5 Things To Keep In Mind When Creating Your Wedding Day Timeline
Creating your wedding day timeline can feel like a daunting task. There are a lot of things to take into consideration and if you're like most couples, you've never actually planned a wedding before! Luckily, your industry professionals are here to help. Throughout the wedding planning process, you will be in touch with each of your wedding vendors to make sure everyone is on the same page. A well-written timeline will ensure all of the big and small moments of your day are accounted for with ample time to spare.
If you are working with my team for your wedding photography needs, I will be your go-to girl when creating your wedding day timeline! One month before the wedding, you'll receive a timeline questionnaire for you to fill in all of the important details about your day. After the questionnaire is complete, I will use that information to create your customized timeline. I make sure everything is optimized for a stress-free wedding day and prep my team for a smooth execution.
Here are the top 5 things to keep in mind when answering your wedding timeline questionnaire:
1. First Look or No First Look
A major factor when determining your timeline is whether or not you do a first look.
Need help deciding? Check out this blog!
FIRST LOOK
If you opt for a first look, I would suggest jumping straight into portraits afterward. Plan on a two-hour time block pre-ceremony for your first look, couple portraits, wedding party, and family formal photos. A first look has many benefits, but being able to spend more time with your guests at cocktail hour is a big one!
NO FIRST LOOK
If you choose to go the traditional route, you will take couple portraits, wedding party, and family photos after the ceremony. Similar to a first look, you'll want to dedicate at least two hours post-ceremony for portraits. My husband and I chose the traditional route for our wedding and we are so happy we got to share that special moment with our family and friends.
Please keep in mind that doing a first look does not make seeing each other down the aisle any less special! There will still be strong emotions, happy tears, and all the feels because in that moment, everything becomes real. The right decision for you is whatever you both are most comfortable with, no matter what anyone else has to say!
2. What Time Does The Sun Go Down?
No matter the time of year, your wedding day timeline will be based on the sunset. If you're getting married in the winter, the sun goes down around 4:00 pm. In that case, I would highly suggest doing a first look! Sometimes things take longer than expected and the last thing you want is to run out of daylight. Checking the exact time of the sunset and planning accordingly will ensure you get the best light for your wedding day portraits.
**For those dreamy golden hour photos, plan on sneaking away about 15 minutes before sunset with your photographer!
3. How Long Do Photos Take During The Wedding Day?
I can't speak for all photographers, but here's a general breakdown of how long photos typically take with my team!
Prep Photos: 1 hour (Details + Flat Lay, Getting Ready Photos, Final Dressing)
Family Formal Photos: 30 min
First Look: 15 min
Couple Portraits w/ First Look: 30 min
Couple Portraits w/o First Look: 45 min
Wedding Party Portraits: 30 min
Sunset Photos: 15 min Before Sunset
4. Consider Travel Time and Parking
Chicago city couples, this one is for you! If you are planning on getting ready or taking portraits in a separate location than your venue then you need to account for travel time! Google Maps is my favorite way to map out routes and estimate drive time between locations. Spot hero is another great resource for parking if you do not have a party bus or trolley rented for transportation. (If you're working with my team, I always make sure to include travel time into your timeline!)
5. How Much Photography Coverage Do You Need?
Based on my experience, 7-8 hours of photography coverage is the sweet spot for most weddings. This will cover getting ready and morning detail photos all the way to the final dance party. I recommend having us arrive no sooner than one hour before you two are dressed and leave one hour after the dancing begins. You'd be surprised at how many epic dance photos we can capture in the first 30 minutes!
I hope these tips help you create your wedding day timeline!
**Keep in mind that this information is based solely on my personal experience. Each photographer/videographer may have a slightly different approach when it comes to creating your timeline so be sure to ask them for their input and advice.
I have included two mock timelines below to help you visualize everything mentioned above. Save these to Pinterest!
