unique situation, but this will give you a great place to start.
Wedding Details: 1:30-2:30pm
We love having some time to shoot the dress, shoes, jewelry, invitations, etc. They are little details that make a big impact. You will love having these shots as part of your album!
These shots also allow us to get warmed up for the rest of the big day. We usually like to allow at least 45 minutes for this part of the day.
While we’re shooting details, we’re also capturing some shots of you and your wedding party getting ready!
Prep 2:30-3:30 pm
After the details have been photographed, it’s time to get dressed! We usually ask the parents and all of the wedding party to be dressed by this time. This guarantees that everyone will look nice in those images.
After you are dressed, we will shoot some additional portraits! Ready to have a special memory of Mom zipping up the back of your dress? Or Brother helping you pin on your boutonniere? This is the part of the day when that magic happens!
First Look & Portraits 3:30-4:30 pm
The first look is one of our favorite parts of the wedding day! We will find the perfect location for our couple’s First Look, so don’t stress about that one bit.
We will make sure the location is private and that the first look happens on schedule!
After you take your time with the First Look, we will begin taking a few romantic portraits of the two of you while the initial excitement is still present!
We will find the locations for these shots as well! Remember, the LIGHT determines where we shoot, so we can’t decide on portrait locations until the day-of.
As we shoot these portraits, the bridal party can start making their way to us for Bridal Party portraits! Fun times ahead!
Family & Wedding Party Photos 4:30-5:30 pm
Now it’s time for the Wedding Party and Family shots! We buffer in extra time throughout the day, just in case we have some unexpected things that hold us up!
One way to make sure we stay on schedule for these portraits is to have someone put the boutonnieres on the guys BEFORE they arrive for portraits. We will make sure to take some great shots of the guys and girls both separately AND together during wedding party portraits!
Typically, family formals will take about thirty minutes. To make sure we get everything you want, we will send a questionnaire before the wedding where you can list out the shots and combinations of people that are your must-haves (see more on this in our tips for planning your wedding post!).
We recommend shooting portraits outdoors, if possible, to look like natural family portraits, especially if the ceremony location is dark!
Time to Hide! 5:30-6:00 pm
After the wedding party and family portraits are complete, the couple will go into hiding so that early guests don’t sneak a peek!
Trust us. They’ll try!
Ceremony 6:00-6:30 pm
It’s time to get MARRIED!! This is what the day is all about!
Most ceremonies are thirty minutes long. If your ceremony is longer than thirty mins, we’ll adjust the timeline!
Cherish these moments! Your ceremony will pass by so quickly!
Reception Preparation 6:30-7:30 pm
While you are off enjoying your cocktail hour, we use this time to photograph your reception details and prepare our lighting for the party.
We can also use this time to capture any additional family photos that were missed.
A Few “Just Married” Portraits 7:00-7:15 pm
7:00 pm is the BEST time of day for portraits in the late spring, summer, and early fall!
This is when the sun is glowing and golden. We’d love to have a few extra minutes with you to take a few “Just Married” portraits!
Reception Begins 7:30 pm
It’s party time!
This is when the bridal party lines up for introductions, and the reception begins!
By this part of the day, our timeline isn’t as strict. We work off the natural light, so our portrait time is over after the sun is set. We will focus on the reception events. Dance off? Love it!
If you do want us to take you out for a nighttime photo, just let us know!
The Exit 11:30 pm
We include enough coverage so that we can be present for the reception’s main events and about an hour of dancing!
If you’re interested in having your exit photographed, there are several options for this! You can either add additional coverage or plan a faux exit with just your bridal party! We have had GREAT success with this, and the party never stops! Email us about this if you’re interested in learning more!
Recap of the Times for Each Piece of Your Wedding
DETAILS & PREP: 2 HOURS
FIRST LOOK & COUPLE PORTRAITS: 1 HOUR
PORTRAITS WITH BRIDAL PARTY: 30 MINS
FORMAL FAMILY PORTRAITS: 30 MINS
EXTRA PORTRAIT TIME: AS MUCH TIME AS YOU’LL GIVE US!
Final Thoughts on Your Timeline
One to two weeks before your wedding, we will connect via Zoom to discuss your wedding day photo timeline.
At this time, you should have your wedding details questionnaire completed. This will include your wedding details. These details will include locations, family members, special wedding day events, vendors, and much more.
This information will make sure we are all on the same page for an unforgettable and stress-free event! We hope this sample timeline has helped you to visualize your beautiful day!
