Wedding timeline

Wedding day timeline for photo and video

when your ceremony and reception are in ONE location

Most couples need about 6-8 hours

Note:

All wedding timelines look different. Your wedding photographer should guide you on how your day will look for photos and video. Communication is key!

Keep in mind that photo and video start and end time really revolves around when your ceremony starts, if you plan on doing any 1st looks, and how many hours you invested.

Summer months the sun sets later which means you may go outside around dinner for sunset photos.

In winter months the sun sets very early so if going outside is important to you plan on taking all creatives and family photos before your ceremony starts.

Below is a rough timeline with everything in one location from getting ready to the end of the night dancing.

Also take advantage of looking at our standard wedding photo check list. The biggest thing you can do is take the standard family list and customize it to your photos needs and share it with your photographer.

Sample wedding day timeline for photo and video

2pm start (most venues allow us to start at this time / 1pm for early sunset months)

Last minute getting ready photos

3pm

First look with Bride and Groom (15 minutes)
Full bridal party photos
Bride with her people
Groom with his people

4:30pm

Relax while guests start to enter
Detail photos of venue

5pm

Ceremony

5:30pm

Family photos
Bride and Groom photos

6:30pm

Intros
Cake cutting
Blessing/Speeches
Table shots of guests
First dances
Guests dancing
Garter and bouquet toss
Goodbye photo

10pm end

Standard wedding photo check list

Bride getting ready photo list: (30-60 minutes)

Not all brides want photos of hair, makeup, or robe photos. If you take these photos out it takes about 30 minutes less for getting ready photos. It helps to have all bridesmaids get dressed first before you put on your wedding dress.

Hair and makeup
Robe photos
Detail photos: Have all of these details in a box next to your dress
- Dress
- Shoes
- All rings
- All jewelry
- Wedding bouquet
- Veil g
- Garter
- Anything else?
Bride getting dressed:
- Zipping of the dress
- Putting on shoes
- Putting on jewelry
- Putting on wedding veil

Groom getting ready photo list: (5-10 minutes)

Guys like to keep things super simple.

Best man putting on boutonniere
Groom looking out window

Bridal party photo list: (60 minutes)

Bride with all bridesmaids together
Bride with each bridesmaid individually
Groom with all groomsmen together
Groom with each groomsman individually
Bride and Groom with the full bridal party
Bride and Groom with flower girl(s) and ring bear(s)

Bridal and Groom photo list: (30 minutes)

Bride + Groom
Bride
Groom

Standard ceremony photo list (30 minutes)

Details: Flowers, unity candle or sand, etc
Candid photos of guests arriving
Processional (family and bridal party walking down)
Bride coming in
Look on grooms face
Dad giving bride away
Speeches - if there are any
Vows
Rings exchange
Announcement
First kiss
Bride and groom to kiss again at the end of aisle
Processional
Guests blowing bubbles - if you have them

Standard family wedding photo list (30 minutes)

Please take this list and customize it to your needs. Share this with your photographer before your wedding day.

Bride’s family:

Bride + Mom
Bride + Dad
Bride + Mom + Dad
Bride + Mom + Dad + Groom
Bride + Mom + Dad + Groom + Siblings
Bride + Mom + Dad + Siblings
Bride + Siblings
Bride + Groom + Siblings
Bride + Grandma(s) + Grandpa(s)
Bride + Groom + Grandma(s) + Grandpa(s)
Mom + Dad together
Brides extended family

Groom’s family:

Groom + Mom
Groom + Dad
Groom + Mom + Dad
Groom + Mom + Dad + Bride
Groom + Mom + Dad + Bride + Siblings
Groom + Mom + Dad + Siblings
Groom + Siblings
Groom + Bride + Siblings
Groom + Grandma(s) + Grandpa(s)
Groom + Bride + Grandma(s) + Grandpa(s)
Mom + Dad together
Grooms extended family

Reception accessories photo list

Seating cards
Full shot of whole table top
Centerpiece
Head Table
Toasting Glasses
Cake
Gift Table

Reception photo check list

Introductions
Cake cutting
Speeches
Table shot of guests - not every photographer does this
First dance as husband and wife
Father/Daughter dance
Mother/Son dance
Random dancing
Bouquet and garter toss
Goodbye photo (group photo of everyone on dancefloor)
Any random things that pop up like dollar dance etc.

Wedding day timeline for photo and video

when your ceremony and reception are NOT in one location

Most couples need at least 8 hours

Note:

All wedding timelines look different. Your wedding photographer should guide you on how your day will look for photos and video. Communication is key!

We need to factor in a few things to make sure you get full day coverage for your wedding for photo and video .

Where are you getting ready?
How far away is the Church from where you're getting ready?
When do you need to arrive at the Church?
How long is your ceremony?
When do you have to leave the Church?
How long of a drive is it from the Church to the reception?
Are you taking bridal party photos at the reception before or during cocktail hour… or maybe somewhere on the way to the reception?
Are you taking photos of the two of you at the reception before or during cocktail hour… or maybe somewhere on the way to the reception?

Below is a rough timeline to help give you an idea how your wedding timeline can go. Also take advantage of looking at our standard wedding photo check list. The biggest thing you can do is take the standard family list and customize it to your photos needs and share it with your photographer.

Sample wedding day timeline for photo and video

1pm start at a hotel or someone's home (10 minutes away from church)

Last minute getting ready photos

1:50pm +/-

Leave for church to arrive by 2pm

3pm

Ceremony

4pm at the church

Family photos

4:15pm

Leave for reception (30 minutes away from church)

5pm +/- cocktail hour

Full bridal party photos
Bride with her people
Groom with his people
Bride and Groom photos

6pm

Intro
Cake cut
Blessing/Speeches
Table shots of guests
First dances
Fun dancing
Garter and Bouquet toss
Goodbye photo

9pm end