Tips from a wedding photographer to plan and create the most perfect wedding day timeline that prioritizes the most important parts of your day! While a timeline for your day is incredibly dependent on your desires, this post will hopefully shed a little light on where to start in the planning!

Planning your wedding timeline can be tough, but you don’t have to do it alone!!

Creating the perfect wedding day timeline can seem scary, but it doesn’t have to be! As a photographer, I realize the day is about YOU!!! I tend to follow my couples around on wedding days like a new little puppy – during hair and makeup, getting dressed, and toasting champagne with your besties (I or my second shooter will be bouncing around all the getting ready rooms as well!)

I want to share all my best tips for a perfect wedding timeline so here they are! I have met many dj’s, wedding planners, venue event coordinators, and even parents who want to control the day, and that’s always helpful! But, I have found that the most important opinion is YOURS as a couple! Figure out what is most important to you for your day, the way you want the day to feel. What is it you want to feel on your day? I have heard couples say “We would really like to feel like there is just a warmth and joy to our day, to spend as much time with our people and each other as possible” and that means we must spend the time to create a timeline that has time for you to be with guests, and means you really might want a first look to get formal portraits done pre-ceremony so you can join cocktail hour!

I have also heard: “We have spent so much time planning this for ourselves, we need quiet and private time together to relish in getting married and stay stress-free” and we can do that!! Making sure you get private moments, even if that means I am not even there! I love adding at least a few minutes post ceremony for you two to sneak way and have a glass of bubbly and a snack, truly alone!

Once you really know how you want to feel and what is most important to you, we can really build a timeline to match. Here are some tips and ideas to help you start building the timeline to stick to those needs!

I love to start with ceremony time – most of the time you’ll choose this with your venue and planner pretty early as it needs to be on your invites months early! I always offer my couples time to chat over their specific venue and date to help choose the best time (with time before and after for everything they need) but your planner will be the best help for this! If you are at a venue that always just uses the same time though, feel free to ask questions about why and if any other times may be good for you, I am a fan of not just going with what everyone else has done, just for the sake of it! It may be best to go with the common thing, but make sure it’s for good reason and best for your day!

The one thing many couples can forget is to allot time after the ceremony for their couples portraits – after the family formal photos are done, after you hug everyone who sneaks to the group photo area, i will pull you both away for as much time as possible for those images you have always dreamt of! We often have another moment around sunset to sneak out, but this time after ceremony, before you’re introduced as the newlyweds, is a great time to take a few moments to get your more formal couples portraits!

All that time getting ready and prepping for the day, we will make sure to get some gorgeous portraits of you two!

Everyone at the wedding knows you are going to look so incredible, so of course we will want to capture shots of you both, together, MARRIED! It is truly one of the most memorable moments of a wedding day, to take a breather, step back and soak in being MARRIED. We can sneak out for sunset portraits for an intimate moment together where you get to breathe and relish in your day! Of course we plan this around the sun and location, this is very much a “see how the reception is going and sneak out when it’s best!” SO plan for 30 minutes before actual sunset time to sneak off, but also know it’s something we just kinda run out for when the light and YOU are ready! ALSO, like everything else in this blog and every other resource, nothing is required. LIterally nothing but you both and the paperwork is what makes a legal marriage and wedding day, so take what you want and the leave the parts you don’t. Sunset portraits aren’t required! If you want it, I will make sure it happens!

So, here’s the general layout i use for the a simple and organized day! whether you choose to have a first look with your boo or not, there is a simple timeline for both! 

*with first look GETTING READY 2:00 pm photographer arrives 2:00 partner 1 & vips getting ready photos 2:45 partner 2 & vips getting ready photos 3:30 first look + couples portraits 4:00 full wedding party formal photos 4:30 photos completed CEREMONY 5:00 ceremony begins (usually 30 minutes) 5:35 family photos 6:00 couples sunset photos couple has time to join cocktail hour if interested 6:25 depart for reception RECEPTION 6:30 reception begins 6:35 arrive at reception + wedding party announced 6:40 grand introduction 6:45 first dance 7:00 speeches & toasts 7:30 dinner is served 8:00 cake cutting 8:10 open dance floor 8:45 open dance floor 10:00 formal exit

*without first look GETTING READY 2:00 pm photographer arrives 2:00 partner 1 & vips getting ready photos 3:00 partner 1 formal group photos 3:30 partner 2 & vips getting ready photos 4:00 partner 2 formal group photos 4:30 photos completed CEREMONY 5:00 ceremony Begins (usually 30 minutes) 5:35 family photos 5:50 wedding party photos 6:00 bride and groom photos 6:25 depart for reception RECEPTION 6:30 reception begins 6:35 arrive at reception + wedding party announced 6:40 grand introduction 6:45 first dance 7:00 speeches & toasts 7:30 dinner is served 8:00 cake cutting 8:00 open dance floor 8:45 open dance floor 10:00 formal exit

Of course, these timelines are for fairly traditional wedding days. there is no one size fits all for a wedding timeline but that’s why working with your photographer to create it can really benefit your sanity and help you get the most wonderful images on your big day! i make sure to include a timeline planning meeting with every couple i work with to make sure the day is pre-planned and well thought out to help you enjoy every moment!

Abby + Ian had a traditional day without a first look, and everything went as planned! I have caught moments of one partner eagerly awaiting the walk down the aisle knowing who is waiting for them and seeing each other for the first time. Those moments are literally once in a lifetime and if youtwo want that, it’s exactly what you should do.

Megan + Geoff opted for an intimate first look on their big day. We planned it so there would be enough time to get bridal party and family photos done before the ceremony (which was right at sunset!) so we would have great light for everything, and it worked out perfectly! It made the day smooth and they also got some super sweet time together before they said I DO!

Again, a huge part of planning your day and deciding to have a first look depends on what time your ceremony begins and ends. That will be the first thing to decide and the rest of the day can flow right around it! Try to choose the things important to you, choose a ceremony time, and everything else will fall into place!

Again, this is just my recommendations for my couples,

And I hope it helps you in your wedding planning! Whether I am your photographer, or your photographer is new to the business, or you are a new wedding photographer just trying to learn the ropes, this is what many many weddings (and crazy days) have taught me!!

Remember, your wedding is going to be perfect, whether it’s sunny or rainy, with 500 guests or 3, it’s your special day and nobody can take that from you! Follow your heart and make it perfect for you! Hopefully these tips for a perfect wedding timeline help you just a bit in your wedding planning!

If you want me to help you plan and create the perfect wedding day timeline, drop your info below and we can chat!

Happy wedding planning!