Having a timeline for your wedding day is really important because even though things change slightly on the actual day, it helps everyone involved know what to expect. As your photographer, I’m here to help with your timeline and working out the best time for each part of your day. Each couple and wedding is different so it’s important to have a timeline specifically for you. If you’re hiring a wedding planner they’ll help plan out your timeline for you, but if you don’t have a planner or want suggestions on good timing for photos, I’m here to help!

Before creating your timeline it’s helpful to think about these questions… Do you want getting ready photos? Do you have cute getting ready outfits for your bridal party that you want pictures with? Are the guys and girls getting ready in the same location? Are you doing a first look? Are your ceremony and reception at the same location? How big is your family and what groups do you want for family photos? Are sunset/golden hour photos important to you? Is your ceremony and/or reception outside?

Once you have an idea of the main parts and details of your wedding day, it makes the timeline easier. I would suggest putting some buffer time before the ceremony and before the reception. In general, here are the time frames for the parts of a wedding day:

• Getting ready: 1 hour

  • This gives time to get photos of the end of you and your girls getting makeup, hair, and dresses on. This also gives time for details photos with your invitations, dress, jewelry, shoes, etc.

• First look and couples portraits: 1 hour

  • This gives time for your first look and some portrait photos of just the two of you.

• Bridal party photos: 30 minutes

  • This gives time for some bridal party photos as a group and individually (bride with bridesmaids and groom with groomsmen)

• Buffer time: 15-30 minutes

• Ceremony: 45 minutes

  • This usually covers guests sitting down, grandparents and parents being seated, bridal party walking down, bride walking down the aisle, and the full ceremony.

• Cocktail hour/family photos: 1 hour

  • This gives time for your guests to enjoy themselves before the reception while you get photos with your families and complete any other photos

• Buffer time: 15-30 minutes

• Reception: 3-4 hours

  • This should cover the entrances, speeches, first dances, cake cutting, bride and groom sunset photos, dancing, and exit.

A few more important things to consider are having a back up plan if it rains and a communication plan for everyone in the wedding party, especially if there’s transportation during the day.

I hope these tips help and if you have any questions you can reach out to me at anytime!

HAPPY PLANNING!