Timeline
Examples & Allotment
Here are a couple examples to help build your own custom timeline!
A few factors to consider when building your timeline:
First Look vs No First Look
Bridal Party and Family Photos before or after ceremony
Time of Sunset (about 15 minutes designated for the Bride and Groom to sneak away for portraits)
Every wedding has its own unique timeline, and no two are alike. Here are some examples of timelines that have proven successful, along with helpful tips on how to allocate your time effectively. Remember to consider your specific needs and preferences to a schedule that reflects your vision for the day. Planning ahead will ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for you and your guests.
OPTION A
With A First Look
​11:00 Hair
12:00 Makeup
1:00 Getting Ready & Detail Shots
1:30 Dress On
2:00 First Look
2:30 Wedding Party Photos
3:00 Family Photos
4:00 Bride is hidden (relax/touchups)
4:30 Guests arrive
5:00 Ceremony Starts
5:30 Cocktail Hour (Family photos)
6:30 Dinner Starts
7:30 Toasts
8:00 Dances- First Dance, Father/Daughter, Mother/Son
8:15 Bouquet Toss/Garter Toss
8:30 Cake Cutting
8:35 Open Dance
8:45 Sunset Portraits
10:00 Formal Exit
OPTION B
Without A First Look
11:30 Hair
1:00 Makeup
1:30 Getting Ready & Detail Shots
2:00 Bridesmaids in Robes Photos
2:30 Dress On/Final Touchups
3:00 Bridal Party Photos (With Taira)
3:00 Groomsmen Photos (With Second)
4:00 Bride is Hidden (relaxation)
4:30 Guests Arrive
5:00 Ceremony Starts
5:30 Cocktail Hour (Family photos)
5:30 Family Portraits
6:00 Wedding Party Portraits
6:30 Dinner Starts
7:30 Toasts
8:00 Dances- First Dance, Father/Daughter, Mother/Son
8:15 Bouquet Toss/Garter Toss
8:30 Cake Cutting
8:35 Open Dance
8:45 Sunset Portraits
10:00 Formal Exit
Tips for Building a Timeline
Discuss with Hair and Makeup Artist how long these are estimated to take. (consider bridesmaids too and know exactly what time everyone needs to be completed by and work backwards from there. If you plan to do photos in robes, if your bridesmaids are helping you get your dress on, or if you are doing a first look with your girls, be sure their hair and makeup is completed by this time.)
Build your timeline based on your ceremony time and branch from there. To decide your ceremony time, consider things such as sunset time (typically you don't want the sun to be too low to avoid blinding your guests, causing you to be backlit and missing sunset portraits) and meal times. Ideally, its best to have all wedding party and family photos before sunset although this can be unavoidable depending on the time of year.
Time Allotment
(the average time it takes us to complete a section of your day)
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Details: 30 minutes (captured while you are getting ready)
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Bride and Groom Preparations: 30 min-1 hour. (hair and makeup finishing touches, bridesmaids in robes, getting dressed, putting on shoes, putting on tie, others helping you get dressed)
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Individual Portraits: 15 minutes each. (just after prep and before a first look or ceremony)
First Look: 15-30 minutes. The first time a couple sees each other on their wedding day and may choose to have the first look in private. This will be a time to shut out guests and we will keep our distance as well to allow you to enjoy this moment together. Immediately following the first look is a great opportunity to get some portrait of you two to keep your time away from your guest later at a minimum.
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Wedding Party: 45 min- 1 hour (group shots with entire wedding party, bride with bridesmaids, bride with individual bridesmaids, bride with groomsmen, groom with groomsmen, groom with individual groomsmen and groom with bridesmaids.
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Family Formals: 30-45 minutes (depending on how large your family is, this can take much less or much more time) Especially if you have a large family, be sure to delegate someone to be in charge of the shot list and wrangle missing family members. An option to make this as easy as possible is to do it before the ceremony or to do it directly following the ceremony before they can slip away to cocktail hour!
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Sunset Walk: 10- 30 minutes. about 30 minutes before sunset, we will sneak away quickly to capture some portraits of just you two in the most perfect lighting. If you have already done portraits earlier in the day, this can be as quick as 10 minutes but if this is your first time taking portraits, you will want to opt for a little bit longer.