The wedding timeline is something we get asked about a lot. With the wide variety of weddings that we photograph, it is difficult to have an exact timeline template. However, here are some time frames you should consider when planning your day. Some of these times may seem long on paper but keep in mind that 1) the day will fly by, 2) most weddings run slightly behind schedule, and 3) we’ll make these photo sessions fun, so it won’t seem like a long time.

Depending on your wedding and preferences, some of these sections may be longer or shorter than our suggestion. In some cases, some sections may be skipped altogether (ie: bride and groom first look)

DETAILS – RINGS, DRESS, AND SHOES

Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite

Advice – Having at least 30 minutes for details ensures that we have plenty of time to get that perfect photo of the dress, rings, shoes, bouquets, and the other details of the day.

There are times when a hotel room is too crowded or simply unappealing; we have to take the dress all the way down to the lobby or even outside. This can take some time, but it’s well worth the additional work.

BRIDE AND GROOM GETTING READY

Ideal Time Allotment – 60 minutes
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite

Advice – Having an hour of preparation is ideal for our style. During this time, we are getting close ups of the makeup and hair being applied as well as the candid moments and the bridesmaids and groomsmen get ready for the day. Keep in mind that these are some of the most emotional and fun times of the day, so you don’t want to cut it short.

Our female shooter will be with the bride while the male shooter will be with the groom. While it doesn’t take guys an hour to get dressed, there are still tons of great moments during this time between the groom and his family and friends.

INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS

Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite

Advice – Right after prep is the best time for individual portraits of the bride and groom (separately). Besides makeup and hair being completely fresh, the day hasn’t gotten hectic yet so we can take our time and get those perfect portraits.

Also, keep in mind that the window lighting in most hotel rooms creates a unique look that can’t be duplicated in any environment throughout the rest of the day.

FIRST LOOK

Ideal Time Allotment – 20 minutes
Ideal Location – Outdoor garden, hallway or ballroom

Advice – The first look should be around 20 – 30 minutes. During this time, the bride and groom enjoy seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day. While the actual first look might only be 5-10 minutes, the rest of the time is spent on a few basic portraits of the bride and groom.

Ideally, we are saving the bulk of the couples session for later (see the “couples session” section below).

WEDDING PARTY PHOTOS

Ideal Time Allotment – 30-45 minutes
Ideal Location -Venue Lobby, Outside Garden, Park, Off-site Location

Advice – Wedding Party Photos should be around 30 – 45 minutes. During this time, we get a variety of shots in a variety of poses.

We will be sure to get a set of fun and creative shots. Finally, we know how much your wedding party means to you, so we are sure to get pictures with you and each one of your bridesmaids or groomsmen individually.

IMMEDIATE FAMILY, EXTENDED FAMILY, FRIENDS

Ideal Time Allotment – 30-45 minutes (1.5 min per combination)
Ideal Location -Venue Lobby, Garden, Park, Off-site Location

Advice – Immediate Family Photos should take another 30 – 45 minutes. It’s important to have additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings beyond the basic formal. We always try to take the large family photos immediately after the ceremony to ensure that everyone is still onsite.

Plan on 1.5 – 2 minutes per group on average.  For example, if you have 10 groups, schedule in a 15 – 20 minute time slot.

We all know how much weddings mean to the immediate family, and we want to make sure we’re capturing enough pictures with them. We will ask our couples for a list of all family photo combinations prior to the wedding. This list ensures that no one is missed and allows us to move quickly through the photo session.

CEREMONY DETAIL AND VENUE

Ideal Time Allotment – 15 minutes
Ideal Location – Venue

Advice – Please allow 15 minutes to take pictures of the ceremony site, completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area.

Before you have the guests seated,  it’s important that we are there to capture the complete set up of your ceremony site so we can capture the scene at its best.

COUPLES SESSION

Ideal Time Allotment – 1.5 to 2 hours
Ideal Location – Park, downtown, mountains

Advice – Couple sessions should be around 1.5 to 2 hours. Due to how we photograph images, using a combination of lighting and natural light, timing is not quite as important for us as other photographers. We always try to visit several locations to give our couples a variety of backgrounds and overall emotion. The more locations, then the longer a timeline is required. We also keep a close eye on weather so that we can have indoor options if the weather does not co-operate.

RECEPTION DETAIL AND VENUE

Ideal Time Allotment – 15 minutes
Ideal Location – Reception Site

Advice – Please allow 15 minutes for us to take pictures of the reception room completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area. These 15 minutes also give the bride and groom a chance to relax for a couple of minutes as it will have been a whirlwind of a day.

Similar to the ceremony details, this is the only opportunity we have to capture the beauty of the reception room prior to guest arrival.

COUPLES SESSION – RECEPTION SNEAK OUT

Ideal Time Allotment – 20-30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Dusk to Night Time
Ideal Location – Areas with interesting lights, fountains, city scapes and mirrors

Advice – During the reception, you may plan on sneaking out for a couple of night shots. We only need 20-30 minutes, as we understand the importance of being a good host. However, this time is important if you appreciate the night photography that we deliver. The ideal time for this is right after you grab a bite to eat or during the open floor dancing after you’ve danced a few songs and would like a break.

PARTY

Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Location – Reception Site

We always love to get some great shots of our bride and groom with the friends and family as they celebrate their wedding. We typically find that 20 – 30 minutes of the party is enough for the typical wedding. Often, the same people will be dancing, will be sat talking and….we like to be have the cameras put away before too much alcohol begins to flow.

This 20 – 30 minutes also gives us some flexibility if the wedding falls behind schedule a little…and weddings ALWAYS fall behind schedule a little.

ADDITIONAL WEDDING TIMELINE SUGGESTIONS

Table Shots – Table shots are when you go around visiting tables. There are two options for photography during this time. We typically focus on candid style, capturing the smiles and hugs as you mingle with each table. If you’re planning on doing formal table shots, please keep in mind that these will take about 3 minutes per table.  For example, 20 tables would require 60 minutes of time.

Our wedding timeline tips are meant to give you an idea of how long some aspects may take. Use these tips when planning your wedding timeline and adjust them as needed to fit your ideal schedule.

We hope that these wedding timeline suggestions are helpful to you in your planning. Have a wedding tip that you would like to share? Let us know, we would love to hear it.

Wedding timeline photography tips

Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.