How To Plan Your Wedding Photography Timeline
Do you know what is always the most important part of planning? HAVING a wedding timeline in the first place. For most brides, this is their first time getting married, and a well-written timeline will ensure all of the big and small moments of your day are accounted for with ample time to spare. Having a great deal of experience working at weddings means that I have seen the pros and cons of all the different ways to arrange an Upper Peninsula wedding timeline.
The Importance of a Structured Schedule
A timeline will help you know what is happening next. It will keep you on track, knowing what time your hair should be done by, what time you need to be in your dress. Having a wedding timeline in place doesn’t need to be a big stressful experience; it does not mean you will feel like you’re on a treadmill, running through the day without a chance to stop and catch your breath – there is still plenty of time for spontaneity and FUN! Most importantly – it will make the day feel less hectic because you won’t be left to wonder what time your photographer is arriving, when your flowers will be delivered, and a million other little details!
Communicating with Your Photographer
It’s important to communicate with your photographer regarding how you envision your wedding day. Things that I need to build a timeline for you include:
- Do you want getting ready pictures?
- Are you having a first look with your groom and/or father?
- Where are you getting ready?
- Where is your ceremony and where is your reception?
- Are you planning a special exit or other late night pictures?
Choosing Between a First Look and Traditional Route
A major factor when determining your timeline is whether or not you do a 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. This allows us to get a majority of the wedding party and portrait photos out of the way earlier in the day and gets you to your party sooner!
If you choose to go the traditional route, you will take couple portraits, wedding party, and family photos after the ceremony. Going the traditional route does mean that you’ll have to spend a good hour post-ceremony taking portraits and bridal party photos. There’s something so timeless about not seeing each other and having that anticipation build until you see your partner at the end of the aisle.
Essential Tips for Planning Your Day
Plan extra room everywhere in your timeline so you’re not left feeling rushed, so you can breathe, and so you actually have the time to pause and enjoy your wedding day. Here is a fact that never fails to be true: things will run behind on your wedding day. Hair and makeup always takes a little longer than people budget for. This is also such a sweet time to spend with your girls in excited anticipation of what’s to come!! 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 a great way to map out routes and estimate drive time between locations.
Photography Duration Estimates
Each photographer may have a slightly different approach, but here's a general breakdown of how long photos typically take based on expert experience:
| Photo Category | Estimated Time |
| Prep Photos (Details, Getting Ready, Final Dressing) | 1 hour |
| 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 |
No matter the time of year, your wedding day timeline will be based on the sunset. 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! 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.