wedding day timelines

Your wedding day is here and it seems there are a million little things to do….AND pictures to take! I know, and believe me, I understand how overwhelming it all can be. But, your wedding day really doesn’t have to be chaotic! It just needs to be somewhat organized.  This is where a thoughtfully mapped out wedding day timeline comes in handy. You can make sure there is plenty of time for pre-ceremony photos, sweet shots with your honey, and fitting in those family pictures to please mom and grandma. I plan out a timeline with each of my brides at least a few weeks before the big day. Doing so will help everything run more smoothly, and it will help you relax a bit more! You should consider three primary factors as you plan:

A.  First Look

I always ask each couple if they are decidedly against seeing each other before the ceremony or open to forgoing tradition for the sweet moments of a First Look. About half of my brides and grooms want to stick with tradition, and that is definitely okay. But, for those who are willing to be a little UNtraditional, I believe a First Look is the best way to go for a few reasons.

1.    This day is a celebration of your love and lifetime commitment to each other. But weddings don’t actually allow much time for you to talk to each other (seriously!), let alone have a private moment together. It all goes so fast, and before you know it you hear the words “man and wife….”, you’re swept away in the festivities, and find yourself craning your head for a glance at your new spouse for the rest of the day. On your wedding day you should have a few moments to simply enjoy each other and soak it in. If you opt for a First Look, you won’t be limited to stealing glances at your soon-to-be Mr. or Mrs. standing next to you during the ceremony, trying to contain all of the thoughts flying in and out of your head. Rather, you’ll see each other for the first time alone, with the freedom to react to each other, talk, cuddle etc. without hindrance. And often, the images I capture during this time will be among your favorites! These are sweet moments that simply don’t have opportunity to happen when your first glimpse of each other is from down the aisle. After you have a few moments drinking each other in, we’ll take some time to get a few relaxed, intimate portraits of the two of you while you are still fresh, the light is still beautiful, and you don’t have the pressure of knowing guests are waiting on you at the reception.

2.    A First Look can actually be a stress-reliever! There is always going to be something you’re worried about or obsessing over on your wedding day. But, once you see the reason you’re there standing in front of you, and you can hug, kiss, talk…. all of that stress just melts away. You begin to simply enjoy yourself, your soon-to-be-spouse, your day. That is what it’s all about.

3.    You can get ALL of your portraits done before the ceremony, and save some time doing it, if you choose to have a First Look. If you see each other before the ceremony, not only can we get portraits of the two of you done, but we can also get portraits of the whole wedding party AND your family done too! When attempting to get these portraits done after the ceremony, you often find yourself swarmed by family and friends who want to congratulate you, and it can be difficult to disentangle yourself. And without fail, an important member of the wedding party, or a family member you want in the pictures, disappears in the direction of the bar or hors d’oeuvres and a search party has to be dispatched. And then sometimes a back-up search party has to be dispatched for the original search party. You get the point. It can be chaotic. Getting all of your portraits done before the ceremony will free you up to head directly to the reception or cocktail hour to mingle with your guests!

*I request 30 minutes at minimum alone with the bride and groom for a first look, but I love having even more time if allowed! After all, you don’t want to rush what will likely be the most memorable moments of your wedding day!! After your “alone time” (with me!) we can move into getting some group portraits with family and/or bridal party done too!

**Even if you decide against a First Look, I do encourage you to consider doing group portraits that don’t require you to see your intended before the ceremony. These can include bride with bridesmaids, groom with groomsmen, and any family portraits you may want with your families that don’t include your spouse.

B.  Getting Ready

Something else to consider as you map out your timeline is how much of your “getting ready” time you would like me to photograph. It is always a good idea to have me arrive while your hair and make-up are being done, and before you are dressed. This allows me time to get some shots of your last-minute beauty preparations, as well as shots of your dress, shoes, and jewelry before you put them on and while you’re putting them on. I recommend a minimum of 45 minutes for this. Also, keep in mind the fact that you need to leave plenty of time for yourself to get ready, regardless of when I arrive. This is your wedding day!! You will take longer than usual to get ready. Guaranteed. So, build in some extra time!

C.  Must Have Family Portraits

Finally, you need to plan your “Must Have” family portraits. I request a detailed list of must-haves from each couple. I prefer to start with the largest groups and work my way down so that as I finish with various people, they are free to move on. For example, a list might look something like this:

1. Bride and Groom with all of bride’s family – aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, siblings, neices and nephews. (aunts, uncles and cousins are free to leave after)

2. B&G with bride’s grandpa A and granny A (free to leave after)

3. B&G with bride’s grandpa B and granny B (free to leave after)

4. B&G with bride’s parent’s and siblings (and any spouse/offspring of siblings) (free to leave after)

5. B&G with all of groom’s family – aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, siblings, neices and nephews. (aunts, uncles and cousins are free to leave after)

6. B&G with groom’s grandpa A and granny A (free to leave after)

7. B&G with groom’s grandpa B and granny B (free to leave after)

8. B&G with groom’s parent’s and siblings (and any spouse/offspring of siblings) (free to leave after)

Of course, you are free to include anyone you like in your portraits! But as you plan your must-haves, keep in mind that the longer your list, the longer it will take to get through said list. Plan for about 3 minutes per group portrait. Some will take less time, but larger groups may take more time. Also, it is a good idea to hand out copies of a “portrait schedule” to everyone you want included in portraits. That way they know where to be and at what time to be there. I recommend handing this out at the rehearsal dinner.

Once you have made decisions concerning a First Look, time needed to get ready, and family portrait “must haves,” organizing them around your ceremony and reception start times will help you plan an adequate wedding day timeline.