Wedding Timeline Suggestions
First things first… I can’t recommend getting a wedding planner enough. It makes your wedding day run so smoothly and the planners I work with are truly some of the most talented, kind people I know! But I get it… wedding budgets are limited and a planner isn’t always a priority. If that’s you, no worries! I’ve got a few timeline suggestions for your big day to help it be as easy and lovely as possible.
There are several options below - all of them can be modified based on the time of the ceremony, any travel time between venues if needed, and more. They’re really just the rough templates that I use for every single wedding day to make sure we make everything run smoothly!
You’ll also notice that some things (like the bride + bridesmaid portraits) may not actually take us 30 minutes… but after years of doing weddings and knowing that hair/makeup can get behind, especially on big bridal parties, I’d rather have a buffer built in than make everyone stressed out on their wedding day. Fun fact - that’s also why I love to take photos of the guys first. It’s usually a lot faster for them to throw on their suits than it is for the bridesmaids to all get dressed and make final hair/makeup changes.
6-hour-day
with no first look
3:30pm // photographers arrive, start photographing details
4:00pm // bride gets dressed
4:15pm // groom portraits + photos with groomsmen
4:30pm // bridal portraits + photos with bridesmaids
5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready
6:00pm // ceremony begins
6:30pm // family photos begin, bridal party stays close for a few photos at the end
7:00pm // bride + groom photos begin
7:30pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin
8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!
9:30pm // exit (can be staged if you want to stay and party more with your friends but let family leave!)
with first look
3:30pm // photographers arrive, start photographing details
4:00pm // bride gets dressed
4:15pm // first look, bridal portraits, several portraits of the couple
4:30pm // bridal party joins in for portraits
5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready
6:00pm // ceremony begins
6:30pm // family photos begin
6:45pm // bride + groom photos begin
7:15pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin
8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!
9:30pm // exit (can be staged if you want to stay and party more with your friends but let family leave!)
8-hour-day
with no first look
2:00pm // photographers arrive, start photographing details + “getting ready” shots of everyone
3:00pm // bride gets dressed
3:15pm // groom portraits + photos with groomsmen
3:30pm // bridal portraits + photos with bridesmaids
4:00pm // bride + immediate family
4:15pm // groom + immediate family
5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready
6:00pm // ceremony begins
6:30pm // family photos begin, bridal party stays close for a few photos at the end
7:00pm // bride + groom photos begin
7:30pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin
8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!
10:00pm // exit
with first look
2:00pm // photographers arrive, start photographing details + “getting ready” shots of everyone
3:00pm // bride gets dressed
3:15pm // first look, bridal portraits, several portraits of the couple
3:30pm // bridal party joins in for portraits
4:00pm // immediate family portraits (saves us a ton of time post-ceremony!)
5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready
6:00pm // ceremony begins
6:30pm // family photos begin
6:45pm // bride + groom photos begin
7:15pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin
8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!
10:00pm // exit
10-hour-day
with no first look
12:30pm // photographers arrive, start photographing “getting ready” shots of everyone
1:30pm // photographers capture venue shots + details, planning out spots for portraits
3:00pm // bride gets dressed
3:15pm // groom portraits + photos with groomsmen
3:30pm // bridal portraits + photos with bridesmaids
4:00pm // bride + immediate family
4:15pm // groom + immediate family
5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready
6:00pm // ceremony begins
6:30pm // family photos begin, bridal party stays close for a few photos at the end
7:00pm // bride + groom photos begin
7:30pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin
8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!
10:30pm // exit
with first look
12:30pm // photographers arrive, start photographing “getting ready” shots of everyone
1:30pm // photographers capture venue shots + details, planning out spots for portraits
3:00pm // bride gets dressed
3:15pm // first look, bridal portraits, several portraits of the couple
3:30pm // bridal party joins in for portraits
4:00pm // immediate family portraits (saves us a ton of time post-ceremony!)
5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready
6:00pm // ceremony begins
6:30pm // family photos begin
6:45pm // bride + groom photos begin
7:15pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin
8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!
10:30pm // exit