HAVING A WEDDING DAY TIMELINE IS A NECESSITY

No matter the size of your wedding the same events take place.  You get dressed, you attend your ceremony, you have a reception and the entire time you have a photographer following you around and directing you.

Most brides don’t know how to prepare and being the wedding photographer I am here to help!  Below is a sample timeline for an 8 hour wedding day.  Of course each wedding day varies but this should give you a rough idea how how things flow.  Once your wedding is booked with me we will set up a time closer to the wedding date to create a wedding day timeline that fits YOUR wedding day.

SAMPLE WEDDING DAY TIMELINE (8 hours of coverage)

1:00 PM   YOUR PHOTOGRAPHERS ARRIVE & BEGIN CAPTURING MOMENTS OF YOUR WEDDING DAY

Your wedding photographers will photograph “details” such as the dress, shoes, jewelry, bouquet,  getting your hair & makeup completed, and having a great and relaxing time with your bridesmaids as they get ready as well.

2:00   BRIDE GETS DRESSED

Now is the time to finish getting ready. Don’t worry, your photographer doesn’t have to photograph EVERY part of putting on the dress. What we like to tell brides is “We’ll be right around the corner. Go ahead and put your dress on, but the moment you feel comfortable and covered enough – but not “finished” – let us know and we’ll come in and start photographing. What is comfortable is different for everyone, some people are VERY comfortable and others want to be more covered. We leave it up to the bride to decide.

3:00   GROOM MAKES FINAL PREPARATIONS

It’s at this point that we’ll move over to the groom’s side of things. Since we generally don’t need or want photos of the groom and his groomsmen literally putting their pants on, we’ll arrive when they’re nearly finished getting dressed and just start photographing everything – quickly. Same as the bride’s side, we’ll capture all of the “details” and then also group photos of all of the groomsmen.

3:30   FIRST LOOK

You won’t have to worry about planning this at all. We’ll find the location, set the groom up in position, and then bring the bride in to surprise him. We kick everyone out of the area so it’s a private moment between the two of you… and your photographers…

4:00   BRIDAL PARTY PHOTOS

After your first look and portrait session, we’ll bring in your wedding party to complete all of the wedding party photos with the two of you.

4:30   HIDE THE BRIDE & GROOM

Of course – the groom doesn’t always stay hidden and often times will walk around greeting guests – but generally this is the time for the entire wedding party to relax, get a drink, or cool off/warm up if the weather’s being crazy. Your photographers will take this time to finish photographing the ceremony site and ceremony details. They may also sneak in and photograph the reception space if it’s ready as well.

5:00   CEREMONY

The moment you have been waiting for!!!

5:30   FORMAL FAMILY PHOTOS & COCKTAIL HOUR BEGINS

We run the family formal session like we’re on a cattle herd lol. We do this EVERY TIME too. We want you to be able to spend as much time with your guests – this is about you and not us stealing you away just for our amazing photos

6:00   PHOTOGRAPHERS PHOTOGRAPH RECEPTION SPACE (before guests enter!)

6:30   RECEPTION BEGINS!

6:45   GRAND ENTRANCE ANNOUNCEMENTS & FIRST DANCE

7:00   CAKE CUTTING

7:15   DINNER IS SERVED

8:00   TOASTS

8:15   SPECIAL DANCES (Father/Daughter, Mother/Son, etc.)

8:30   BOUQUET TOSS

8:15  OPEN DANCING   

9:00   PHOTOGRAPHERS EXIT

 

Preparing for your wedding day can be stressful so be sure to let the photographer help with building your wedding day timeline.  It will make the day run so much better!

 

www.KarenStauffer.com