-Your Wedding Timeline-
The perfect timeline for the perfect day.
As a bride, I remember creating the timeline was the most overwhelming part of wedding planning. After years of shooting weddings I have seen many different timelines, and now have first-hand experience with which ones worked well, and which didn’t. Below I’ve listed out a few versions of timelines that generally work out well for weddings. These are just templates for you to use as a baseline for your day, so feel free to mix and match them, or customize them any way you see fit!
Before we move on though, I cannot stress this enough: the written timeline is simply a guideline for the day. YOU, the lovely bride, ARE the timeline, You cannot be late or early, and nothing can start without you! I can count on my fingers how many weddings actually stayed on track with their planned timeline. Most weddings deviate in one way or another, on purpose or by accident. The most fun and memorable weddings are the ones where the couple roles with the punches, hold on tight to their happiness, and really take the time to enjoy their day- even if that means guests wait, vendors stand by, or in-laws get fussy.
With all that in mind, let’s go over some timelines and other key information that can help you create your most ideal wedding day!
SAMPLE TIMELINES
CLASSIC - With ‘First Look’
12:00pm - Photography arrives & shoots details
1:00pm - Bride gets in dress
1:10pm - Bridesmaids first look & finish bride’s accessories
1:20pm - Dads first look
1:30pm - Groom gets dressed
1:50pm - Groom’s “First Look”
2:00pm - Bridal Portraits
-Together
-Bride alone
-Groom alone
2:45pm - Family Portraits
3:15pm - Bridal Party Portraits
-Whole party + ring bearers & flower girls for one shot
-Groom & groomsmen
-Individuals of Groom with each Groomsmen
-Bride & bridesmaids
-Individuals of Bride with each Bridesmaid
3:40pm - Prep for ceremony
4:00pm - Ceremony
4:30 - Send-off (confetti, rice, bubble, etc)
4:45 - Couple arrives for Cocktail Hour (second shooter captures cocktail hour while I am photographing your empty reception venue & decor before guests are welcomed in)
5:15pm - Guests invited into reception
5:30pm - Grand Entrance
5:45pm - Reception
6:30 - Dinner
7:00 - Toasts
7:20 - Mother & Father dances
7:35 - Cake cutting
7:45 - Group Shot & Open Dance Floor
8:45 - 3rd Bridal Portraits (Sunset Portraits)
9:00 - Bride & Groom return to Reception
9:30 - Sparkler Exit/Send Off
9:45 - Photography leaves
2. CLASSIC - No ‘First Look’
1:45 - Photography arrives & shoots details
2:30 - Girls getting ready
3:00 - Groom gets dressed
3:20 - Bride gets dressed
3:30 - Bridesmaids “First Look”
3:40 - Dad’s “First Look”
3:50 - Prep for ceremony
4:00 - Ceremony
4:30 - Family Portraits
5:00 - Bridal Party Portraits
5:20 - 1st Bridal Portraits
5:50 - Prep for Reception
6:00 - Grand Entrance & First Dance
6:30 - Dinner
7:00 - Toasts
7:20 - Mother & Father dances
7:35 - Cake cutting
7:45 - Group Shot & Open Dance Floor
8:45 - 2nd Bridal Portraits (Sunset Portraits)
9:00 - Bride & Groom return to Reception
9:30 - Sparkler Exit/Send Off
9:45 - Photography leaves
3. RELAXED - Designed to focus on enjoying the day with fewer photo interruptions.
1:45 - Photography arrives & shoots details
2:20 - Girls getting ready
2:40 - Groom gets dressed
3:10 - Bride gets dressed
3:40 - Groom’s “First Look”
3:50 - Bridal Portraits
4:10 - Family Portraits
4:30 - Bridal Party Portraits
4:45 - Prep for ceremony
5:00 - Ceremony
5:30 - Guest greeting & congratulations
5:40 - Prep for Reception
5:50 - Grand Entrance & First Dance
6:00 - Dinner
6:30 - Toasts
7:00 - Mother & Father dances
7:15 - Cake cutting
7:25 - Group Shot & Open Dance Floor
9:30 - Sparkler Exit/Send Off
9:45 - Photography leaves
Make it Your Own
Use any of these templates as a starting point for your timeline! Remember to adjust the time according to what time sunset is on your wedding date. Need more time? Add extra hours so you don’t compromise on any part of your wedding day!
Still needing help?
Schedule a meeting with me to help go over your entire timeline step by step!