





Wedding day Timelines can feel overwhelming,
and are one of the main reasons to hire a coordinator (they are pros at building reception timelines, making sure groomsmen have boutonnieres on at the right time, and bouquets are there and dried off when we're ready for them) and a wedding photographer who has done this thing a time or two (or 27 or 40).
The process demystified
When you book with me, I send over a questionnaire! The questionnaire has questions in it that will help me make the best photography timeline for your wedding day. If you have a bridal party with only two attendants a piece, the bridal party portion of the pictures can be short and sweet! If you have 12 attendants a piece, we'll need a little more time to get all of the bridal party pictures you want. If you are getting married, are the oldest child and only have one other sibling, and aren't interested in extended family portraits, then the family portion will be much shorter than if you're the youngest of 5, have lots of nieces and nephews, and would like extended family portraits.
We also build longer timelines when we're doing photo AND video, because we need a bit more margin for err (video gear is a beast to haul around), and because we need time to put your microphone on, and make sure we're capturing clean audio. Chris and I also sometimes take turns shooting, to make sure your pre-ceremony moments are documented with photo and video, thoroughly.
A Sample Timeline
There will be a bit of variety in each timeline depending on all of your questionnaire answers, here's a couple to help you get an idea of how things time out, and how much time we usually need for each portrait portion of the day!
10-hour . first look . photo & video
wedding day timeline
Date
Sunrise: am Sunset: pm
Location
12:00 - photography team arrives
12:00 – 1:00 – details
Please have these ready for us when we arrive (invitations, boutonnieres, loose florals
from florist, rings, jewelry, shoes, veil, perfume etc.).
12:45 – 1:00 – Candid getting ready bride and bridesmaids
This is the best time to do pj/robe shots, popping champagne, finishing touches, then
bridesmaids get dressed!
Shot by Second Shooter
1:00 – 1:30 – Bride gets into dress and window portraits
1:30 – 1:45 – candid getting ready groom and groomsmen
1:45 – 2:00 – groom window portraits
2:00 – 2:15 – First look
2:15 – 3:00 – creative couples session
3:00 – 3:45 - bridal party portraits
3:45 – 4:30 – Family portraits
4:30 – 5:30 – ready and waiting
5:30 – 6:00 – ceremony
6:00 – 6:30 – additional family portraits
6:30 – 7:00 – golden hour creative couples session
7:00 – reception
10:00 – exit
8-hour . NO first look . photo ONLY
wedding day timeline
Date
Sunrise: am Sunset: pm
Location
1:00 - PHOTOGRAPHy TEAM ARRIVES
1:00 – 1:30 – DETAILS
Please have these ready for us when we arrive (invitations, boutonnieres, loose florals
from florist, rings, jewelry, shoes, veil, perfume etc.)!
1:00 – 1:15 – CANDID BRIDESMAIDS
Photographed by Second Shooter
1:15 – 1:30 – CANDID GROOMSMEN
Photographed by Second Shooter
1:30 – 1:50 – GROoM WINDOW PORTRAITS
Photographed by Second Shooter
1:30 – 1:50 - BRIDE GETS INTO DRESS & WINDOW PORTRAITS
1:50 – 2:00 - FIRST LoOK WiTH DAD
2:00 – 3:00 – READY AND WAITING
3:00 – 3:30 – CEREMONY
3:30 – 4:00 – FAMILY POrTRAITS
4:00 – 4:30 – BRIDAL PARTY PORTRAITS
4:30 – 5:30 – CREATIVE COUPLES SESSION
5:30 – RECEPTION
9:00 – EXIT
First looks
Guests will have to wait longer, if you decide to not do a first look. That's just the nature of things! While we work quickly and efficiently, taking beautiful portraits takes time. The key to having your first look down the aisle, and having happy guests by the time you get to the reception, is to keep them fed and entertained! For example, you can have a really great charcuterie, coffee cart, cocktail hour, or go ahead and serve them dinner! If they are enjoying themselves, rather than just waiting for you to arrive, you won't have to worry about them during the portraits portion of the evening!
The good thing about a first look prior to the ceremony, is in that moment when you see each other, much of your stress melts away. You also get to spend the majority of your wedding day with your almost-spouse, rather than only the post ceremony portion! One of my favorite coordinators said it like this, when you have a first look, you aren't taking anything away from the first-look down the aisle, on the contrary, you're getting TWO first looks. This is so very true. We have documented tears during the first look, and then again when the groom saw the bride coming down the aisle. Both moments are beautiful and profound. However, if you just love the idea of that traditional first look down the aisle, we can make that work! Just make sure the ceremony starts early enough for us to have 1 1/2 - 2 hours of sunlight left so we won't be worried about losing the sun!
Traditional Family Shot List
I have done this shot list so many times, I have it memorized (more or less), but my second shooter keeps this list in hand to make sure I don't miss a thing! If you have a shot you'd like that isn't on this list, include it in your questionnaire and we'll be sure to add it!
BRIDE & GROOM FULL BRIDES FAMILY
(INCLUDING AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS,
GRANDPARENTS)
BRIdE & GROOM WItH BRIDES
IMMEDIATE FAmILY & GRANDPARENTS
BRIDE & GROOM WITH BRIDES
GRANDPARENTS
BRIDE & GROOM WITH IMMEDIATE
FAMILY
BRIDE WITH SIBLINGS
BRIDE & GROOM WITH SIBLINgS &
SPOUSES
BRIDE & GROOM WITH SIBLINGS &
SPOUSES & SPOUSES CHIlDREN
BRIDE & ORIGINAL FAMILY MEMBERS
BRIDE & GROOM WITH MOM & DAD
BRIDE WiTH MOM & DAD
BRIDE WITH MOM
BRIDE WITH DAD
BrIDE‘S parents TOGEtHER
BRIDE & GROOM FULL grooms FAMILY
(INCLUDInG AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS,
GRANDPARENtS)
BRIDE & GROOM WITH GROOM‘S
IMMEDIATE FAMILY & GRANDPARENTS
BRIDE & GROOM WITH GROOM‘S
GRANDPARENTS
bRIDE & GROOM WITH IMMEDIATE FAMILY
GROOM WITH SIBLINGS
BRIDE & GROOM WITH SIBLINGS &
SPOUSES
BRIDE & GROOM WITh SIBLINGS &
SPOUSeS & SPOUSES CHILDREN
GROoM & ORIGINAl FAMILY MEMBERS
BRIDE & GROOM WITH MOM & DAD
GROOM WITH MOM & DAD
GROOM WITH MOM
Groom's Parents Together





