A Perfect Timeline for a Perfect Wedding
The most important key to your wedding is not the best cake, or perfect venue, but actually a well planned out timeline. Talking to a lot of brides, we have noticed that most people typically have the most trouble with planning out a timeline that fits the their schedule but also allow enough extra time in case things get delayed.
Planning a wedding for the first time can be extremely stressful, and without a smooth timeline, the day gets hectic and stressful real fast. As your wedding photography team, we want to share with you our experience and advice for the perfect timeline for your big day!
The wedding day will be like most events: the more planning we do ahead of time, the smoother it will run! The general rule is the ceremony will last around 30 minutes to an hour, receptions range from 3-5 hours, and family photos take anywhere from 1-2 hours.
If you want getting ready shots and having a photographer till first dance, you should aim to book your photographer for around 7+ hours. If you only want ceremony, reception and family portraits, you would only need 5-7 hours.
Let’s walk through a sample timeline with a start time of 3pm!
1:00 PM | Get Ready!
This is one of our favorites that often get overlooked. The get ready phase is when the photographer captures the behind the scenes of the bride and groom separately. These are the moments before the first look where both parties are getting ready with their groomsmen and bridesmaids. We also recommend having some time for this because of the raw emotions and excitement, and is where the storytelling begins. This is also the perfect time to get some photos with your furry friends!
2:00 PM | Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Photos
Having extra time mean you get more time to take photos with your bridesmaids/groomsmen! These photos are perfect for capturing the moment and leaving beautiful memories to look back to with your bridal party!
2:10 PM | Guests Trickle In
We recommend your guests arrive 30 min to an hour before the ceremony starts. This gives ample time in case there are delays. Most weddings tend to run late, so having this buffer time will help alleviate stress.
2:30 PM | First Look
The first look is an amazing moment to document! This would be the first time your partner will see you! We prefer keeping this moment intimate and away from the crowds. This would also be the perfect opportunity to catch beautiful and intimate shots of you and your partner. This location should be a pre-scouted location near the venue.
3:00 PM | Ceremony
The ceremony generally take around 30 minutes to an hour. We recommend setting aside at least 30 minutes. If your ceremony is in an outdoor location, we recommend having a backup indoor location, in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.
3:30 PM | Cocktail Hour, Family, and Guest Photos
Cocktail hour takes place right after the ceremony. It will let you relax a little after you finally getting married, and lets your guests socialize with one another and grab some food to eat! This gives you time to change into a reception dress if you have one. Cocktail hour also gives you time to take some photos with different groups of family members and guests.
5:00 PM | Grand Entrance
The reception starts off with the grand entrance, revealing your family, bridal party, and most importantly you to your guests after tying the knot! The grand entrance is one of the best times for the photographer to capture the environment and excitement!
5:15 PM | First Dance
Kick off the start of your reception with your first dance! Having your first dance right away is great because the grand entrance creates such an energy with everyone in the room, and then that energy is carried on throughout the first dance.
5:30 PM | Dinner
Time to enjoy the food and relax!
6:00 PM | Speeches and Games
Dinner is a good time to start your speeches and games. To keep your guests focused on the people and not the good, try setting up a speech/game in between every course of your dinner!
7:30 PM | Sunset Photos
Take some time during dinner and sneak off for some quick sunset photos! Golden hour will be the time to get the best photos. The ideal time for sunset photos will be about 30 min before sunset.
7:45 PM | Cake Cutting
Cake cutting is normally placed around 2 hours after the start of dinner. This gives ample time for guests to enjoy their dinner. It’s also super cute to get some shots of you and your partner feeding each other the wedding cake!
8:00 PM | Toasts
Head over to each table, to thank your guests for attending and have a drink with them! Remember to let your guests know not to drink and drive!
8:15 PM | Bouquet/Garter Toss
This tradition has been present for hundreds of years, and is a great way to get a bunch of your guests onto the floor and having some fun!
8:30 PM | Open Dancing
Open the dance floor for you and your guests, and have some fun!
10:00 PM | Grand Exit
The grand exit signifies the end of the day, and lets everyone come together and give their goodbyes in an exciting way! Common exits are to do sparklers, smoke bombs, and confetti!
