The Ultimate Wedding Photography Guide to Plan Your Wedding Timeline
Pop the champagne – you are getting married!
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for your whole life, it’s so surreal, yet definitely happening!
I’m sure you know the basic things like the ceremony time, dinner time and when your guests are leaving. But, as a wedding photographer, there are many other things to take into consideration – like how much time you need for details photos and how to plan those in advance. I’m sure you haven’t thought about any of these details and that’s exactly what I’m going to help you with today!
But, before you start, make sure you grab my free wedding timeline sample so you can have an example of how you should plan your timeline. I also help you with some indication of how much time you need for each session. Make sure you grab yours now!
Ready? Let’s start!
TYPICAL TIMELINE FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY COVERAGE
- Getting ready groom
- Getting ready bride
- First look (immediate family portraits can be planned here as well!)
- The arrival of the bride, father, groom and groomsmen
- Ceremony and vows
- Post ceremony, leaving the venue.
- Formal portraits, family and bridal party portraits.
- Cocktail hour with speeches
- Dinner
- Reception
- Cake-cutting
- Grand exit
Getting Ready: groom
When starting documenting your wedding day, I always start with the groom. The reason for this is that, usually, the groom has fewer details than the bride. So, it’s definitely convenient to start with the groom and photograph all of his details and getting ready process before I move on with the bride.
During the getting ready session of the groom, it’s a really good idea to have someone helping the groom. Usually, that’s the father of the groom, the brother(s), or best friends. Having your friends there, while having some drinks and just having a great time together while getting ready is the perfect recipe to get authentic photos!
Getting Ready: Bride
Ladies, get ready because the party is just getting started! Are you getting ready with your bridesmaids? Because, if you are, we’re about to turn up the room!
The best time to have your photographer arrive for your getting ready photos is when you’re about 80% ready with your hair and make-up. This will give your photographer sufficient time to start photographing your wedding details and some authentic moments in between.
The best thing to do the night before your wedding day is to prepare every detail that will be photographed, think about your wedding invitations, your accessories, the wedding shoes, the wedding rings etc. My best tip is to put all the small details in a box and have it in a corner of the room where you can easily pinpoint as soon as your photographer arrives.
Special moments in between
My favourite parts of the morning are those special family moments. I love having the bride and her mom, or grandma, having a moment together the morning of their wedding day. Whether is by helping the bride getting dressed or simply having a minute together This is always such a special moment to capture.
The first look
The first look is the moment during the wedding day when the bride and the groom, (bride/bride or groom/groom), will see each other for the first time before their wedding ceremony. This is such a special, and usually emotional moment, as the couple enjoy a private moment together on their wedding day.
My best advice if you’re planning to do a first look is to plan some time right after for bride and groom photos, bridal party photos and formal family photos. This way you will have the most important photos done before meeting with all of your guests. Trust me, things will get busy after your ceremony!
Batching bridal party photos, family photos and bride and groom photos right after the first, will give you the freedom to enjoy the cocktail hour with your family and friends after your wedding ceremony.
The wedding ceremony
My best tips during the wedding ceremony is to enjoy every second of it: take your time while walking down the aisle, smile with your family and friends as your parents are taking your to the love of your life, enjoy the moment as you’re walking toward the person that you will be spending the rest of your life with. This, my friend, is what you’ve been waiting for your whole life – it’s your wedding ceremony!
As you’re putting the wedding rings, make sure you don’t cover the ring with your finger. Take your time, look into each other’s eye and speak out loud when you’re saying your vows! Next, feel free to hold the first kiss as looooooong as you want! This will give your photographer and videographer enough time to get that perfect shot for you!
Lastly, when walking down the aisle as a married couple, feel free to wave at your guests, look into your partner’s eye and give one last kiss on the aisle! I love these shots as the couple is walking down the aisle for the first time as a married couple.
Read more: 4 Ways to Encourage Your Guests to Put Down Their Phones During Your Ceremony.
Cocktail hour
After your ceremony, you don’t have too much to worry about regarding your photography. During the cocktail hour, which includes the cutting of the cake, speeches and toast, are the moments that will be documented authentically. Depending on the time of the year, sometimes the golden hour can happen during this time. This is the gold light right before sunset time and it’s the best light to take some really cool photos.
Dinner and reception
After the cocktail hour, is time for dinner and (maybe) some speeches in-between. During this time your photographer won’t be taking photos of people eating, so this is the perfect time for your photographer and videographer team to have dinner as well. After dinner, is time to dance the night along. This is your party, dance, take photos, jump, scream and enjoy every single moment of it!
Read more: How Many Hours Do You Need a Wedding Photographer?
