Every wedding is different, and every couple’s priorities are different. Use this post as a rough reference; It’s merely a starting point that I recommend when building your wedding timeline.

Some times may change depending on how important those types of photos are to you. We want to ensure no one feels rushed so that the stress levels are kept low and we’re able to deliver a gallery that perfectly aligns with your vision.

If a timeframe seems a bit too long just keep in mind that

a) a wedding day usually runs behind schedule.

b) the day will fly by.

c) I do my best to make each segment fun so it doesn’t seem long at all.

Details (rings, shoes, dress/outfits, jewelry, invitation, etc) - 30 minutes

This is one of, if not THE, first thing I’ll photograph on your wedding day. It’s super helpful if you’re able to gather the details beforehand and have them all in one place upon my arrival. This includes things like the rings, shoes, dress, invitations, bouquet, perfume/cologne, accessories, etc.

Sometimes we need to take the dress into a lobby area or even outside if a bridal suite is too crowded. Don’t worry. I’m extra careful when this needs to be done, and the results are totally worth it.

Preparation - 60 minutes

Some of the best candid moments happen during preparation. True, it may not take an entire hour to get dressed, but there are still tons of moments to photograph that will help us tell your story.

If I bring along a second shooter, typically we’ll each stay with one partner throughout this duration. If it’s just me, I’ll do my best to switch back and forth

First Look - 45-60 minutes

A first look can be the perfect way to see your partner for the first time on your big day. It helps relieve the jitters you’ll have leading up to the ceremony, and the intimate photographs captured during this time are always some of the most cherished.

I like to reserve 45-60 minutes for this section of photographs so that we can get the first look and some additional portraits while the two of you are together. If you choose not to do a first look, I highly recommend fitting in another 45-60 minutes later in the day so that we get plenty of photos of just the two of you.

Wedding Party Portraits 45-60 minutes

These photos are a blend of classic, traditional wedding party photos as well as some fun ideas that I’ll suggest. A lot of times, your party will have fun suggestions too! We’ll discuss this beforehand, but I typically take a photo of you with each individual member of your respective parties as well.

Family Formals - 45-60 minutes

The time needed for family formals will vary depending on the size of your shot list. This is another item we’ll discuss beforehand, and we’ll build a comprehensive list together that we’ll use during this time. This will ensure we use our time wisely and get through each grouping efficiently.

Plan for ~3 minutes per grouping, so if there are 10 groupings on your shot list, we’ll plan for 30 minutes to take those photos. These are usually taken at the ceremony site following the ceremony.

Couples Session/Sunset Portraits - 60 minutes

This is usually a couples’ favorite section of images, both in the experience and the resulting images.

I highly recommend setting aside one hour for your couples session and to time it about 30-45 minutes before sunset. This is when we’ll experience the best lighting of the day.

If you booked your venue because of the scenic views, this is when we get to really show it off. If your venue is in more of an urban, downtown setting, timing isn’t as vital, but still important.

Reception - 30 minutes

Details/Venue - This is another spot where having a second shooter comes in handy. Please allow 20-30 minutes for the second shooter to photograph the reception venue and details with no guests or vendors in the area. I know how much time goes into planning and putting these things together, so we want to make sure we get great images.

Nighttime Portraits - 15-20 minutes.

I definitely understand the desire to be great hosts to your guests on your wedding day. This is why I keep the nighttime portrait session short and sweet. We only need about 15-20 minutes to get some great, creative nighttime shots.

There are a few points during the reception that work best for this quick sneak away: shortly after you eat dinner, during open-floor dancing when you need a little break, or at the end of your wedding when your guests have left.

Consider: Table shots. This is the time when you go around to different tables at the reception to greet/mingle with your guests. We’ll discuss this beforehand, but there are two approaches that we can take during this time. You can take a formal picture with each table where we intentionally ask everyone to look at the camera while we capture the photograph.

Alternatively, I can simply focus on the journalistic approach, meaning I just photograph the candid smiles and hugs as they happen naturally.

If you choose formal shots, keep in mind these may take between 3-5 minutes, so 20 tables could take 60-100 minutes and so on.

Your wedding day timeline is just the beginning when it comes to useful tips and advice that I can provide to you given my experience with the many couples I’ve photographed. I’d love to discuss what I can do for you when it comes to photography and videography. Click that button below to get things rolling.