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Wedding Timeline Examples With & Without A First Look
Trying to plan your wedding timeline but don’t know where to start? Then I’m your girl. I remember planning my own wedding (before I was a wedding photographer). Back then I had no clue how to plan out the timeline by myself. I remember asking, “how am I supposed to know how long a ceremony takes? I’ve never been married before!”
Now I’m a professional wedding photographer. Which means I’m at weddings almost every weekend! I know how long a ceremony takes. I know getting in your dress is definitely going to take more than five minutes. And I’m certain you won’t want to spend an hour outside during your reception for golden hour photos.
Here I have two example timelines for you one including a first look and one without. These show Non-Catholic ceremonies. If you’re planning on having a Catholic Mass, add 1 hour of coverage. You’ll usually need an extra half hour for the Mass and a half hour for travel between venues.
Example 1: Wedding Timeline (8 Hours) One Location + First Look
1:15 – 2:00 Val Photographs Bride’s Details, Second Photographs Final Touches of Hair & Makeup
2:00 – 2:45 Bride Gets Into Dress
2:45 – 3:00 Walk to First Look
3:00 – 3:15 First Look
3:15 – 3:45 Bride & Groom Portraits & Individuals
3:45 – 4:00 Bride with Bridesmaids
4:00 – 4:15 Full Bridal Party
4:15 – 4:30 Groom with Groomsmen
4:30 – 5:00 Immediate Family Photos (I love to squeeze these in before the ceremony when we can!)
5:00 – 5:30 Bride & Groom Hide, Rest & Retouch
Val & Second Photograph Ceremony Decor
5:30 – 6:00 Wedding Ceremony
6:00 – 6:30 Husband & Wife Sunset Portraits
6:30 – 7:00 Bride & Groom Join Cocktail Hour
Val & Second Photograph Guests & Reception Decor
7:00 Sunset
7:00 – 7:15 Guests Seated & Grand Entrances
7:15 – 9:15 Val & Second at Reception
Here is an example of what this wedding timeline could look like:
Example 2: (8 Hours) One Location + No First Look
1:30 – 2:15 Val Photographs Bride’s Details, Second Photographs Final Touches of Hair & Makeup
2:15 – 3:00 Bride Getting Into Dress
3:00 – 3:15 Bride Portraits
3:15 – 3:30 Bride with Bridesmaids
3:30 – 3:45 Bride with Her Family
3:45 – 4:00 Groom Individuals
4:00 – 4:15 Groom with Groomsmen
4:15 – 4:30 Groom with His Family
4:30 – 5:00 Bride & Groom Hide, Rest & Retouch, Val & Second Photograph Ceremony Decor
5:00 – 5:30 Wedding Ceremony
5:30 – 5:45 Full Bridal Party
5:45 – 6:00 Immediate Family Portraits with Bride & Groom
6:00 – 6:30 Husband & Wife Sunset Portraits
6:30 – 7:00 Bride & Groom Join Cocktail Hour
Val & Second Photograph Guests & Reception Decor
7:00 Sunset
7:00 – 7:15 Guests Seated & Grand Entrances
7:15 – 9:30 Val & Second at Reception
Here is an example of what this wedding timeline could look like:
Venues:
Example 1: The Cornerstone At Cedar
Example 2: Wellfield Botanic Gardens
Interested in having me as your wedding photographer?
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