Let’s talk some more about your wedding day timeline! This post can be viewed as a Part 2 to my previous post THE WEDDING DAY TIMELINE – HOW TO AVOID MISSED MOMENTS AND DISAPPOINTMENT If you haven’t read that already, I highly recommend checking it out!

In this post, we will go over how much time is typically needed for different aspects of your wedding day and what that looks like in a photography based timeline.

HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED?

Bridal Details / Bridal Suite Candids | 30 – 45 Minutes

I highly recommend having all your details gathered into one box or bag so that no time is wasted looking around for it everything. I often will capture these in the bridal suite too so I can capture candid moments happening nearby as well.

Bride Getting Dressed | 10 – 45 Minutes

Dress, Shoes, Jewelry, Veil…it’s a lot of little pieces that come together so beautifully. Every bride is different and depending on the amount of detail your overall look has, you may want to add some extra time just to be safe!

_{I adore this photo of Caitie and her mom! Mom had just finished helping her get dressed and they shared a brief but also most tender moment together.}

Wedding Party | 20 – 30 Minutes

Depending on the size of the party | I always capture just the bridesmaids, just the groomsmen, the entire group together and then individuals with the bride and groom separately. Even with a super fast workflow, this can take some time!

Portraits of Bride and Groom | 30 Minutes – 1 Hour

I love having 30 minutes before the ceremony and 30 minutes after the ceremony. However, I know this is not always possible. My goal is to be able to give my couples some additional portraits that add a little extra variety from the ones that we took pre-ceremony. If you are not sharing a first look, I cannot stress enough how important it is to at least have 30 minutes of portrait time after the ceremony.

Ceremony / Reception Details | 10 – 20 Minutes

I love having extra time to capture the details you so carefully put together to make your vision come to life but if I only have 10 minutes I will make that work!

Family Portraits | 15 – 30 Minutes

Family photos can take up a lot of time, that is why having a Family Photo Shot List is extremely helpful! I recommend 20 minutes for family formals, but not at the expense of your Bride and Groom portrait time. We can always grab large group photos during the reception. That glowy sunset light for Bride and Groom portraits has to be taken advantage of right when it’s happening because it will disappear quickly.

TIMELINE SAMPLES

Remember, a great timeline is about prioritizing the moments that are important to you. It’s not about going from one photoshoot to the next, but giving you structure to enjoy your day and ensure your memories are documented. If you’re hosting a celebration filled with different cultural or faith based traditions, be sure to discuss those with your photographer and planner so they can incorporate them into your timeline!

Ceremony With a First Look
Based On 8 Hours of Coverage with Two Photographers

Ceremony With a First Touch
Based On 8 Hours of Coverage with Two Photographers

2:00pm Photos of Bridal Details & Candids (Assistant – Groom Details and Candids)

2:30pm Bride Getting Dressed / (Assistance – Groom Getting Ready)

3:00pm First Look with Father or Bridesmaids

3:15pm Bride and Groom First Touch / Private Vow Reading or Prayer

3:30pm Bride and Bridal Party Portraits

4:00pm Groom and Groom’s Party Portraits

4:30pm Photos of Ceremony & Reception Decor

5:00pm Ceremony

5:30pm Family Portraits

5:50pm Newlywed Portraits

6:20pm Bustle Dress

6:30pm Grand Entrance into Reception

9:50pm Private Last Dance

10:00pm Grand Exit

Ceremony Without a First Look or First Touch
Based On 8 Hours of Coverage with Two Photographers

2:00pm Photos of Bridal Details & Candids (Assistant – Groom Details and Candids)

3:00pm Bride Getting Dressed / (Assistance – Groom Getting Ready)

3:30pm First Look with Father or Bridesmaids

3:40pm Bride and Bridal Party Portraits

4:00pm Groom and Groom’s Party Portraits

4:30pm Photos of Ceremony & Reception Decor

5:00pm Ceremony

5:30pm Family Portraits

5:45pm Wedding Party Portraits

6:00pm Newlywed Portraits

6:20pm Bustle Dress

6:30pm Grand Entrance into Reception

9:50pm Private Last Dance

10:00pm Grand Exit

Rivers Light Photography is based in Houston, Texas. Ashley is passionate about capturing timelessly elegant imagery for the modern couple.