Wedding days can be quite busy (and stressful) so coming up with a realistic timeline that still meets all of the needs and wants of the couple is important. My wedding package includes 6 hours of coverage by me and my second shooter. Here is how I help my wedding couples plan out the best use of that time while still enjoying their day (which is the most important thing!)
Bride getting ready (approximately just under an hour needed):
- I normally need about 30-45 minutes to get shots of the bride before she puts on her wedding dress. If possible, I like to take photos of all of her accessories prior to her getting ready as well. These include her shoes, jewelry, veil, perfume bottle, wedding invitation, and any other special things she plans on wearing. Then I can focus on the bride and bridesmaids putting on the finishing touches of their make-up and hair. Finally, my focus is getting photos of the bride as her mother or bridesmaids help her into her wedding dress and zip/button/tie the back of her dress.
Groom getting ready (approximately 30 minutes needed, but is done at the same time as the bride photos):
- I normally assign my assistant to take photos of the groom and groomsmen as they finish up getting ready. If the boutonnieres are there, I ask my second shooter to get a shot of either a groomsman or the mother of the groom putting on the boutonniere. The men usually have alcohol in their room so getting a photo of all of them doing a CHEERS together is a fun photo. Since my 2nd shooter is taking care of the men, I can be getting shots of the bride at the same time so all getting ready images can be captured within an hour.
First Look or First Touch (approximately 30 minutes needed):
- First looks are done before the actual ceremony. It can take a lot of pressure off of the bride and groom to see one another privately before all eyes are on them during the ceremony. A first touch is done if you want to take time to talk to one another, but not actually see each other. This can be done around a building or door. If you decide to do a first look or first touch, I ask that you set aside 30 minutes for me and my second shooter to get you both set up, capture the moment, and then do some portraits of just the two of you alone.
- If the bride and groom decide to not do a first look, I try my best to get the groom’s reaction to seeing his bride walk down the aisle to him.
Bride and Groom portraits (approximately 30 minutes needed):
-
For bride and groom portraits, if the couple chooses to do a first look before their ceremony, we take several portraits following that. We can try to get a big chunk of the formal family portraits done after the first look as well. Later, depending on the time of sunset that day, I take my couple out for 10-20 minutes to get some more portraits in the beautiful, warm and glowing light. The sunset photos are usually taken after they have eaten dinner, but while their guests are still eating.
- If my couple chooses not to do a first look, we save the bulk of their bride and groom portraits after the ceremony is over. I definitely recommend to my couples who want lots of bride and groom portraits to do a first look to ensure there is plenty of time to get a large variety of shots.
Bridal party portraits (approximately 20-30 minutes):
- Bridal party portraits are dependent on whether or not my couple chooses to do a first look. For my couples that do a first look, I photograph the bridal party after we have finished the first look and taken some couple photos. Depending on the size of the bridal party, 20-ish minutes or so should be set aside for the bridal party photos.
- If my couples choose to not do a first look, I break up when I shoot the bridal party into 2 separate times. I shoot the groomsmen and groom and then the bride and bridesmaids separate before the ceremony and then shoot the full bridal party when we do the formal family photos after the ceremony.
Formal family portraits (approximately 20-30 minutes):
- Family portraits are also dependent on whether there is a first look or not. If there is a first look, I photograph family portraits following the first look / portraits and bridal party portraits. If there is not a first look, I photograph the family portraits immediately following the ceremony. Depending on the size of the family list given to me, it takes me between 20 – 30 minutes to photograph each combination. My second shooter helps get the family we need in each photo. Sometimes I will ask a bridesmaid to help with this as well since they usually know the family.
- This is probably the most stressful part of the day for the bride and groom. Getting extended family members lined up and listening is a bit like herding cats—ha! My second shooter and I will try to make this time of your day go as smoothly as possible. Having a detailed list given to me beforehand of family members that you want to include in your formal family portraits is extremely helpful!
Ceremony (this varies; it can take anywhere from 20-50 minutes):
- My second shooter and I will position ourselves as discreetly as possible to get different angles of the bridal party walking down the aisle and key moments of the ceremony.
Reception/toasts/cake cutting/dancing/grand exit (1-2 hours):
-
For the reception, I advise my couples who are not doing a grand exit to keep me 45 minutes to an hour into open floor dancing. It is best to plan to do first dances, toasts, cake cutting, garter/flower tosses and any other special event they may have planned before my end time. By doing this, I am able to capture all the special events at their reception and everyone having fun on the dance floor. For my couples that choose to do a grand exit that they want captured then I definitely suggest booking me a bit longer or having their start time a little later if they don’t want to pay for extra hours of coverage.
- There are only so many dancing photos that you will want to keep, so having me there for over an hour of dancing, can be a waste of your money.
Sample timeline for a 6 hour wedding day:
2pm = Photographers arrive to take detail shots and photos of the bride and groom each getting ready separately
2:45-3:15pm = First Look and bride/groom portraits
3:15-4pm = Full bridal party portraits and family formal portraits
4-4:30pm = “Hide the bride”. Photographers will take detail shots of the decor, candid photos of guests arriving, and set up for where to be during the ceremony.
4:30pm-5pm = Ceremony
5pm = Sign marriage license. Finish family formal photos, if needed. Candid photos of guests during cocktail hour.
5:45pm = Grand entrance and announcement of the new couple into reception. Go straight into first dance and any special dances with parents.
6pm = Dinner. Photographers eat while the bride and groom eat so that no major events are missed. If there is a good sunset, this is a good time to slip out for 10-15 minutes and take some bride/groom sunset photos.
7pm = Toasts/speeches. Cake cutting. Bouquet and/or garter toss, if doing one.
7:20pm = Get everyone on the dance floor for a big group photo and then ask your DJ to start open dancing with a well-known song while everyone is already on the floor.
7:45pm = If there is a grand exit, the photographers will photograph that at this time or extra time can be added for an extra fee.
8pm = Photography coverage ends.
