Before the Wedding
Two sample wedding photography timelines
With a first look or without one, give the photographs their own place in the day.
It is easier to picture a wedding day when you can see the hours laid out. These two examples adapt the timelines in my book, both using a 6 p.m. ceremony and an 8 p.m. reception. They are starting points to discuss with your photographer and planner, not a schedule every wedding needs to follow.
The main difference is when the two of you see each other. That decision changes how much photography can happen before the ceremony and how you spend the time afterward.
Option one: a first look before the ceremony
A first look gives us time with the two of you before moving into family and wedding-party photographs. It can leave more of cocktail hour available for greeting your guests.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 2:00 p.m. | Getting-ready photographs, personal details and getting dressed. |
| 3:00 p.m. | First look, followed by portraits of the two of you. |
| 4:00 p.m. | Immediate family and wedding-party photographs. |
| 5:00 p.m. | Extended family and important friends; finish with time to prepare for the ceremony. |
| 6:00 p.m. | Ceremony. |
| 7:00 p.m. | Cocktail hour: enjoy your guests while the team photographs the celebration and reception details. |
| 8:00 p.m. | Reception begins. |
Decide on a firm finish time for the pre-ceremony portraits. If the family list is long or you need to travel, start earlier or simplify the groups so the last hour is not a rush.
Option two: seeing each other at the ceremony
If waiting for the aisle matters to you, we can photograph each of you with your own family and attendants beforehand. Combined groups and portraits together then need a place after the ceremony.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 3:00 p.m. | Getting-ready photographs and final preparations. |
| 4:00 p.m. | One partner’s individual portraits, family and attendants. |
| 5:00 p.m. | The other partner’s individual portraits, family and attendants; finish before the ceremony. |
| 6:00 p.m. | Ceremony. |
| 7:00 p.m. | Combined family and wedding-party groups, then portraits of the two of you. |
| 8:00 p.m. | Reception begins. |
In the book’s example, the post-ceremony hour allows roughly 30–40 minutes for family groups and 15–20 minutes for the couple. That leaves little time with guests, and it may not be enough for a larger group list. Review the actual combinations with your photographer instead of assuming everything will fit.
Make either example your own
Your ceremony length, travel, getting-ready locations, family needs and available daylight all affect the plan. A 6 p.m. ceremony does not guarantee daylight afterward, so discuss the season and location before borrowing these times.
If evening-light portraits matter, put them into the schedule at the appropriate time. Share the final plan with the beauty team, transportation, venue and emcee. The best timeline gives the photographs enough time while protecting the parts of the day you most want to experience.
Adapted from The Secrets to Spectacular Wedding Photography by Robert Evans.