Planning Your Wedding Day Timeline

SO...you've reached the point in wedding planning where you need to figure out your wedding day timeline. BUT how are you supposed to know how much time everything is going to take when you’ve never done this before?!?!

Don't stress! As someone who has now experienced dozens of weddings, I’m here to tell you what an optimal timeline looks like so you can relax and enjoy the big day without worrying about adhering to time constraints.

Take a look at a sample wedding day timeline that I've crafted below!

1:30 – *photographer arrives* dress and details photographed (rings, invites, flowers, shoes, perfume, etc.)

2:15 – 3:00 – getting ready photos of bride and groom begin

3:05 – first look with bridesmaids and/or dad

3:25 – first look for bride + groom (optional private vow exchange)

3:30 – bride + groom photos

4:00 - wedding party photos

4:30 optional family photos pre-ceremony

5:10 – break to tuck bride away and refresh

5:30 – ceremony

6:00 - cocktail hour/ additional family photos couples portraits or wedding party if not done prior to ceremony

7:00 – grand entrance into reception + first dance + bride/father + groom/mother dance

7:10 welcome speech

7:30 – dinner

8:00 – toasts (after all entrees have been served)

8:30 – dancing and reception events

9:30 – bride + groom grand exit (optional) could be a faux exit

Note this is just one sample of an 8 hour wedding day timeline and each timeline will vary. If getting ready photos aren't as important to you, than you can scale back and have coverage start closer to the ceremony time or maybe you want the entire day documented from getting ready all the way to the amazing exit you have planned of a sparkler exit and a decked out getaway car. Or you may want more time to account for the ceremony and reception being at separate locations or if you want to ensure you have a leisurely day with wiggle room for whatever may occur.

When given multiple options and dealing with a wedding budget, it may be tempting to choose the cheapest option and without having experienced the wedding day experience before, many brides and grooms believe that 6 hours will be enough for a wedding day. However, if you want to get pictures of you getting ready AND dancing/exit pictures AND not feel stressed out, 8 to 10 hours tends to be the sweet spot for photography coverage. Additionally, if you don't have a wedding coordinator or event planner helping to keep things on track, you will 10000000% want to overcompensate on your coverage time rather than under-compensate.

(I highly recommend having a day-of coordinator at a minimum so that this stress does not impact your mood and experience on such an important day in your life!)

Ready to lock down your wedding day photographer? Let's chat!