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Wedding Day Timeline Tips
Getting Ready – The Details – Dress, Shoes, Flowers, Rings
Time Allocation – 45 mins in the Morning
Every bride loves having those beautiful shots of all the bridal details. It is an essential part of the story and I love having some time to shoot the dress, shoes, jewellery, veil, flowers etc. I normally like to allow at least 30 – 45 minutes for this part of the day. While I’m shooting details, I’m also capturing some shots of the bride and her girls getting ready!
If the groom is getting ready nearby, my second photographer (if you’ve selected the second photographer option) will begin photographing the grooms details and his boys getting ready as well. since it always takes them less time to get dressed!
Put all the details into one area with the most natural light. This allows me to shoot right away without having to find the details I need. Designating a key person to ensure that main items that need to be photographed are easily available is also helpful.
Getting Ready – Bride & Groom Prep – Time Allocation : 60 -80mins
After the details have been photographed, it’s time for the bride to get into her dress! This is a big moment! I usually ask the mother of the bride and all of the bridesmaids be dressed by the time the bride is ready to get into her dress. This ensures that everyone will look nice in those images. After the bride is in her gown, she can put on her jewellery, veil, shoes, etc and I will shoot some additional bridal portraits!
It is nice if the room is clean & tidy for beautiful and nice photos! Some hotel rooms aren’t big enough for the bridal party and family.I will advise to get an additional room that can be kept empty and to have fewer worries of crowding. The benefit of getting an entire house to get ready is that everyone has space. There will be less clutter, more light and rooms to shoot the bridal party before the ceremony.
Important: Wherever it is that you decide to get ready in the morning, pick a room with lots of natural light and ideally face that light when having your makeup and hair done. Natural light will look more flattering on your skin, than if I had to use flash because of insufficient light and the room being too dark.
The Ceremony
Time Allocation – 30 – 60 mins
Let’s go get married!! Most ceremonies are 30- 60 minutes long. If your ceremony is longer than 30 mins, simply make some adjustments to the timeline! Cherish these moments! Your ceremony will pass by so quickly!
The Family Portraits- Time Allocation: 30 mins
Family formals normally take place immediately following the ceremony. It’s best to save all of the family formals until after the ceremony because ALL family members will be present at that time. We’ll need about 30 minutes for family formals and it’s good to start thinking about the family shots that you want. I recommend shooting portraits outdoors, if possible so that they resemble more natural family portraits, especially if the ceremony location is dark. Please make sure your wedding co-ordinator helps with organising all family members to make this run smoothly!
Having a list of family members for portraits will be ideal. We start with the immediate family of the bride and then the groom right after the ceremony. If there are additional family members that want pictures, in the interest of time, let them know ahead of the ceremony or we will get pictures of them at the reception.
Bride and Groom Portraits- Time Allocaton – 45 mins
Capturing your portrait photographs when the light is best( daylight) is the most ideal. It also means you’ve had time to relax and socialise with guests. If I feel the weather or logistics of the day will make this difficult, I may shoit indoors
This part of the day is what most couples look forward to. It’s 45mins minutes with just the two of you as a newly married couple. You can enjoy the time by yourselves. I keep it very relaxed and encourage you to be yourselves and enjoy the moment.
If this part of the day is important to you and you would like to take more time, or leave the venue to travel a short distance to make some epic pictures, then do let me know, I’m more than happy to do this.
The Reception Details- Time Allocation – 20 mins
If the reception is in the same location as the ceremony, I will use this time to shoot the reception decor UNTOUCHED. If the ceremony and reception are in different locations, I recommend having a cocktail hour outside of the main reception area if possible so that I or the second photographer (if its in your option) can grab some great shots of your reception before the reception begins and guests start laying down purses and coats on their seats. Please allow at least 10 mins before you enter so that I can capture your special room.
If you’d like to have a Grand Reveal – then we’ll need about 30 mins instead of 10 mins. (The Grand Reveal is when the Bride and Groom enter the Reception room before the guests for a few pictures in the space.)
Party Time!
This is when the bridal party lines up for introductions and the party begins!! By this part of the day, my timeline isn’t strict at all. I work off of the natural light and so after the sun is set, my portrait time is over and I begin focusing on the reception events!
If you’re interested in adding more hours of photography coverage, please let me know. Thanks! Let me know if you have questions. I can’t wait to receive the timeline from you or your coordinator soon.