What's in a day: suggested wedding day timelines

To be safe, plan all must-have shots to be done by sunset. Check sunset times here. Also, so you're not upset on your wedding day, be sure your flowers are delivered in time for group pictures with your girls/guys. If you are spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on flowers, they should be in pictures.

The below list is the standard amount of time "events" typically take on the day of the wedding. Don't forget to allot for time it takes to get from event to event and place to place, a period of time that I have not added on this list as that varies. If it looks like there is too much time designated for something, that's a good thing. Everything always takes longer than planned. Following this list are two sample timelines. Most wedding days (from preparation to leaving the reception) last anywhere between 10-15 hours.

Do you need a photographer for that whole time? Probably not. Most photographers will book 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 hour packages. I feel 8-9 hours is the best amount of time to tell your story.

The following order of events assumes that sunset doesn't occur until around the time when the reception begins. If sunset is at a different time, just rearrange it.

2-3 hours: girls at salon or wherever to do their hair and makeup (depends on how many girls there are and how many stylists/artists there are)
1-2 hours: girls putting on dresses/finishing touches (guys getting ready during this time; they typically can get ready in an hour)
35 minutes: group girl shots
35 minutes: group guy shots
35-45 minutes: any other shots that would be easier to take before the ceremony (bride/groom & parents & siblings, etc.)
30 minutes: all bridal party members should have this time to chill while ceremony guests are being seated
30 minutes-1 hour: Ceremony
45 minutes: receiving line (if you're having one)
30-35 minutes: remaining formal pictures with family (for 15 groups)
1-1.5 hours: wedding party pics and bride & Groom shots. (if you choose a location that is close to the reception or the ceremony site, that works perfectly!!!)
3-5 hours: reception

(I recommend working backwards from your ceremony time)

FIRST-GLANCE TIMELINE:
For brides and grooms who want to see one another well before the ceremony so they can be sure to get photos together of the two of them before sun down.

Scenario: A 4 p.m. wedding in late November in the midwest. Sunset time: 5 p.m.-ish

8 a.m.--Bridesmaids at salon to do their hair and makeup
10:30 a.m.--Girls putting on dresses and finishing touches/Guys getting ready during this time, too. Maybe have lunch delivered in there so no one gets hungry! (bridesmaids get dresses on first, then help the bride)
***Flowers delivered by NOON.

OPTION A:
12:30 p.m.-- Girls go with photographer for group shots; bride
alone
1:00 p.m.--Guys go with photographer for group shots;
groom alone
1:30 p.m.--First glance to take place (to be arranged by
photographer if needed; this is when the groom waits somewhere with his back to
where the bride will enter. Then he turns around when she comes near.) After a
few moments, go with the photographer for shots of just the two together.
**decide if you want to kiss before the ceremony
2:00 p.m.--full bridal party pictures (just BMs, GMs and maybe ushers)
2:45 p.m.--family formals (I limit brides and grooms to 10 groupings)3:30 p.m.--all photos done; break until ceremony
4 p.m.--ceremony

OPTION B (if leaving premises of where you are getting ready)
12:30 p.m.--First glance and then go with the photographer for shots of just the two together. **decide if you want to kiss before the ceremony
1 p.m.--Full bridal party pictures (just BMs, GMs and maybe ushers); just girls pics; just guys pics; bride and groom pics at various locations if possible
2:45 p.m.--family formals (I limit brides and grooms to 10 groupings)
3:30 p.m.--all photos done; break until ceremony
4 p.m.--ceremony


TRADITIONAL TIMELINE:
For brides and grooms who opt to not see each other until the bride walks down the aisle.

In the scenario given above (in blue)...if the ceremony is at 4 and the sun sets at 5, and you are not going to see each other beforehand, I urge you to reconsider or else you will sacrifice well-lit photos of just you two together. Yes, I can do off-camera flash...but these images might not be what you truly want. But if there is no way around it, we will do the best we can with available light.

10 a.m.--Girls at salon or wherever to do hair/makeup
Noon--Guys/Girls getting dressed and finish getting ready (have lunch delivered!)
***Flowers delivered by 1 p.m.
1:00 p.m.--Guys go with photographer for group shots; groom alone
1:40 p.m.--Bride puts on dress
2:00--Girls go with photographer for group shots; bride alone
2:45 p.m.--bride's family photos
3:00 p.m.--groom's family photos
3:30 p.m.--all photos done; break until ceremony
4 p.m.--ceremony
I recommend NOT doing a receiving line if the sun is nearly down at this point
Immediately following ceremony: Photos of immediate family members of bride and groom; full wedding party pictures; bride and groom photos
(if you have 1.5 hours of sunlight to work with after guests leave the ceremony, that is enough time to get 10 family shots and then fun wedding party images and bride and groom pictures)

For my brides and grooms....if any of this confused you, just email me your ceremony time, let me know if you are seeing one another beforehand...and I will draft you a timeline! :)Remember...my goal is to have happy brides and grooms. And though you hate to revolve your entire day around your photos, if you don't make time for the photos you want, you won't get the photos you want.

(The above post is copyright, All Rights Reserved....so please do not repost or publish anywhere...instead, just link back to my blog. :) ) Thank you.