Your timeline sets the tone for your entire wedding day. Here’s some tips and tricks to keeping it laid back and stress free.
The key to the flow of your wedding is… you guessed it… THE TIMELINE and schedule of events. To ensure there’s sufficient time for all the important moments, here’s a guide to help you.
I always work closely with every one of my couples to create thee perfect wedding day timeline. Every wedding is different, each have their own important moments that are meant to be enjoyed (and captured beautifully on camera). My most common coverage timeframe is 8-9 hours, which allows me to be present for the getting ready process all the way to the rowdy dance floor.. and all the beautiful in between. As a photographer, I want to capture IT ALL. The gallery is meant to tell a story from start to finish of one of the biggest days of your life. So, I like to make sure I have enough time to do so comfortably. A well planned, laid back timeline not only helps me (and the other vendors) do their job well, but it helps the couple enjoy themselves more. Worry less, have more fun.. which is what we all want, RIGHT!?
Getting Ready
It all begins in the hours leading up to the ceremony. I love spending an hour with both the bride + groom separately so I’m able to photograph the anticipation and hope that is heavy before the I do’s. In addition to these moments of preparations, I use this time to grab some photos of the little details. I’m married.. I know the effort and what a labor of love piecing the entire day together. Every little detail speaks from your heart, and I’m here for them. I ask my couples to gather up their detail items before I arrive so when I do, they’re ready to go. These items are the shoes, dress, rings, your favorite bottle of perfume or cologne, a copy of your wedding invitation, tie, cuff links, even your bottle of favorite bourbon you picked up to share with your groomsmen before the day unfolds. Anything else special to YOU is fair game.
First Look, First Touch, Vow Reading
What’s right for one couple doesn’t mean it’s right for another. I give my clients the decision of whether they’d like to share some private moments together before the ceremony begins. Some love the idea of a first look, which gives you some privacy to let the emotions out before being put on display at the aisle. Some couples love the idea, but that moment that the groom sees his bride walk towards him at the ceremony is too important to pass up.. so they may opt in for a first touch. A first touch is an intimate moment shared that allows you to comfort one another without seeing each other. Sometimes during a first look or first touch a couple exchanges letters or even reads private vows to each other. Some save all the sweetness for the ceremony. Whatever you decide to do is up to no one BUT YOU and as your wedding vendor, I want what makes you happy. If you do opt in for this little extra, we generally put aside anywhere from 15-30 minutes for this. If there’s time during our schedule, we may even sneak in a few bridal portraits. But, only if there’s time.
*Here’s an example of a first touch WHILE reading letters they wrote to one another. They didn’t see each other before the ceremony! This particular wedding was hosted at The Flint Farmers Market - highly recommend!
Ceremony
Before the ceremony begins, for couples having both the ceremony and reception at the same location I love to give myself 30 minutes to not only prep for the ceremony (setting up lights, if needed, and deciding on location for capturing awesome perspectives), but to also have some time to sneak in detail photos of both the ceremony and reception set-ups before the areas are full of guests. These things include the cake, the table set-up and centerpieces and guest book (or alternative).
A religious ceremony can take around one hour from start to finish, while a non-religious union may only take 20-30 minutes. A word of advice.. take your time. Take your time with your walk down the aisle, move slowly through your vows, take a moment to soak in the first kiss as husband and wife. Enjoy every moment and be fully present in it all.
Portraits
I always encourage family groupings to occur immediately following the ceremony. I do this as a convenience to your wedding guests. They’re already there, no one has to run off to search for anyone, and by getting them done first it allows your guests to go enjoy themselves at cocktail hour while we’re finishing things up. I always suggest to my couples to work up a family groupings list in advance. Wedding days are fast paced and by waiting until the day-of to ‘wing it’, we risk missing something. I start with larger groupings first and then remove members as we work through each side of the family. After we have family completed, then we’ll move on to the wedding party. I love photographing the bride with her bridesmaids as a group (and the bride and each bridesmaid individually, if desired) as well as the groom and his groomsmen. Then, I get the full bridal party together for a few shots then let your friends go enjoy themselves before the grand entrance for a bit. The bridal party takes me around 30 minutes to work though, typically, and timing depends a lot of the group size. Last comes the bridal portraits of you and your hubs/wifey. I prefer these be as intimate as possible and try to break away from family and friends to give us the personal space and private moments we need to make these images perfect. I love having at least 30 minutes for these photos. So, all in all I like to have around 1.5hrs ideally after the ceremony to capture all of these things.
Big Rapids, MI
Moments leading up to the reception
After we have all the portraits finished, I prefer the bride and groom to have a moment to themselves while I get lights set up for the grand entrance. This usually only takes me 10 minutes. Then, we’re ready for the big introduction!
Reception
I give the schedule 15 minutes for the entrance announcements. Once the wedding party is seated, that’s generally when toasts and prayers begin. Some couples like to immediately cut the cake after walking in, others prefer to wait until after dinner to do it. Both ways work beautifully.
I estimate dinner to last one hour, in which I sit down and take a break to eat, as well. Once dinner is complete, the DJ usually announces the start of your first dance as husband and wife. Following, dances are usually shared between the groom and his mother as well as the bride and her father. After these special moments come to an end, the dance floor is opened up to all the guests and thats when the fun happens!
Sunset Portraits
Depending on the time and location, this is when I love to pull my couples outside for a quick 15 minutes to get some sunset photos.
Don’t Forget
It’s very important for you share the timeline with the DJ so they know when your photographer and/or videographer are intended to leave. That way all the important reception events can be documented within the service time frame.
You do you!
There is no right or wrong way to plan your wedding day. The entire day should reflect you as a couple, your interests, and your priorities. As a vendor for your wedding, my job is to make suggestions and offer advice so I can ensure everything gets documented beautifully and with minimal stress. If you have ideas or an offbeat request, BE SURE TO ASK! I’m here for you.