How to Create a Wedding Timeline in 10 mins or less
Photos are one of the most important parts of your wedding day. All weddings are run differently with different traditions and different obstacles, but overall the expected outcome of memorable photos is the same. It's often difficult to pinpoint an exact timeline for these photos, but we can help line up ideal times.
Simple Wedding Timeline:
Makeup and Hair: 2-4hrs
Bride & groom getting ready photos + portraits + Wedding party group photos: 3hrs
Ceremony area details 15-30mins.
Bride & groom freshen up for ceremony: 15-30minsWedding Ceremony at Venue: 30mins / Church: 1hr
Family formals and couple portraits and wedding party: 1hr
Shoot room details/open reception hall shots: 30minsCoverage of cocktail hour: 30mins - 1hr
Grand entrance, and party time! 3-4hrs
First Dance, Mother and Son, Father and Daughter Dance, Toast, Table Visits, Cake Cutting, Bouquet toss, Garner toss, Open dance floor, Grand Exit.
Full Wedding Timeline:
Wedding Preparations
It's important to capture the scene as you prepare for your big day. We love to get snapshots of you getting your hair done, chatting with bridesmaids and candid moments as you get ready. We usually have one photographer capturing the bride and one photographer capturing the groom. Some of the best memories are made during this preparation time.
Location – Bridal Suites / Hotel and Venue Garden
The Details / Behind the Scene / Makeup & hair
Typical Timeline: Photo & Video Arrival > Details > BTS > Bridal Party > Makeup and hair
Details are important to remember every aspect of the wedding day. Little things like the rings, the dress, the shoes, can't be forgotten. We like to get photos of these things before all of the events begin to happen. This way they don't get lost in the madness.
Tip: Please make sure that you have all the detail set for the photoghrapher and videographers.
Minimum - Ideal Time Required: 20-45 minutes
Ideal Time of Day – Morning
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite
Individual and Group Portraits
Typical Timeline: Wedding Party in robes > Bride get into the gown > Shoes > Veil > Bridal Portraits
It's best to capture the bride and groom alone right after they're ready for the big day. This means they're the most fresh, the most excited and the most ready for photos alone. If the day gets away from you, these photos are often forgotten. It's also great to remember the lighting in most hotels in Los Angeles is perfect flowing through the windows in early afternoon.
Minimum - Ideal Time Required: 30-60 minutes
Ideal Time of Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location – Bridal and/or Groom's Suite, Venue Location
First Look
How often is first look done? about 60%
Some couples choose not to do the First Look photos, but if you want to capture the first time the groom lays eyes on on their bride, this is perfect for you (we found that groom actually cries more often during the first look!). It's the first time you see one another. This is the start of the rest of your lives. The eyes tell the story. These photos are simply lightning in a bottle and we love capturing the magic. The first look will only take a few minutes, but if you want to take advantage of some of the bright lighting at this time of day, we can take a few more photos of the two of you.
Minimum - Ideal Time Required: 15-45 minutes
Ideal Time of Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location – Outdoors at your Venue
Pre-Ceremony Wedding Party / Family Photos
There's a difference between these photos and the formal photos with your wedding party. This session usually does not include the entire party together. Traditionally since the bride and groom don't usually see one another until the wedding, the formal photos of everyone follow the ceremony. If you want to save some time, include the photos with your immediate family at this time. Save the ones you'll want to take with the new joined family for after the ceremony.
These wedding party photos often depend on how many are in your wedding party. If you have a huge wedding party, plan on extra time. We want to get in a lot of different poses and shots. Of course, we want to start with the classic photos with everyone around the bride or groom. Remember you'll be in separate locations if you do not do a first look, so we'll be using two photographers. We need to ensure the lighting and look is perfect. Most couples want creative shots included with their party as well. Our last photos with the wedding party will be of each of you with each of the individuals. This session lets you get a little more silly than the formal ones after the ceremony.
Minimum - Ideal Time Required – 30-60 minutes
Ideal Time of Day – Morning or Afternoon
Ideal Location -Venue Lobby or Outdoors
Ceremony and Venue
These photos include details of the ceremony/venue without all of the guests. These are the venue with all of the gorgeous decorations. There won't be any vendors in the photos either.
Minimum - Ideal Time Required – 10-30 minutes
Ideal Location – Ceremony Site
Ideal Time of Day – Morning or Afternoon
Immediate Family
Immediate family photos sometimes take a bit of time depending on how big of a family you have. If you want to include cousins and extended family, plan on a few extra minutes. Think about how many images you need with each person. You want to include parents, grandparents and siblings for sure. Think of this time as a special family portrait as once you reach a certain age, it's often hard to get the whole family together. We'll go the formal photos as well as any fun ones you would like. Capture your personalities and have fun together. This is a huge day for all of you, so make the most of capturing the memories.
Ideal Time – 15-30 minutes
Ideal Time of Day – After Ceremony
Ideal Location - Outdoors of the Venue, Ceremony Site
Wedding Party Formal
The formal photos of the wedding party shouldn't take long, but can take a bit if you have a big party. It's important in wedding photography to get all of the little details like the way a dress falls or ensuring the bouquets all face the correct way. If we can get outside in the Los Angeles scenery, we've created even more magic with the lighting. Some couples want photos with each in the wedding party and the new couple so this takes a bit. Make sure to include the ringbearer and flower girl, too. Sometimes it takes time to work with very young children so we'll ensure extra time for them, too.
Minimum - Ideal Time Required – 30-45 minutes
Ideal Time of Day – After Ceremony
Ideal Location – Ceremony Site, Outdoors
Bride and Groom
These are the photos EVERYONE waits patiently to see. If the weather permits, outside lighting is always the best as long as you're in the shade or snapped a bit before the sun sets. We love to use the beauty of the sky and nature. If we cannot get outside, we'll put the lights to good use in your venue. You can do formal shots as well as silly ones. We take as many as needed to ensure you get amazing shots of the two of you united as one.
Minimum - Ideal Time Required: 30-1 hour
Ideal Time of Day – Afternoon, An Hour Before Sunset
Ideal Location – Venue, Outdoors
Reception Venue Details
We love to capture the beauty of the reception venue, just like the ceremony venue. We'll get all the name cards, elegant centerpieces, flowers, and anything that stands out. We don’t want all the hard work and attention to detail you put into these decoration items to be forgotten!
Minimum - Ideal Time Required: 15-30 minutes
Ideal Time of Day – Early Evening
Ideal Location – Reception Site
Leaving The Reception
It's so much fun to capture the end of the night - the end of the night holds something magical as you "ride off to your happily ever after" so it's important we take photos of all the people that are still there saluting you. Whether they have rice, sparklers or whatever you choose, we'll get some fun shots.
Minimum - Ideal Time Required – 15 minutes
Ideal Time of Day – Dusk to Night Time
Ideal Location – Areas with Outside Lighting, Outside Venue
