WEDDING TIMELINE GUIDE
Crafting a timeline for your wedding day can be difficult. Trying to give yourself enough time throughout the day for everything you want covered can sometimes seem impossible when you have no clue how long photos and portions of the day typically take. But don't you worry! I've got you covered. I've photographed my fair share of weddings, so I can assist you in creating a smooth timeline of your special day that gives you enough time to breathe and enjoy all the special moments, while ensuring that we capture everything you're wanting. Let's get started<3
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
-Will there be a first look?
-Are my locations far apart?
-Family photos-just immediate or extended?
-How long will the ceremony be?
-Which reception events do you for sure want captured?
-Do I want photos getting ready or do I want to be ready when the photographer arrives?
DETAILS
*Having a box ready to go with your shoes, jewelry, perfume, rings, invites/save the dates, florals, and any other details you want captured helps tremendously when I arrive!*
You spend so much time carefully planning out all the details of your wedding day-the invitations, your shoes, your jewelry, the dress, the flowers, etc etc etc and then you get NO PHOTOS of any of it! *gasp* I won't let that happen though. Detail shots are some of my favorites to do, so I always recommend setting aside time for this as soon as I arrive. Typically, detail shots take about about 30-45 minutes. I also come to every wedding with a box full of little extras to add into your shots-greenery, ribbon, ring boxes, extra flowers, and more. You'll be able to look back on even the smallest details of your day, because they are important too <3
GETTING READY
As a bride, you spend lots of time getting ready for the wedding. You get your makeup done, your hair fixed up, put on your jewelry and shoes, and of course- THE DRESS. So how do you know when to have me come? Do you need 3 hours of photos of you getting ready? If time allows, I recommend having me come towards the end of you getting ready. It works best if your makeup is already done, and your hair is about 15-20 minutes from being done. This gives me the opportunity to snap some photos of you still getting fixed up, and then I'm able to take the dress and do some detail shots of everything while you're wrapping up. Then I come back, give you the dress, and get photos of your mom/maid of honor/bestie lacing it up. Works like a charm. If you are choosing a smaller package, time may not allow for photos of this, but we'll still get beautiful photos of you already in the dress. Don't worry:)
THE MEN
*Make sure the men know when to be ready and where to be. This helps the process go much quicker and much more smoothly!*
Another thing to consider when creating your timeline is if you want photos of the men getting ready. I have learned from experience that groomsmen usually hate photos a little less whenever they are done outside and not crammed in a room while putting on clothes that confuse them. Those photos, along with the groomsmen group shots and individual shots with the groom usually take about 15-20 minutes.
FAMILY PHOTOS
Do you want just immediate family photos, or extended family as well? If you are doing a smaller photo package, I recommend limiting family photos to immediate family and just a few special family members. The more time you spend taking these, the less time you get for photos of the bride and groom (which are very important). One thing I tell every single bride is to write up a shot list. That way I can read it straight off the paper and people will come up to the front to take the photos. This also helps me a ton because I don't know everyone's names. You will just create a list for each photo like this..
"Bride and Groom with Mom"
"Bride and Groom with Aunt ____ and Uncle ____"
It's the best way to get photos with every person you want, without accidentally missing someone. The average time spent on family photos is usually around 20 minutes.
DO YOU WANT A FIRST LOOK?
Having a first look or not is probably the most important factor to think about when creating your timeline. If you have a first look, you are able to take all photos before the ceremony, so it gives you a lot more freedom after the ceremony and before the reception to take bride and groom photos and to limit the time guests are waiting at the reception. I typically lean towards the first look because I feel like timelines that include a first look seem to be a lot more relaxed and flexible.
Not doing a first look is great too though. I'm always a sucker for a "Groom seeing his bride walking down the aisle with tears in his eyes" picture. If you go this route, we will do all the bridesmaid, groomsmen, and separate family photos before the ceremony, and then all full bridal party, full family, and bride and groom photos after the ceremony. You will need to have between 1-1.5 hours allotted after the ceremony for photos (depending on amount of family photos and if we are traveling anywhere)
BRIDAL PARTY
The amount of time needed for bridal party photos depends on if you have already done the bride and bridesmaids photos and the groom and groomsmen photos during the getting ready photos. If you plan on doing them all together, I recommend about 30 minutes for these. This will give you time to do Groomsmen group shots and individuals with the Groom, bridesmaid group shots and individuals with the bride, and then full bridal party photos. If you've already taken Groomsmen and Bridesmaid photos and are doing full bridal party separately, 15-20 minutes should be plenty of time. Just make sure to allow extra time if the bridal party will be traveling to different locations for photos.
BRIDE & GROOM PORTRAITS
Listen. These photos are important. Real important. These are the photos you frame in your house. You put them on the mantle. You blow up a giant print and put it in the bedroom. You want to make sure you have plenty of time for these. If this means taking 5 or 10 minutes less for family photos or bridal party photos, do it. I recommend at least 30 minutes for these photos, and closer to 45 minutes-1 hour if we will be traveling at all. Also consider the timing of when you want these photos. Golden hour (right before sunset) is the most beautiful time for photos. Dead in the middle of the afternoon is when the sun is the harshest, which may make it a little more difficult to find spots with nice lighting. (If time doesn't allow for you to do evening shots, and we have to do afternoon ones, don't you worry, we will still make some magic)
RECEPTION
When thinking about the reception, make a list of the key parts of the night that you want photographed and be sure to put those towards the beginning. Dinner usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour to get everyone through the line, depending on the number of guests, so you want to make sure to take that into account when planning the schedule for the reception. If you only have me for a short amount of time for the reception, I recommend doing the first dance/father daughter dance/mother son dance right away, followed by speeches and then dinner. That way your time isn't taken up with the very long dinner line.
IT'S YOUR DAY
The most important thing to remember through all of this is that it is YOUR DAY. Enjoy every minute of it. The point of this guide is for you to be able to structure a timeline that flows smoothly so you do not have to worry at all about it on your wedding day. I'll be there to capture all the details, big and small, so you can look back on every one of them and remember how perfect your day was together. <3
PLANNING ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
Should you do engagement photos?
YES. YES. YES.
Not only are engagement photos so fun for you and your soon to be spouse to do, they also help you both get comfortable in front of the camera, and comfortable with me. I'm going to be spending all day long with you at your wedding, so it helps when we aren't complete strangers. Engagement photos are your opportunity to go somewhere special to you both. I'm always down for a hike, a four-wheeler ride across a field, or walking across a frozen creek that shouldn't have been walked across to get that perfect shot (true story)
"We are so awkward in front of the camera though. We'll hate it." Guess what. You don't have to be a pro in front of the camera to get beautiful shots. I do a little posing, and a lot of prompting. Be ready to twirl, spin, giggle, dip, etc etc etc. We end up with 10/10 candid shots and you weren't feeling like you were taking awkward prom photos the whole time. Win-Win.
FAQ
I. How many photos will I receive?
Typically, the amount for each wedding is around 75 per hour. This number fluctuates depending on time spent traveling between locations and other factors throughout wedding days, but that number is the typical amount.
II. Turnaround time?
Wedding turnaround time is 4-5 weeks. You will receive previews within 72 hours though!
III. How will I receive the photos?
When your photos are done, I will send you a link with your full album on it. The link stays active for a full year, so you have plenty of time to download it.
IV. Will you pose us?
The best thing about your wedding day is that so many moments are unposed ones. I will be taking pictures of all the little things happening, and you won't even realize it. When it comes to family photos/bridal party photos, I will pose everyone accordingly. My style for the bride and groom portraits is to give you a prompt (walking, spinning, kissing) and taking pictures as you do it. It produces genuine, candid photos, and you aren't stuck wondering how to stand or what to do with your hands.
V. Do you bring anyone with you?
Typically, when I shoot weddings over 4 hours, my husband comes with me to help assist. He is a sunglasses and drink carrier, a dress fluffer, and willing to run and grab Grandma when she's needed for a photo.
