My Ideal Wedding Timeline
First thing you need to know is I am not hired by the hour. Most photographers have 6-10hr packages. For the most part we are undefined by time. My package is all inclusive and made specifically to each wedding day. For that reason I won’t be including time stamps or durations. A good rule of thumb for me is to give EVERY event at least 30 minutes but if my couple wants more time then they’ll get MORE time.
Details
When I first arrive I’ll grab all the little details and work on some flatlay photos and photographing all of your decor.
Getting Ready
While doing the details I like to pop in and out of the getting ready suite to capture the different stages of getting ready. I usually advise on planning to have hair + makeup done 30 minutes- an hour before getting your dress on so there is time to do some fun stuff with the squad and buffer room to run behind.
First Look
Next up we would have bride + groom get the first look/private vows out of the way so that we can start doing photos together and it’ll help calm your nerves once you see each other. Plus we can get a lot of photos done pre-ceremony so you can enjoy time with your guests after.
A lot of people get nervous about doing a first look because they don’t want to take away from the first look down the aisle. Let me tell you this NOTHING will compare to the moment your groom sees his wife walking down the literal aisle to him.
Groomsmen Photos
After the first look the bride can head inside and touch up and let the girls know to finish up getting ready. The boys typically go first to give the girls more time to get ready. With the boys, I’ll take group shots with a mix of poses and prompts for them. Each groomsmen will get an individual photo with the groom.
Wedding Party Photos
The bridesmaids we’ll come out to join the groomsmen and we’ll do group photos with everyone. Usually I do a couple posed photos and then we,ll do sme fun stuff to get candids of everyone.
Bridesmaids Photos
The groomsmen will head inside and we’ll start on the girls. Depending on your wants and needs the photos will be more posed or candid depending on what you prefer. I usually will always do a mix of both. Then each girl will have an individual photo with the bride.
Family Photos
Recently, a lot of my clients have prefered a shorter family shot list. It’s helped us to be able to take care of these photos pre-ceremony instead of post. A smaller group is a lot easier to get to the venue about an hour before the ceremony begins. Typically, the bride will write me a shot list of all the pairings she wants so that we don’t forget anything day of.
Ceremony
The BEST part of the day. As everyone walks down the aisle I typically stand on the first row on the brides side so I can capture everyone walking down the aisle as well as the grooms reaction. I’ll then stay up there for a few quick shots then I’ll hang out taking photos on the outside of the space so I can be as little as a distraction as possible. If you have special ceremonies within the ceremony I will come back up for those. Otherwise, once you start on the vows and exchanging rings I will come back to the front in the aisle to capture those special moments. Once you say I do and kiss I’ll lead you all down the aisle and BOOM done.
Sunset Photos
Depending on the ceremony time we will do these either right after you walk down the aisle OR you all can head into the cocktail hour/reception and I will grab y’all out when it’s time to take photos at sunset. I believe everyone should make time for these because it is the best light of the day and so dreamy.
Reception
The timeline for the reception doesn’t matter a whole lot to me. Do whatever you want and makes most sense to you! Typically it will go dances, toast, dinner, cake cutting, speeches, DANCING, exit.