First things first… I can’t recommend getting a wedding planner enough. It makes your wedding day run so smoothly and the planners I work with are truly some of the most talented, kind people I know! But I get it… wedding budgets are limited and a planner isn’t always a priority. If that’s you, no worries! I’ve got a few timeline suggestions for your big day to help it be as easy and lovely as possible.

There are several options below – all of them can be modified based on the time of the ceremony, any travel time between venues if needed, and more. They’re really just the rough templates that I use for every single wedding day to make sure we make everything run smoothly!

You’ll also notice that some things (like the bride + bridesmaid portraits) may not actually take us 30 minutes… but after years of doing weddings and knowing that hair/makeup can get behind, especially on big bridal parties, I’d rather have a buffer built in than make everyone stressed out on their wedding day. Fun fact – that’s also why I love to take photos of the guys first. It’s usually a lot faster for them to throw on their suits than it is for the bridesmaids to all get dressed and make final hair/makeup changes.

6-hour-day

with no first look

3:30pm // photographers arrive, start photographing details

4:00pm // bride gets dressed

4:15pm // groom portraits + photos with groomsmen

4:30pm // bridal portraits + photos with bridesmaids

5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready

6:00pm // ceremony begins

6:30pm // family photos begin, bridal party stays close for a few photos at the end

7:00pm // bride + groom photos begin

7:30pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin

8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!

9:30pm // exit (can be staged if you want to stay and party more with your friends but let family leave!)

with first look

3:30pm // photographers arrive, start photographing details

4:00pm // bride gets dressed

4:15pm // first look, bridal portraits, several portraits of the couple

4:30pm // bridal party joins in for portraits

5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready

6:00pm // ceremony begins

6:30pm // family photos begin

6:45pm // bride + groom photos begin

7:15pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin

8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!

9:30pm // exit (can be staged if you want to stay and party more with your friends but let family leave!)

8-hour-day

with no first look

2:00pm // photographers arrive, start photographing details + “getting ready” shots of everyone

3:00pm // bride gets dressed

3:15pm // groom portraits + photos with groomsmen

3:30pm // bridal portraits + photos with bridesmaids

4:00pm // bride + immediate family

4:15pm // groom + immediate family

5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready

6:00pm // ceremony begins

6:30pm // family photos begin, bridal party stays close for a few photos at the end

7:00pm // bride + groom photos begin

7:30pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin

8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!

10:00pm // exit

with first look

2:00pm // photographers arrive, start photographing details + “getting ready” shots of everyone

3:00pm // bride gets dressed

3:15pm // first look, bridal portraits, several portraits of the couple

3:30pm // bridal party joins in for portraits

4:00pm // immediate family portraits (saves us a ton of time post-ceremony!)

5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready

6:00pm // ceremony begins

6:30pm // family photos begin

6:45pm // bride + groom photos begin

7:15pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin

8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!

10:00pm // exit

10-hour-day

with no first look

12:30pm // photographers arrive, start photographing “getting ready” shots of everyone

1:30pm // photographers capture venue shots + details, planning out spots for portraits

3:00pm // bride gets dressed

3:15pm // groom portraits + photos with groomsmen

3:30pm // bridal portraits + photos with bridesmaids

4:00pm // bride + immediate family

4:15pm // groom + immediate family

5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready

6:00pm // ceremony begins

6:30pm // family photos begin, bridal party stays close for a few photos at the end

7:00pm // bride + groom photos begin

7:30pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin

8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!

10:30pm // exit

with first look

12:30pm // photographers arrive, start photographing “getting ready” shots of everyone

1:30pm // photographers capture venue shots + details, planning out spots for portraits

3:00pm // bride gets dressed

3:15pm // first look, bridal portraits, several portraits of the couple

3:30pm // bridal party joins in for portraits

4:00pm // immediate family portraits (saves us a ton of time post-ceremony!)

5:15pm // everyone is hidden away because guests are arriving, photographers capturing details of ceremony space + reception space too if it’s ready

6:00pm // ceremony begins

6:30pm // family photos begin

6:45pm // bride + groom photos begin

7:15pm // couple introduced at reception, first dances begin

8:00pm // cut cake + start the party!

10:30pm // exit