Each wedding is unique, especially with the rich variety of cultural elements that may shape your celebration. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all timeline for wedding photography, there are general timeframes and considerations that can help you plan a smooth and stress-free day. Some of these suggested timeframes might seem long, and some of the items listed below might not apply to your wedding. No matter the circumstances we will work with you and your wedding coordinator to tailor the timeline to suit your needs and ensure that your photography experience is seamless and unforgettable.

Pre-Ceremony Preparation: Rings, Dress and Other Details

• Ideal Time: 30-45 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: Morning
• Ideal Location: Bridal suite or hotel suite

A dedicated 30-45 minutes is all we need to capture your important detail shots, such as your wedding dress, rings, shoes and bouquets. If the hotel room is crowded or cluttered—and they usually are—or if the room doesn’t offer the best backdrop, we may take the dress to the lobby or even outside, which can take a little extra time.

Pre-Ceremony Preparation: Hair, Makeup and Final Finishing Touches

• Ideal Time: 30-60 minutes (depending on size of wedding party)
• Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Early Afternoon
• Ideal Location: Bridal suite or hotel suite

Depending on the size of your wedding party, an hour is generally sufficient for capturing both close-ups (like makeup application) and candid moments with your bridal party. These moments are often full of emotion and excitement and you definitely don’t want to rush them. The lead shooter will focus on the bride while the second shooter captures the groom’s preparations. If you’ve only hired a single shooter, groomsmen preparation and candids typically require an additional 30 minutes of photography time.

Individual Portraits

• Ideal Time: 30 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Early Afternoon
• Ideal Location: Bridal Suite, hotel suite, venue lobby, or nearby outdoor location

The perfect time for individual portraits of the bride and groom is immediately after bridal party preparation is is complete. Hair and makeup will be fresh and the day will still be calm, giving us time to capture those perfect moments without any stress. Additionally, natural window lighting in hotel rooms often offers a unique and flattering effect that we can’t recreate later in the day.

First Look and Daytime Couples Session

• Ideal Time: 45-60 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Early Afternoon
• Ideal Location: Any nearby location with ample shaded, natural light

A first look typically lasts about 15-30 minutes, depending on the location and how long it takes to get the principals in place. One the first look is complete we can move right into a more intimate couples portrait session, which typically requires about 20-30 minutes. Although we usually like to reserve some time after the ceremony for couples portraits—especially if the ceremony is late in the afternoon and closer to sunset—it’s always a good idea to reserve a little time after the first look for some portraits. This not only adds some variety to your album, but also ensures that we create some beautiful portraits before things get too hectic.

Wedding Party Photos

• Ideal Time: 45-60 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Afternoon
• Ideal Location: Venue lobby or nearby outdoor location

Plan for 45-60 minutes to capture wedding party photos. We’ll start with classic group shots, ensuring everyone looks their best, then move into more creative and fun poses, as well as some interesting “un-posed” shots. We’ll also take time for individual shots with each of your bridesmaids and groomsmen, to ensure everyone gets their moment!

Immediate Family Photos

• Ideal Time: 30-45 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Afternoon
• Ideal Location: Venue lobby, nearby outdoor location, off-site location (time permitting)

Set aside around 30-45 minutes for immediate family photos. These are some of the most important images of the day, so we’ll ensure we capture everyone—parents, grandparents, siblings, and anyone else who is important to your family. We typically allocate about 3-4 minutes per group for a quick and efficient photo session. To keep things moving efficiently, we recommend having a list of groupings ready, with a couple of helpers from each side to round up family and friends.

Ceremony Details and Venue Shots

• Ideal Time: 30 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Afternoon
• Ideal Location: Ceremony site

We always like to capture details of the ceremony site before any guests arrive (provided that the site is fully prepared). This gives us the opportunity to photograph the space in its full glory, without distractions from guests or other vendors.

Formal Portraits (Extended Family, Immediate Family, and Friends)

• Ideal Time: 45-60 minutes (Depending on the group size)
• Ideal Time of Day: Afternoon (Post-Ceremony)
• Ideal Location: Ceremony site

Family and formal group shots typically take 45-60 minutes, depending on the number of people. Aim for about 3-4 minutes per group. To keep things moving efficiently, we recommend having a list of groupings ready, with a couple of helpers from each side to round up family and friends.

Couples Session (Golden Hour)

• Ideal Time: 30-45 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: Late Afternoon (Sunset)
• Ideal Location: Venue garden, beach, other suitable outdoor location (time permitting)

We recommend setting aside 30-45 minutes (depending on the location) for a couples session, ideally 30-45 minutes before sunset. This is when the lighting is soft and flattering and the sky’s colors create a magical atmosphere. If your venue is in a city, surrounded by tall buildings or other structures, or is in a location where the sunset is otherwise obscured, the timing isn’t as critical. However for stunning scenic shots, such as at the beach or in a vineyard, sunset timing is key.

Reception Details and Venue Shots

• Ideal Time: 15-30 minutes (depending on number of guests and/or size of venue)
• Ideal Time of Day: Early Evening
• Ideal Location: Reception site

Allow 30 minutes for your second shooter to capture the reception area before guests arrive. This gives us a chance to photograph the beautifully arranged tables, decor and other details in a calm, uncluttered environment. If you have not hired a second shooter, you will need to allot sufficient time for your photographer prior to the start of the reception, which can be difficult.

ADDITIONAL WEDDING DAY DETAILS

The following shots/sessions are optional and most couples choose to do at least one, time permitting.

Pre-Ceremony Details: Flat-lays

• Ideal Time: 15-20 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: During bridal party preparation
• Ideal Location: Hotel suite or lobby, or other suitable on-site location

In addition to typical pre-ceremony detail shots (rings, dress, bouquets, etc.) your photographer can also construct a beautiful flat-lay with all of your important bridal details together—rings, perfume bottles, jewelry, shoes and any other important mementos you’d like to include. This, too, requires a little extra time but the results are well worth it.

Reception First Look

• Ideal Time: 10-15 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: End of Cocktail Hour (before guests enter)
• Ideal Location: Reception site

The reception first look is a special moment when the couple sees the fully decorated reception space for the first time. It’s an excellent opportunity to capture a genuine reaction and a few photos before the guests arrive. It’s also a great time to practice your first dance for some candid moments.

Table Shots at the Reception

• Ideal Time: 30-60 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: Preferably before meal, or immediately after the conclusion of meal
• Ideal Location: Reception venue

During the reception you can either take formal photos with each table or focus on candid, photojournalistic shots as you mingle with guests. If you choose formal table shots, allocate about 2-4 minutes per table. As an example, for 20 tables this could take 45-60 minutes. Just plan accordingly to ensure that you fully enjoy everything about your reception!

Couples Session During the Reception

• Ideal Time: 20-30 minutes
• Ideal Time of Day: Any time after dusk
• Ideal Location: Any interesting or scenic area at the venue

Consider sneaking away from the reception for 20 minutes or so to get some fabulous night shots. This time is crucial if you want stunning nighttime photos and allows for some quiet moments together. A perfect time for this is right after a bite to eat or during open floor dancing after a few songs.