Sample Wedding Day TimeLine!
Will You Be Doing a First Look?
Yes
No
Getting Ready with The Girls!
The photographer arrives and starts taking getting ready photos with the ladies. Tips – have the wedding dress and all the accessories (earrings, necklaces, veil, etc.) prepared for the photographer. If you are making a Champaign toast with your girls, make sure to source the Champaign glasses early.
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
11:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Boys Getting Ready Shots
Generally, I will start getting ready shots with the ladies. Once the ladies are ready to get into their dress, I will go to the groom’s room and get getting ready photos. Tips – have the groom’s suit and accessories (pocket squares, boutonnieres, bowtie, socks, etc.) ready for the photographer. If possible, get a suite, especially if you have a big groom’s party. The groom’s room tends to get cluttered and messy during the getting ready process. Try to minimize the messiness.
1:20 – 1:50 p.m.
Couple’s Photo Session
This follows the first look and is an excellent opportunity to get some genuine portraits of both of you as a couple. Tips – don’t focus on posing and your looks ( I promise you will be drop-dead gorgeous). Instead, focus on being in the moment. Let your guards down and be authentically you. My goal in the couple’s session is to capture the love expressed for each other.
2:30 – 2:50 p.m.
Family’s Photo Session
If possible, it is a good idea to get the family photos out of the way right after your wedding party’s session. This way, you can go to the cocktail hour right after your ceremony. Tip – be sure to let your family members know what time and where they need to be for photos.
3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
The Ceremony
Time to get married! Tips – when you are walking down the aisle, keep your head up so that I can get shots of you looking down the aisle at your partner and not on the floor. When you are at the altar, try to stand facing each other so that your guests are not looking at your backs. When exchanging rings, try to slow down the process and allow your guests to see the process. Hold the first kiss a little longer than usual to give the photographer time to get a couple shots.
4:30 – 4:50 p.m.
Family’s Photo Session
If you didn’t do a family photo session before the ceremony, you would do it after signing the marriage license. Tips – think of where you would like to have your family photos taken before the wedding day. Designate someone who knows the family well to organize and direct the family members where they need to be for the pictures.
4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Cocktail Hour
This is a pre-reception event. Think of it as a formal happy hour – it allows your guests to have a drink and a bite as they catch up and socialize before the reception starts. Tips – take a few minutes to meet and socialize with your guests during the cocktail hour. Also, don’t forget to eat something!
5:45 p.m.
Grand Entrance
The grand entrance is the start of the reception. Your DJ or MC will announce the bridal party as they enter the reception space. Your MC will ask your guests to stand as they introduced you for the first time as Mr. Mrs. Tips – the way you enter your reception spaces is all up to you. There is no right or wrong way to do your grand entrance. I have seen everything from sparkled grand entrance to no grand entrance. Whatever you do, just make sure it is uniquely you and have fun.
7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Golden Hour Portraits
Golden hour is the time of evening when the lighting is gorgeous and makes for creating beautiful portraits. This is not always possible due to the weather, timing, and location of your wedding. Tip – confirm with your photographer the time for the golden hour photo session and make sure you include it into your wedding day timeline.
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Dinner & Toast
During dinner, I will take a break and get something to eat. I also use this time to download and back up photos. Toasts are usually given towards the end of dinner, and I will be ready by then to capture all the toasts. Tips – to keep things moving, consider selecting the people you want to give toast rather than having an open mic toast where anyone can come up and give a toast. Also, think about setting some timeline for speaking.
8:00 p.m.
Cutting the Cake
Time for some dessert! Cutting of the wedding cake is a long-standing wedding tradition symbolizing fertility and prosperity. Tips – ensure that the cake is placed in a location with enough lighting for photography. There should be adequate space around the cake to allow both of you to stand comfortably while cutting the cake. When cutting the cake, consider standing to one side so that your guests can see you cutting the cake and feed the first slice to each other.
8:20 p.m.
Bouquet & Garter Toss
Another long standing tradition. For the bouquet toss, the bride tosses her bouquet to a group of single ladies, and whoever catches the bouquet is said to be the next person to get married. The garter toss is similar to the bouquet toss, except that it is for single men. Also, the groom must first remove the garter from the bride’s leg. Tip – feel free to replace the bouquet and garter toss with another event such as the shoe game.
9:00 p.m.
Photo Coverage Ends!
I always find the couple and ask them if they need any other photos before I break down my gear. I then thank them and tell them what to expect next. Tips – don’t push your important events to the last minute. Make sure that your wedding timeline is built with a little cushion between each event.
Getting Ready with The Girls!
The photographer arrives and starts taking getting ready photos with the ladies. Tips – have the wedding dress and all the accessories (earrings, necklaces, veil, etc.) prepared for the photographer. If you are making a Champaign toast with your girls, make sure to source the Champaign glasses early.
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
1:40 – 2:10 p.m.
Boys Getting Ready Shots
Generally, I will start getting ready shots with the ladies. Once the ladies are ready to get into their dress, I will go to the groom’s room and get getting ready photos. Tips – have the groom’s suit and accessories (pocket squares, boutonnieres, bowtie, socks, etc.) ready for the photographer. If possible, get a suite, especially if you have a big groom’s party. The groom’s room tends to get cluttered and messy during the getting ready process. Try to minimize the messiness.
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
The Ceremony
Time to get married! Tips – when you are walking down the aisle, keep your head up so that I can get shots of you looking down the aisle at your partner and not on the floor. When you are at the altar, try to stand facing each other so that your guests are not looking at your backs. When exchanging rings, try to slow down the process and allow your guests to see the process. Hold the first kiss a little longer than usual to give the photographer time to get a couple shots.
4:30 – 4:50 p.m.
Family’s Photo Session
If possible, it is a good idea to get the family photos out of the way right after your wedding party’s session. This way, you can go to the cocktail hour right after your ceremony. Tip – be sure to let your family members know what time and where they need to be for photos.
5:30 – 6:15 p.m
Newlywed’s Photo Session
The newlywed photo session is an opportunity to get some genuine portraits of both of you as a couple. Tips – don’t focus on posing and your looks ( I promise you will be drop-dead gorgeous). Instead, focus on being in the moment. Let your guards down and be authentically you. My goal in the couple’s session is to capture the love expressed for each other.
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Cocktail Hour
This is a pre-reception event. Think of it as a formal happy hour – it allows your guests to have a drink and a bite as they catch up and socialize before the reception starts. Tips – if cocktail hour photos are essential to you, hire a second photographer. Because your photographer will be busy with newlywed photos.
7:00 p.m.
Grand Entrance
The grand entrance is the start of the reception. Your DJ or MC will announce the bridal party as they enter the reception space. Your MC will ask your guests to stand as they introduced you for the first time as Mr. Mrs. Tips – the way you enter your reception spaces is all up to you. There is no right or wrong way to do your grand entrance. I have seen everything from sparkled grand entrance to no grand entrance. Whatever you do, just make sure it is uniquely you and have fun.
7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Dinner & Toast
During dinner, I will take a break and get something to eat. I also use this time to download and back up photos. Toasts are usually given towards the end of dinner, and I will be ready by then to capture all the toasts. Tips – to keep things moving, consider selecting the people you want to give toast rather than having an open mic toast where anyone can come up and give a toast. Also, think about setting some timeline for speaking.
8:45 p.m.
Cutting the Cake
Time for some dessert! Cutting of the wedding cake is a long-standing wedding tradition symbolizing fertility and prosperity. Tips – ensure that the cake is placed in a location with enough lighting for photography. There should be adequate space around the cake to allow both of you to stand comfortably while cutting the cake. When cutting the cake, consider standing to one side so that your guests can see you cutting the cake and feed the first slice to each other.
9:00 p.m.
Bouquet & Garter Toss
Another long-standing tradition. For the bouquet toss, the bride tosses her bouquet to a group of single ladies, and whoever catches the bouquet is said to be the next person to get married. The garter toss is similar to the bouquet toss, except that it is for single men. Also, the groom must first remove the garter from the bride’s leg. Tip – feel free to replace the bouquet and garter toss with another event such as the shoe game.
11:00 p.m.
Photography Coverage Ends
I always find the couple and ask them if they need any other photos before breaking down my gear. I then thank them and tell them what to expect next. Tips – don’t push your important events to the last minute. Make sure that your wedding timeline is built with a little cushion between each event.
Steps to Beautiful, Intimate & Elegant Wedding Photos
1. Schedule Phone Call
In this phone call, I will get to know you and what is most important for your wedding photos, so I can build a custom package with everything you need!
2. Get Inspired
With your wedding date booked, I will send you a personalized Gift Box with a beautiful welcome magazine for additional inspiration, plus many tips for engagement sessions, wedding day prep, must-have photos, common photo mistakes, post-wedding info, and more.
3. Wedding Day Prep
We will connect 45 days before your wedding day, so I can get dialed in on all the finalized details and have a totally clear picture of how your wedding day will unfold. I will help you feel confident that nothing will be missed, and I will be by your side every moment of your big day.
4. WEDDING Day & After
On your wedding day, I will be right there with you guiding you and creating unique and gorgeous pictures for a lifetime of joy. 4 - 6 weeks after your wedding, grab some popcorn and your favorite beverage, and get ready to see your stunning photos for the first time!
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