create a perfect timeline for your wedding to have a relaxed and fun day
Planing your wedding should be fun and memorable, so let me help you to make it STRESS FREE
The key to achieving beautiful wedding photos and ensuring a fun experience for you and your photographer is to allow time for them to work their magic without feeling rushed or under pressure. I understand that planning a wedding can be overwhelming, with so many layers to consider. However, you don't need to worry because I am here to help you make the process easy and fun. Please note that this post is based on intimate weddings considering up to 100 guests, but you can always adapt for your needs.
To make the most of your wedding photography and videography, it is crucial to focus on creating a well-designed timesheet, taking into account the ideal lighting conditions and all other formalities you’d like to have captured. For example, I would suggest booking your ceremony to take place approximately 2 or 3 hours before sunset. Keep in mind that the timing may vary depending on the season, so it's always a good idea to check online for the sunset time. Avoid hours in between 10am to 2pm for an open air ceremony (with no shade), it can be too hot and uncomfortable for your guests and the light too harsh . By checking it all, you will be able to have your couple's photoshoot during the most magical hour of the day, which will add a beautiful and romantic soft sunshine to your pictures creating a splendid photography.
When considering the locations for different parts of your wedding day, it's important not to forget to calculate the time it takes, including any potential traffic, to travel from one place to another. If everything is happening at the same venue, then that simplifies things and saves time. However, if you have different locations for getting ready, the ceremony, and the reception, it is essential to factor in the travel time to ensure a smooth flow of events.
Remember, by allowing your photographer the time and freedom to work their magic, and by planning your schedule, you will not only capture stunning photos but also enjoy a stress-free and memorable wedding day. Trust me, with a little bit of planning and coordination, we can create extraordinary images that will last a lifetime.
Now that you are aware about the lighting, transfer and traffic between location let’s talk about how much time Approximately we need for each part of the day.
Getting Ready Groom - (Take in consideration on the distance to the Bride’s place)
1 hour
Getting Ready Bride - (Take in consideration on the distance to the Ceremony place)
1.5 hours
Ceremony Decor + Guests arriving
10 to 15 min
Ceremony - (If it’s an usual civil Ceremony, Religious Ceremony can take a little longer)
30 to 45 min
Congratulation, Hugs and Kisses, pos ceremony (Enjoy this moment and do not forget to smile)
15 min
Family Photos and Group Shot (it’s easier if you prepare a list of family members who you’d like to have photos with and COORDINATE with someone to bring them around.
15 min
Bridal and Couple Portraits (It can be longer if the couple wants different spots)
1 hour
Reception (Include all formalities you’d like to have covered: speeches, cutting the cake, first dance, etc)and also check with the venue their food service schedule to fit it all in.
4 to 6 hours
Other tips that helps on your planing:
write down all the important details you’d like to be covered (since a family JEWELLERY, photos on the pijamas, photos with your pet, back of the dress) it will help you COMMUNICATE better with your photographer.
Check the locations distance to add time driving/parking on the timesheet.
Answer the QUESTIONER sent by your photographer.
if you having your “getting ready” photos done, remember to keep the space/room tidy and clean as possible. put shoes out of the box, and SEPARATE the details to be photographed (perfume, invitation, rings, EARRINGS, shoes, dress/suit, cufflinks, tie, etc). What about pop up a champagne with your friends while dressing on nice robes/pijamas?
Ask your florist to deliver the bouquet 1 hour before you are heading to the ceremony.
Start your running sheet WRITING down the ceremony time, then you add the time expected for every part of the day.
have a meeting with the venue and discuss the service timesheet combined with speeches, cake, first dance, dance floor and any other formality you would like to be covered.
Avoid open air ceremony between 10am to 2pm (with no shade specially in summer, can be too hot).
if it is an open air ceremony, check the weather a week before and prepare a plan b or some umbrelas in case it might rain. if it’s too hot a water station or some fan would be an extra care with your guests.
make a list of the close family/friends you’d like photos with after the ceremony. choose a family member or a Close friend who would help us with the list, to organise the family members to be ready for the photos, saving time switching groups and not forgetting anyone.
ask one of your bridesmaid to help us during the couple portrait, she can help us with the veil and fixing the dress while I concentrate on directing you.
Do not forget to check all details, a nice pen to sign the documents, a cool knife to cut the cake, print the vows on a nice paper instead reading on the phone. that’s for the groom: an extra pocket square for the bride in case she cries, it is a romantic touch.
Timeline Examples
10-Hours Coverage
All Happening in different locations
10am - Groom Getting Ready, leave at 11am
30min - drive to the Bride
11:30am - Bride getting Ready, leave at 1pm
15 min - drive to the Church
1:15pm - Church decor + Guests arriving
1:30pm - Ceremony starts, finishes at 2:30pm
2:30pm - Congratulations, Group Shot, Family Shot, finishes 3pm
15min - driving to the reception
3:15 pm - Bridal + Couple Portrait + Cocktail for the guests
4:15pm - Reception Decor Photos
4:30pm - Couple Entrance
5 pm - First Speech (Be attempted how many people are speaking and how long you asking them to speak for, 5 people 10 min each = 50min of the day)
sitting table course menu style - (Check with the catering service to understand how to fit it all together, in general it goes for 1:30 hour)
6:30pm - Sunset Photos (Depending on the sunset time)
6:50pm - cutting the cake
7pm - First Dance, Open The Dance Floor, Toss the Bouquet
8pm - End Of The Photography Service
6 - Hours Coverage Example
All Happening at the same place. add 1 extra hour and include the groom getting ready covered or reorganize the reception running sheet to save time for the groom
2pm - Bride getting Ready
2:15pm - Ceremony decor + Guests arriving
2:30pm - Ceremony starts
3pm - Congratulations, Group Shot, Family Shot, finishes
3:30pm - Bridal + Couple Portrait + Cocktail for the guests
4:30pm - Reception Decor Photos
4:45pm - Couple Entrance
5 pm - First Speech (Be attempted how many people are speaking and how long you asking them to speak for, 5 people 10 min each = 50min of the day)
cocktail/CANAPÉS style (timesheet is more flexible)
6:30pm - Sunset Photos (Depending on the sunset time)
6:50pm - cutting the cake
7pm - First Dance, Open The Dance Floor, Toss the Bouquet
8pm - End Of The Photography Service
Ps: if you’d like to make it only 4 hours coverage, you can skip the getting ready part, and reorganize your reception timesheet. i can also tailor it for 2 hours to have only the ceremony and the couple photoshoot COVERED
Frequently Asked Questions
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The bride and everyone who is getting ready with her should be ready when the photographer arrives, then we can just do a little retouch.
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A little over 1 hour before you want to leave for the ceremony. This always takes longer than you think!
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A standard family photo list takes about 30 minutes. If you have a larger family you will need to allow more time. This takes much longer than you think so make sure you allocate family member from each side who can rally the troops!
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I recommend a second shooter if:
Bride and Groom getting ready 30 min far from each other.
Lot’s of decoration details needs to be captured at the reception and we don’t have time in between the couple photoshoot and guests arriving at the reception.
If the couple are interested on having different angles, for instance the bride entrance from her back.
If your wedding list is over 80 people.
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It’s a very intimate moment and it can turn out in such beautiful memories with your closest ones. Your mom zipping up your dress, your sister crying seeing you fully dressed for the first time, the dad’s groom getting emotional putting his tie on. It is the last time of you as a single person with your best friends, all the butterflies. Also is a chill moment for you get use to someone following you around with a camera, we both can get comfortable with each other and be ready to rock it all day long.
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If you are shy or never had the opportunity on doing a photoshoot I highly recommend you booking a couple session a few months before the wedding. You can also use the beautiful images taken in your wedding day. I am sure after a the couple photoshoot you will fell ready to rock it on your wedding day!