Wedding Photography Timeline: A Rough Guide

The wedding day photography timeline is one aspect of the day that can be confusing and overwhelming. So I thought I would share with you this rough timeline that will help you when formulating your own timing on the day.

If you have a planner or venue organiser they will help you with your timeline for the day but it is important to understand what is involved in the photography component on the day and to incorporate that into your main timeline to ensure we get the most out of your photographs. Because of this, I always speak to my couples about their timeline and ensure we have enough time for photographs at important times.

Keep in mind, the below is only an indication, everything is flexible, and ultimately, we (your photographer) are here to do whatever it takes to capture the photos that mean the most to you. 

The timeline can vary based on many factors, such as if you’re doing a first look, the time in your package with the venue, or if you have a videographer who needs more time during the preparations. Having said that, I hope there’s enough here for you to still find it a useful reference.

*Please note this is a sample timeline for a heterosexual couple

The Groom’s Preparation - 45mins

There’s a reason the boys are first. They have to be ready first in order to get to the venue so they can welcome the guests as they arrive. It’s also a lot easier for boys to take off a jacket and loosen a tie than it is for a bride to get out of a dress to make themselves comfortable if they’re ready too early. Lastly, brides are seldom ready before they absolutely need to be. There are a lot more unexpected things that can happen with the dress, hair, make-up, etc, so photographing the brides after the boys makes a lot of sense.

When I arrive at your location, you will ideally be showered and ready to get dressed, but still hanging out in your casual clothes so I can get a few shots of you doing whatever you’re doing. I think this tells a more complete story.

If you have lapel flowers, it never hurts to ask your florist for the magnets rather than the pins as that can save the groomsmen a huge headache and not leave holes in your suits.

I’m very unstructured when it comes to these prep photos. My main aim is to tell the honest story of how you were all feeling before the big moment, not to get you to behave in a way that’s completely unnatural to you.

The Bride’s Preparation - 1 - 2.5hours

Like the boys, I like to arrive before you’re in your dresses. So whether you’re hanging out in your robes or casual gear, we can get the whole transformation.

If you’d like some make-up photos, try to time the make-up artist to finish around 10mins after I arrive and I can get those shots first. A note on the hair and make-up – it’s critical that these don’t run drastically over time. It’s probably the main reason that causes the bridal party to leave late, which pushes back the ceremony and everything else. This ultimately translates to less time for your bridal portraits, something you’ll get the benefits of for the rest of your lives.

Before I arrive, if you could leave a tidy area with the best window light, it means I won’t need to spend any time tidying and can get shots of you and the girls instead. If you’d like a shot of your dress, leave it hanging in this room, and don’t forget to have it on a beautiful hanger (wooden preferably over wire)! Try to allow enough time to get the dress on if it’s a complicated design with lots of buttoning for instance. They can make this look easy in the bridal shop but don’t believe it will be that easy on the day!

The time you spend with your girls in the morning before the ceremony is so special. I love the anticipation, the moment you put that dress on, and the gravity that sinks in that you're about to get married!

Pre-ceremony - 15mins

The pre-ceremony is just a little buffer of time after I leave the girls where I can get shots of your guests arriving and seeing each other, a few details of the ceremony set up, and of course, the groom nervously awaiting his bride.

It’s also an opportunity to introduce myself to the celebrant or priest and run through any last-minute things with them to make sure we’re all on the same page.

The Ceremony - 30mins

Obviously, the thirty minutes I’ve mentioned is nothing more than a vague guide. I’ve seen ceremonies go for 10 minutes, and I’ve seen them go for two hours. 

When it comes time to have your first kiss as husband and wife, have at it! This isn’t a time to be timid. Make it count and get a great photo while you’re at it. 

When you’re walking back down the aisle to the cheers of the crowd, grab each other by the hand, and get pumped, you’re married! These photos are some of my favourites. You may have a few aunties trying to reach in to drape those horseshoes over your wrists, but ideally, you’ll barge through without stopping and everyone can save their congratulations until after you’ve walked back down the aisle to allow you that little window of rockstardom. Providing flower petals to the people sitting on the aisle also adds so much to the action of the photos.

 

The Big Group Photo - 10mins

The big group photo is optional. I’m not going to sugarcoat it, they can be a nightmare. It will depend on where the ceremony is to how big of a nightmare. If you want this shot, the only time to take it is straight after the ceremony when we can funnel all of your guests into one place as close by as possible. The further away we have to go to get this shot, the longer it will take to move all of your guests who are catching up and chatting.

Talk to me about your options for this shot and you can decide if you’d like it or not. Cutting it is also the easiest way to make back some time on the day if we’re running late for your bridal portraits.

 

Family Photos - 15mins (max. 10 groups) / 20-25mins (for more than 10 groups)

This is our time to get all of those must-have group shots. The kind of photos where you can’t wake up the next day and say “I can’t believe we didn’t get a shot with my grandparents!”

Similarly to the big group photo, these can be a headache to organise as they require a lot of different people who are busy catching up and chatting to not get distracted, stay close, and be ready to jump into their photo.

I will go into more detail on this closer to your wedding and help you prepare for it.

Bridal Party Photos - 20mins

Let’s get you all hanging out and celebrating together as a bridal party. If you want to open a bottle of champagne, do it! We will shoot the traditional bridal party photos, but I will also capture natural shots of you all interacting together.

Bridal Portraits - 40mins - 1hour

When we get to the bridal portraits, something you may not have anticipated is just how much you’ll enjoy taking this time away from your wedding party to actually celebrate privately as a married couple.

As amazing as it is to have all of your closest friends and family with you on one day, congratulating you, it can also get a bit overwhelming as it’s the most attention you’ve ever received in your life. So take this time to just enjoy each other, it’s your wedding day!

If at any moment you want to head back to your guests, or go and chill out with some wine and canapés, let me know. I’m here to help you do it your way and have the best wedding day possible.

The Reception - Open Ended

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s raise the roof for the newly married couple! We’ve made it back for your announcement. Hopefully, you’ve had a few minutes to chill alone together before the party begins! 

This is also when I’ll be shooting reception details, candids, and followed by your entrance! Please leave some time for me to capture reception styling photos before guests are seated eg: table settings, florals etc.

Then you can basically forget about me from here on out as I’ll be roaming around taking photos of everyone having an incredible time!

Sunset Photos! - (20mins)

This may or may not be an option depending on the location, weather, and reception schedule, but it’s something to keep in mind when formulating the timings with your venue. Most often these are my couple's favourite shots of the day so I am always keen to shoot these for you even if it's a quick 10 minutes outside. You can check out what time the sun will set on your wedding day by simply googling your wedding date, location, and the word ‘sunset’. 

If, throughout the reception, there’s an interesting night shot to get, I may come and grab you. You may appreciate the break from the wedding or you might tell me “no thanks, this is my favourite song.” As long as you’re staying true to yourself and what you want, I’m happy and we’re going to get some amazing photos together.

I hope this is helpful and if you have any questions, please get in touch!

Lei x