If you are a Modern Moments couple, I offer a timeline planning session for all my couples!
This timeline planning guide is from a photography coverage perspective
DON’T RUSH YOUR DAY
If your timeline is jam packed, you will be rushed and so will your photos. You want to make sure to give yourself enough time to breathe and enjoy the day. Allow yourself time to soak it all in.
BUILD YOUR TIMELINE AROUND THE SUNSET
You will want to build your timeline based off of when the sun sets, so find that on Google and work backwards. This isn’t for “sunset photos”, this is for the entire wedding. You want to find out what time the sunsets as this has an affect on your entire wedding. Winter weddings need to be careful of this. You don’t want to assume and end up trying to do your photos in the dark. More often than not, you do not want to do a sunset ceremony because then it will be dark for your formal photos.
Detail Shots
Give your photographer around 30 minutes at the start of arrival to take detail shots of your details. To make this run smoothly, I always recommend having all your details (including all rings) in one spot so your photographer is spending time trying to find and gather things.
Getting Ready Photos
On average, it takes a minimum of 1 hour for getting ready photos. The ideal amount of time is closer to 2 hours. Most brides don’t get pictures of their hair and makeup being done. If they do, they have their photographer arrive towards the end of the service.
This includes photos of you and your ladies in your robes, getting your dress on, putting all accessories on.
For the guys, it’s putting boutonnieres on and attire
First Look
Give yourself 30 minutes for your first look. The actual “first look” portion will take about five minutes. You want to give yourself some time to do a couple bride and groom portraits following. This also gives you a buffer if you are running behind on the schedule.
Pre-ceremony photos
If you are not doing a first look, we will want to plan some time to do the bridesmaids photos + the groomsman photos (without seeing each other) + any family photos + bridal photos. So much has to be done in a short period of time during the cocktail hour and this will help give you more time for couple’s portraits. Give yourself an hour for this
Pre-Ceremony Down Time
If you are doing things like a first look and formal photos before the ceremony, you want to be completely done 30 minutes before the ceremony. Your guests will begin arriving and you don’t want them to see you!
This also gives you a buffer if you are running behind on your timeline.
This gives you the opportunity to regroup and take a quiet moment to prepare for the ceremony.
Ceremony
On average, most ceremonies last around 30 minutes. Religious ceremonies may last longer around 45 minutes to an hour.
Formal Photos
For the wedding party photos, expect to spend around 20 minutes doing this. If you have a large wedding party, add a little more time.
For formal family photos, this typically takes around 30 minutes.
For formal bride and groom photos, this depends. A more traditional timeline with no first look leaves you with about 15 minutes for bride & groom portraits. That just isn’t enough time, this is why we try to get some photos done before the ceremony.
I try to sprinkle in some bride and groom photos with some during the first look, some during cocktail hour, and some at sunset
Sunset Photos
I put this on EVERY SINGLE TIMELINE! It is a must in my book. I try to schedule this during when your guests are eating dinner. Schedule 15-20 minutes for this. Google when the sunset is on your date and location, then schedule 30 minutes before that on your timeline.
Reception Coverage
The amount of reception coverage needed for your photographer depends on the couple. Some couples want just the big moments captured and then the photographer to leave. Others want the photographer to stay until the end for a grand exit. This will depend on the length of your reception.
Don’t forget to add your sunset photos during this!
Vendor Meals
Most venues, photographers & videographers specifically, will require a break to grab a meal. Sometimes people start out with a welcome speech or prayer at the beginning of dinner. Once dinner is happening, there shouldn’t be anything further that needs to be photographed as your vendor team will need a break. You will most likely see your photographer jump in after immediate family tables instead of waiting until the end. Why? Because if they wait until the end, they won’t have enough time to eat before you begin things that need to be photographed. Give your photographer the opportunity to grab a meal and take a break and start speeches towards the end of dinner.
EXAMPLE TIMELINE #1: WITH FIRST LOOK
(Summer wedding, based on 8:15PM sunset. You can Google your exact location and date to get the sunset time and adjust the timeline accordingly. This is for a 10 hour timeline with a photographer)
12:00- detail photos
12:30- getting ready photos
1:45- bridesmaids dress reveal
2:00- first look for bride & dad
2:30- first look for couple + couples portraits
3:15- wedding party photos
3:45- immediate family formal photos
4:30- pre-ceremony down time
5:00- ceremony start time
5:30- cocktail hour
6:30- grand entrance into reception + start of dinner
7:45- sunset photos
8:15- start formal dances, toasts, and cake cutting
EXAMPLE TIMELINE #2: NO FIRST LOOK
NO FIRST LOOK
12:00- detail photos
12:30- getting ready photos
1:45- bridesmaids dress reveal
2:00- first look for bride & dad
2:30- bridesmaids formals + bridals
3:00- groomsman formals
3:30- any immediate family photos (separate)
4:00- first “touch” for couple without seeing each other
4:30- pre-ceremony down time
5:00- ceremony start time
5:30- cocktail hour – all group formals + couples portraits
6:30- grand entrance into reception + start of dinner
7:45- sunset photos
8:15- start formal dances, toasts, and cake cutting
