THE ALLURING WEDDING SERIES
THE CREATIVE WEDDING TIMELINE
If you’ve been following “The Alluring Wedding Series” you should now be fully confident in planning your engagement & wedding.
The next part of this series is to share some insight on how you can be creative with your wedding day timeline all while being able to enjoy every moment of it.
Including your photographer and planner, will insure there is enough time for all of your photos. We are here to help!
I will be sharing two of the most popular wedding timelines. The first will focus on the idea of having a “First Look” and the second will focus on the idea of keep a “Traditional Ceremony”. Overall this is a great way to get ideas and fully customize for your special day.
WHAT IS A CREATIVE TIMELINE?
As a bride, your wedding day should be a joyful and stress-free celebration of your love. That's why all of our couples choose to create a creative wedding timeline, which allows for more flexibility and personalization on your special day.
The most important part of your timeline will likely be the time between getting ready and the ceremony, but you can also get creative with the events of the reception and beyond. The goal is to have a relaxed and enjoyable day, without feeling pressure to stick to a strict schedule. This is especially noticeable during the reception, where you can choose to move through events quickly or take your time and savor the moment. Trust yourself and your instincts, and know that your creative wedding timeline will help you and your partner enjoy every moment of your special day. Don’t feel forced by your planner or photographer. Discuss every option that gives you the absolute freedom to say THAT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE! It’s very possible and we believe every bride deserves the best experience on her wedding day!
What is a first look?
The first look breaks the age old tradition that the groom has to wait until he sees his bride until the ceremony. With a first look, there is still anticipation and build-up to seeing each other on the day, it just happens before the ceremony.
Pros of this schedule:
Bride and groom get to spend more time together and share more special moments! In a traditional timeline, you wouldn't see each other until roughly 4:30pm, while as doing a first look allows them to see each other much earlier.
Helps calm their nerves before the ceremony (which helps with photos!).
The time between the ceremony and reception doesn't have to drag out. Because most of the photographs are completed, the reception can start much quicker.
Winter weddings!! Because it gets dark out much earlier it may make sense to do a first look so that we can take photographs while it’s still light outside!
Cons of this schedule:
Days typically start earlier. Due to all the photographs being before, everyone has to get ready earlier in the day.
Quality of light may not always be as good. This can totally depend on weather and the season of your wedding though.
Tradition. Many couples want to follow standard wedding traditions without a first look.
“FIRST LOOK”
WEDDING TIMELINE
THIS TIMELINE IS IDEAL FOR:
8 to 10 hours of photo coverage
Including a first look
Sunset photos of the couple
Start time can be adjusted depending on the season or ceremony start time.
12:00pm - Photographer arrive for getting ready candid photos + detail photos
Suggested time: 1 hour
1:00pm - Hair and Makeup Complete:
Bride & Bridesmaid photos in robes
Champaign cheers photos
Suggested time: 15 minutes
1:00pm - Groom & Groomsmen getting ready photos
Detail photos
Candids
Groom Toast
Suggested time: 45 minutes
1:20pm - Bride & Bridesmaids gets dressed
Mother of bride zips up dress
bridesmaids help put on heels and final accessories
Suggested time: 30 minutes
2:00pm - Travel to First look location
Suggested time: 10 minutes
2:10pm - First look + Wedding Party Photos + 1st Couples Portrait Session
First look can takes 10 minutes
1st Couples Portraits can take 45 minutes
Wedding Party can take 35 minutes
Suggested time: 1.5 hour
3:30pm - Bride and groom tucked away as guests begin to arrive
Bride & Groom relax
Suggested time: 30 minutes
3:30pm - Ceremony Details Photographed
Suggested time: 20 minutes
4:00pm - Ceremony
Suggested time: 30 minutes
4:30pm - Family Formals {provide family photo list}
Immediate Family Portraits
Suggested time: 30 minutes
5:00pm - Couple joins Cocktail Hour
Suggested time: 1 hour
5:00pm - Reception details photographed. No one allowed to be seated during this time.
Suggested time: 45 minutes
6:00pm - Reception Begins - BE CREATIVE HERE!
Suggested time: Varies
Grand Entrance
First Dances
Dinner begins to be served
Speeches / Toasts
Bride & Groom Sunset Photos - Suggested time: 20min
Parent Dances
Open Dancing
Cake Cutting
Open Dancing
10:00pm - End of coverage
What is traditional schedule?
The Traditional Schedule (Cocktail Hour) is pretty common, and there are some important items that will need to be addressed in order to create a stress-free timeline. Only individual bridesmaid and groomsmen pictures are taken prior to the ceremony. After the ceremony, family formals are immediately taken, we’ll gather the bridal party for a couple group shots, and then the bride and groom have their Couples Session. In most situations, this is going on prior to & during the cocktail hour. We then head off to the reception.
Pros of this schedule:
It’s the traditional timeline without a first look.
Shooting time - The most ideal time for photographs is 1-2 hours before sunset. The sun is lower and softer. Doing the traditional route allows for shooting later in the day. For winter weddings, be aware that this timeline may need to be adjusted due to the sun setting at an earlier time.
Here is a huge tip! Head to: Time & Date and type in your city. From there, scroll down and put in your wedding month and the sunset times will pop up!
No more stress! Once the wedding ceremony is over; the hard part is finished. Couples love the idea of the “anticipation” being over and are able to and fully relax for their portraits!
Cons of this schedule:
The biggest con is a scheduling. Some weddings only allow for an hour in between the ceremony and reception. As a photographer, it gets tricky when we have to photograph family formals, bridal party, and a couples session for the couple all in 1 hour. Some photographs may be sacrificed and rushed in order to get back in time for the reception.
If cocktail hour is something the couple wants to attend this timeline may not be the best, since that would cut into their portrait time together.
I would suggest not doing a receiving line after the ceremony with this timeline. Receiving lines can take upwards to an hour, and you will want that time for photos of the couple!
“TRADITIONAL”
WEDDING TIMELINE
THIS TIMELINE IS IDEAL FOR:
8 to 10 hours of coverage
Traditional Schedule with most photos taken during cocktail hour
No First Look
Start time can be adjusted depending on the season or Sunset.
12:00pm - Photographer arrive for getting ready candid photos + detail photos
Suggested time: 1 hour
1:00pm - Hair and Makeup Complete:
Bride & Bridesmaid photos in robes
Champaign cheers photos
Suggested time: 15 minutes
1:20pm - Bride & Bridesmaids gets dressed
Mother of bride zips up dress
bridesmaids help put on heels and final accessories
Suggested time: 30 minutes
1:20pm - Groom & Groomsmen getting ready photos
Detail photos
Candids
Groom Toast
Suggested time: 1 hour
2:00pm - Bride & Bridesmaids Photos
Bride’s Portraits
Bride & Bridesmaids Portraits
Bride & individual Bridesmaid
Bride & Father
Bride & Mother
Suggested time: 30 minutes
2:30pm - Groom & Groomsmen Photos
Groom Portraits
Groom & Groomsmen Portraits
Groom & individual Groom
Groom & Father
Groom & Mother
Suggested time: 30 minutes
3:00pm - Bride and groom tucked away as guests begin to arrive
Bride & Groom relax
Suggested time: 30 minutes
3:00pm - Ceremony & Reception Details Photographed
Suggested time: 1 hour
3:45pm - Guest begin finding their seats
Suggested time: 15 minutes
4:00pm - Ceremony Begins
Suggested time: 30 minutes
4:30pm - Family Formals {provide family photo list} Cocktail Hour Begins
Immediate Family Portraits
Suggested time: 30 minutes
5:00pm - Full Bridal Party Photos
Full Bridal Party photo combinations
Full Couples Portrait
Suggested time: 1.5 hour
6:30pm - Reception Begins - BE CREATIVE HERE!
Suggested time: Varies
Grand Entrance
First Dances
Dinner begins to be served
Speeches / Toasts
Parent Dances
Open Dancing
Cake Cutting
Open Dancing
10:00pm - End of coverage
Thank You!
We can’t wait to be a part of your wedding date! It’s coming up so soon! As always, you have full access to me at anytime. I love being a part of the planning and I can’t wait to capture the moment you walk down the aisle!
If you haven’t booked your engagement & wedding photographer, please feel free to contact me! We would love to hear all about your day and help create timeless memories for you and your loved ones. It has been an absolute honor to have you join us for The Alluring Wedding Series!
- Steve