This post is long and overdue, there’s a lot of information to help you plan your wedding day. This has been on the top of my to-do list for a long time now. I wanted to help all brides out there so

Let’s start out with some tips to keep in mind for your wedding day that will help your timeline.

1. First, let’s start by checking the sunset time for your wedding day! It’s simple google “sunset time. (Wedding City) (Wedding Date). If you are having an outdoor ceremony, schedule your ceremony start time between 30-60 minutes prior to sunset time for the best lighting conditions. This time is known as the golden hour and your pictures will be dreamy and gorgeous!! If you are doing an indoor ceremony and not doing a first look, make sure you give your photographer at least 2 hours to complete Bride and Groom Portraits, Family Formals, and the Wedding Party formals before heading to the reception.
2. If you are doing a first look, it’s a great idea to have ALL your formal pictures done before the ceremony begins so you can go ahead and enjoy the cocktail hour with your guests. Ideally, 2 hours of picture time is necessary to get all moments and use a stress-free portrait time! In those 2 hours, it includes capturing bride and groom, family, and bridal party photos. Having this time carved out helps to make things run smoother and not feel as if you are being rushed.
3.  Schedule your hair and makeup two hours prior to the time you think you need to. If you are having a large bridal party its best to make sure you have more then just one person doing hair and makeup. In the 100 weddings I have captured just a handful of them were really on time. It wasn’t because of the hair and makeup but because unforeseen changes could arise the day of. (lashes not laying right, hair not what you had envisioned, maybe someone was running a little late) These things happen and it’s no one’s fault but we want you to have a stressfree day. Plus if your done early you can pop the champagne and enjoy the time with your girls!
4. Now one of the most important tips I can share is to make sure to keep ALL your details together. It’s best to make sure they are all in one place in the morning (maybe have them with someone you trust) have a list of everything you want to be photographed. Include the most important things in your relationship such as movie tickets, polaroids, invitation suite, notes may be between the two of you, anything small that means a lot to the both of you.
5.  If you are using different locations for your wedding day make sure to think about the distance. How long it will take you to travel between all your venus (ex. Getting ready, Ceremony, Reception). If you have an hour to travel ask to add an hour to your contract so you’re not missing photo time.
6.  Before the reception starts give your photographer some time to capture the details while they are untouched.
7. Now, this tip is important to make sure all dresses from the bride to flower girl’s dresses are steamed. This also goes for the groom and groomsmen. Nothing is worse than rush steaming the day of the wedding.
8. Now the day of your wedding you don’t want to be worrying about what’s going on. So it’s best that you hire a Wedding Day Coordinator. Their sole job is to make sure everything is on time and runs smoothly. Such as making sure your bouquet has been delivered, everyone is placed where they need to be. If you are still searching for that perfect day of coordinator don’t worry just click here.
9. If you have photography and video covering a set amount of hours you’ll want to make sure that all your important reception events fall into the time that they are there.
10. You’ll also want to remember this one important tip relax…..no seriously at the end of the day no matter what tiny details go wrong you are marrying the love of your life! It’s not the wedding that matters as much as it’s the marriage!

 

Wheewww that was a lot of information……below you will find two timelines for you to look over one with a first look and one without.

WITH A FIRST LOOK (Based on 10 hours of coverage Sunset at 7 pm)

11:00 PHOTOGRAPHERS ARRIVE AT GETTING READY LOCATION, PHOTOGRAPH DETAILS

Flowers should be on site by this time

 PREP SHOTS-HAIR + makeup TOUCH UP GIRLS GETTING READY ATTIRE

If girls are wearing cute robes or tanks we’ll definitely want some shots of that!

12:00 Bridemaids change into dresses

1:00 Groom Prep

Groomsmen should be completely ready. Groom should only have his pants and shirt on. We’ll photograph him putting on shoes, tie or bowtie, cufflinks, jacket (if he’s wearing one), etc. The best man, mom, and dad should be available to help. Usually, mom will be helping to put his boutonniere on.

1:30 Bride puts her dress on

Bridesmaids + Mom should be completely dressed and ready.

2:00 Bride and Dad’s first look

2:15 First look bride and groom portraits

3:00 Wedding Party

• Full wedding party
• Bride with Bridesmaids (together and individual)
• Groom with Groomsmen (together and individual)
• Bride with Groomsmen
• Groom with Bridesmaids

4:00 Family Formals

Now, this is important that the immediate family involved in the photos know ahead of time where they need to go after the ceremony. Having someone to delegate them to go the specific location so no one is left behind or left out.

4:30 Pictures are complete pre-ceremony

Bride hides from guests at this point and has time to relax and touch up on hair and makeup.

5:45 Photographer captures ceremony and reception details untouched.

6:00 Ceremony starts

6:30 Yay! You’re married!! Ceremony ends

7:00 pm Sunset

7:30 Pictures are complete//Time to celebrate with guests at cocktail hour

7:30 Reception Starts time to party!

7:45 Intros, first dance

7:50 Toats and Blessings

8:00 Dinner is served

8:30 Parent Dances

8:45 Open Dancing

9:00 Cake Cutting/ Garter-Boquet Toss

10:00 Photography coverage ends

11:00 Reception Ends

Photo is taken right at sunset in Fillmore, Ca Location Bella Vista Groves 

Without a first look (based on 8 hours of coverage Sunset at 5:15 pm)

 1:00 Bride puts her dress on

Bridesmaids + Mom should be completely dressed and ready.

2:00 Prep shots – hair + Makeup touch up, girls getting ready attire

If girls are wearing cute robes or tanks we’ll definitely want to capture them!

2:30 pm Time for the bridesmaids to put their dresses on!

2:30 Groom Prep

Groomsmen should be completely ready. Groom should have his pants and shirt on we’ll be there to capture him putting his socks, shoes, tie, cufflinks, jacket, etc. The best man, mom, and dad/uncle should be available to help. Usually, mom helps put the boutonniere on.

2:45 Bride it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for time to put your dress on!

Bridesmaid + Mom should be completely dressed and ready.

3:00 Father of the bride sees his daughter for the first time

3:15 Photos Complete pre-ceremony

3:15 Photograph Ceremony details untouched//set up reception lighting

4:00 pm Time for the ceremony

4:30 Yay! You’re married!! Ceremony ends

5:20 Family formals

Now, this is important that the immediate family involved in the photos know ahead of time where they need to go after the ceremony. Having someone to delegate them to go the specific location so no one is left behind or left out.

6:00 Bride and Groom Portraits

6:30 Cocktail hour starts

6:50 Pictures are complete//Time to celebrate with guests at cocktail hour

7:00 Sunset

7:30 Reception Starts time to party!

7:40 Time for intros leading to First Dance

7:50 Toasts and Blessings

8:00 Parent Dances

8:30 Dinner

9:00 Open Dancing

9:45 best part of the night cake cutting/bouquet and garter toss

10:00 Photography coverage ends

11:30 Reception Ends

Okay wow, that was a lot but you made it!! I hope this helps you when you planning your special day. I am always available and happy to help my couples build their timelines to ensure they have a stress free day as possible. I make sure they have all the pictures they want for their special day!

 

If you know a bride getting married share this post and let us help them too!