ESTABLISHING YOUR WEDDING TIMELINE

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELVES:

WILL WE SEE EACH OTHER BEFORE THE CEREMONY?

If you'll be seeing each other prior to the ceremony, we'll most likely be doing all photos prior to the ceremony as well. If you're waiting to see each other until after the ceremony, we'll split photos up and do the bridal party photos, groomsmen photos, and any individual family photos before the ceremony. After the ceremony we'll shoot the whole family, wedding party, and the two of you.

If you're having a fall, winter, or early spring wedding and are planning to see each other after the ceremony, you'll want to make sure you know what time sunset is and make sure there is daylight for at least 2 hours after the ceremony is complete to capture photos. If you're really wanting to wait until the ceremony to see each other but it's already feeling overwhelming to you, please reach out! I can help you plan a ceremony time that will work with a photo schedule.

what moments are most important to me?

This is especially important if you have a shorter timeframe to work with. Getting ready, dances, speeches, golden hour, cake cutting, and guests hitting the dance floor are all examples of important moments for couples. Determine what's the most important to you and prioritize those into your timeline. If you're feeling too strapped for time, we can always add additional hours.

how do i want my day to look?

This is your day. If you don't want to spend a majority of it posing for photos, you don't have to. Don't like taking a lot of photos? Skip golden hour, cut family photos way down, and minimize wedding party photos.

The only thing I don't recommend skipping is your portraits. Realistically, it's the most alone time you'll get together all day and these are the photos you'll most likely look at and reminisce on the most. That being said, it's still your day and we can document it the way you want.

On the flip side, if you guys do enjoy taking photos together and want that to be a big part of your day, let's do it! I'm here to tell your story and bring your vision to life.

who do i want photos with?

It's so important to think about this before your wedding day, especially when it comes to family photos. These are my typical family photos for couples without a shot list (provided everyone listed below is present):

bride, groom, bride's immediate family (parents + siblings)
bride, groom, bride's parents
bride, bride's parents
bride, bride's mom
bride, bride's dad
bride, groom, groom's immediate family (parents + siblings)
bride, groom, groom's parents
groom, groom's parents
groom, groom's dad
groom, groom's mom
bride, groom, bride's maternal grandparents
bride, groom, bride's paternal grandparents
bride groom, groom's maternal grandparents
bride, groom, groom's paternal grandparents

Remember, this is your day so we can modify this list however you'd prefer.

questions to ask your vendors:

for the venue: can we set up the day before the wedding?

If you can't set up the day before (which is becoming more popular as weddings are booking on weekdays as well), who will be setting up the day of? Will you need to supervise? How long will this take you?

for your hair and makeup team: how many people will be providing services on the day of and approximately how long will it take to do hair and makeup on each person?

It's important to understand how long getting ready will actually take.

for your officiant: how long will the ceremony be?

This is especially important if you're planning to have photos taken after the ceremony.

for your videographer: how long do you typically like to take for portraits, family photos, and wedding party photos?

It's important to me that we value both my time and expertise and your videographer's time and expertise. If you're working with a videographer, I'd love to connect with them to help make things easier on you! Please pass along their information and I'd be happy to connect with them to help plan how we'll collaborate on your day!

BUILDING YOUR TIMELINE

sample TIMELINES from real weddings:

11 hours of wedding coverage, summer wedding, first look:

7-10: Bride and bridesmaids start getting ready at bride's house

10-11: Photographer arrives (10am), captures final touches of bride and groom getting ready and bride getting dress on, bridal party heads to venue

11-11:15: First look with bride and bride's son

11:15-12:15: Bride and groom first look, portraits

12:15-1:15: Wedding party photos

1-1:15: Bride's first look with dad

1:15-2: Family photos

2:30 Guests start arriving at venue

3-3:30- Ceremony

3:30-5: Cocktail hour

5-6: Dinner, speeches

6-8: Dances, dance floor opens to guests

8-8:30: Golden hour photos

8:30-9: Reception shots, photographer leaves (9pm)

10:15: Last call

10:45: Final song

11: Reception ends, everyone out

12 hours of wedding coverage, fall wedding, separate ceremony location, no first look:

8-9: Bridal party arrives at reception venue, hair starts

9-10: Makeup starts

10-11: Photographer and videographer arrive (10am) starts capturing getting ready shots, groom and groomsmen arrive

11-12: Getting ready final touches, groom + groomsmen photos, groom + family photos

12-1: Bride and bridesmaid photos, bride and family photos

1-2: Guests arrive at ceremony location, wedding party heads to ceremony location

2-3: Ceremony and receiving line

3-4: Family and wedding party photos

4-5: Bride and groom portrats

5-6: Cocktail hour, wedding party arrives at reception venue

6-7: Dinner, speeches

7-8: Dances, dance floor opens up to guests

8-9: Bride and groom cut cake, release lanterns for loved ones who've passed

9-10: Reception, dancing, drinking, etc. Photographer and videographer leave (10pm)

10-12 Reception ends at midnight

5 hours of coverage, winter wedding, first look:

1-2: Photographer arrives (1pm), first look with bride and groom, bride and groom portraits

2-3: Wedding party photos

3-4: Family photos

4-4:30: Guests arrive

4:30-5: Ceremony

5-6: Soup buffet, first dance, photographer leaves (6pm)