One of the things I talk about with almost every couple is their wedding day timeline. You don’t want your entire wedding day to feel like you’re running from one photo to the next, but you also don’t want to realize halfway through the day that we only have 10 minutes to get everything you wanted.

The good news is that you don’t need a crazy amount of time. You just need to plan for the important parts and give yourself a little breathing room.

Here’s a general idea of how I would plan out the photography portion of a wedding day.

Getting Ready Photos | 60–90 Minutes

This is when I’ll photograph you getting ready, along with all of the little details you picked out for the day.

Your dress, shoes, rings, invitations, bouquet, jewelry, perfume, and anything else that has meaning to you.

I also like having time to photograph the people around you. Your bridesmaids, family, and all the little moments happening before you walk down the aisle.

Having your details together and ready when I arrive helps us get started without wasting time searching for everything.

First Look | 15–30 Minutes

A first look itself doesn’t take very long.

You might be surprised how quickly that moment goes, actually.

I like having some extra time afterward for a few photos of just the two of you before we move on to the wedding party and family photos.

If you’re skipping the first look, that’s totally fine. We just need to build your timeline around that decision.

Wedding Party Photos | 45 Minutes

I recommend giving us about 45 minutes for wedding party photos.

That gives us enough time for the big group photos, smaller combinations, individual photos with your bridesmaids and groomsmen, and a few fun ones without having to rush through everything.

The biggest thing here is having everyone ready and together when we start. Trying to find the one groomsman who disappeared to grab a drink is a very easy way to eat up 15 minutes. 😂

Family Photos | 20–30 Minutes

Family photos can get chaotic pretty quickly if we aren’t prepared.

Before your wedding day, I recommend making a list of the family combinations you want photographed.

Keep it to the people and combinations that are actually important to you. You don’t need 47 different versions of the same family photo.

Having someone who knows your family help round everyone up is also a huge help.

The goal is to get these done efficiently so you can get back to your guests.

Couple Portraits | 30–45 Minutes

This is one area where I really don’t recommend cutting the time too short.

You just got married. You finally get a few minutes together. Let’s actually enjoy it.

Thirty to forty-five minutes gives us time to move around, use different areas of your venue, get a variety of photos, and let you two relax a little.

And if the timing works out, I also love sneaking you away for a few minutes during golden hour. You don’t need to miss your entire reception to get those photos.

Ceremony | Usually 20–30 Minutes

Obviously, this depends on your ceremony.

If you’re doing a first look and taking most of your family and wedding party photos beforehand, you’ll have a much easier time getting to your reception after the ceremony.

If you’re not doing a first look, we’ll plan for more photos after the ceremony.

There isn’t a right or wrong way to do it. It just needs to be planned ahead of time.

Reception Details | 15–20 Minutes

If I can get into the reception space before all of your guests arrive, I love taking a few minutes to photograph everything you’ve put together.

Your tables, flowers, cake, signage, place settings, and all the little details you spent months choosing.

Once everyone comes in, those details can be much harder to photograph without people in the background, so having a little time set aside for this is worth it.

What Could a Wedding Timeline Actually Look Like?

Let’s say your ceremony starts at 4:00 PM.

A timeline could look something like this:

12:30 PM | Photographer arrives and starts getting ready photos

1:30 PM | Detail photos and candid getting-ready photos

2:00 PM | First look

2:15 PM | Couple portraits

2:45 PM | Wedding party photos

3:30 PM | Family photos

3:50 PM | Everyone gets tucked away for the ceremony

4:00 PM | Ceremony

4:30 PM | Any remaining family photos

4:45 PM | Cocktail hour / reception begins

5:00 PM | Reception details and candid photos

5:30 PM | Dinner

6:30 PM | Speeches, dances, and reception events

7:30 PM | Golden-hour portraits, if the timing and weather cooperate

7:45 PM onward | Dancing, candid photos, and enjoying the rest of the night

This is just an example. Your timeline might look completely different depending on your venue, ceremony time, wedding party size, and whether you’re doing a first look.

Don’t Pack Your Timeline Too Tight

This is probably my biggest piece of advice when it comes to wedding timelines.

Give yourself some extra time.

If everything is scheduled down to the exact minute, one thing running late can throw off the entire afternoon.

Maybe hair and makeup takes a little longer. Maybe your ceremony runs over. Maybe your family isn’t quite ready for photos.It happens.

Having some breathing room means you don’t have to spend your wedding day watching the clock.

Your wedding photos are important, but actually enjoying your wedding is more important.

A good timeline should give us enough time to get the photos you care about while still letting you spend the day with the people you love.

And that’s exactly what I want for my couples. Beautiful photos, yes. But also a wedding day that actually feels like your wedding day.

If you’re planning your wedding and aren’t sure how much time you should set aside for photos, that’s something I can help you figure out when we build out your timeline.