Planning
Your
Wedding Day
Timeline
The goal isn't to fit your wedding day into a specific timeline..
it's to build a timeline that reflects how you want your day to feel.
During our planning process, we'll work together to create a schedule that balances meaningful portraits with plenty of time to celebrate with the people you love most.
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER..
Every couple falls somewhere between a documentary-style wedding day and a more portrait-focused experience.
Some couples prefer to spend as much time as possible with family and friends, allowing moments to unfold naturally with minimal interruptions. Others prioritize creating a larger variety of portraits and are happy to dedicate additional time throughout the day for photographs.
Neither approach is better than the other.
Understanding your priorities helps me plan coverage that reflects your vision
\while ensuring you can fully enjoy your wedding day.
How Much Portrait Time Do You Want?
When planning your timeline, consider:
- Are photos one of your highest priorities?
- Do you want a large variety of portraits and creative images?
- Would you rather spend more time celebrating with guests?
- Are there any specific moments or photo opportunities that are especially important to you?
What Time Will Guests Begin Arriving?
Guest arrival time can have a major impact on your photography timeline.
If you're hoping to avoid being seen before the ceremony, we'll want to complete any pre-ceremony portraits before guests begin gathering. As a general rule, I recommend being fully dressed and ready at minimum of one hour before guests are expected to arrive. (Typically 30-45 minutes prior to ceremony)
Giving yourself extra buffer time helps reduce stress and allows time to calm the nerves.
Are You Planning a First Look?
A First Look can be one of the most effective ways to create a more relaxed wedding day timeline.
By seeing each other before the ceremony, we're able to complete many portraits ahead of time, which often means more time enjoying your cocktail hour and celebrating with guests later in the day.
Of course, a First Look isn't for everyone.
Some couples dream of seeing each other for the first time during the ceremony, and that's perfectly okay too. Neither option is right or wrong, it's simply about deciding what feels most meaningful to you and planning your timeline accordingly.
Family
Photos
Family portraits are one of the most important parts of the day, but they're also where wedding timelines most commonly begin to fall behind.
To keep things moving smoothly, I recommend limiting formal family portraits to around 10 groupings and having your family photo list finalized at least two weeks before your wedding.
This doesn't mean you'll miss out on photos with extended family and friends.
Throughout the reception, I love documenting candid interactions and can often capture additional photos without pulling you away from
your celebration for long periods of time.
Below are some example time blocks you can
use as a guide when building your wedding day timeline.
Keep in mind that these are simply suggestions. Every wedding day is different, and things like
your venue, guest count, weather, travel time, and the people involved can all impact how much time we'll need for each part of the day.
Documentary
Natural • Relaxed • Efficient
A documentary approach focuses on capturing the day as it naturally unfolds rather than directing every moment. This allows you to spend less time away from your guests and more time enjoying your wedding day.
We still capture beautiful portraits and meaningful moments, but the focus is on preserving the experience rather than creating the "perfect" photo.
• Flat Lay Only : 20+ minutes+
• Getting Ready: 15–20 minutes
• Bride Portraits: 10–15 minutes
• Groom Portraits: 10–15 minutes
• Bride + Bridesmaids: 10–15 minutes
• Groom + Groomsmen: 10–15 minutes
• Full Wedding Party: 20 minutes
• Parent First Looks: 5–10 minutes
• Family Photos: 20 minutes
(approximately 10 groupings)
• Couple Portraits: 20–25 minutes
Guided & Curated
Editorial • Refined • Detailed
A guided and curated approach allows for additional posing, more portrait variety, multiple photo combinations, and extra time to create intentional imagery throughout the day.
This option is ideal for couples who have specific photo ideas in mind or who want a larger portion of their wedding day dedicated to portraits.
• Flat Lay Only : 45+ minutes+
• Getting Ready: 30–45 minutes+
• Bride Portraits: 35–40 minutes+
• Groom Portraits: 25–35 minutes+
• Bride + Bridesmaids: 25–35 minutes+
• Groom + Groomsmen: 20–30 minutes+
• Full Wedding Party: 20–25 minutes+
• Parent First Looks: 10–15 minutes+
• Family Photos: 30–40 minutes+
• Couple Portraits: 30–40 minutes+
• Family Formals: 25–30 minutes+
(approximately 10 groupings)