You’ve locked in a wedding date, secured your venue, and started booking your dream team of suppliers. Now, it’s time to figure out the timeline for your big day! Your wedding timeline is crucial for ensuring everything flows smoothly, from the ceremony to the reception. Here’s a concise guide to help you create the perfect wedding day timeline:
1. Work Backwards from Sunset
To make the most of natural light, plan your day backwards from sunset. This allows ample daylight for your ceremony, family photos, wedding party, and couple portraits. Sunset times vary, so check the time for your wedding date and plan accordingly. For winter weddings, a ceremony around 2:00 pm works well, while summer ceremonies are better in the late afternoon to avoid the harsh midday sun and make the most of golden hour.
2. Schedule Hair and Makeup Wisely
Plan for hair and makeup to be done at least an hour before the photographer needs to leave for the ceremony. Typically, allocate 2-3 hours for bridal preparations. An example timeline could be:
12:00 pm: Photographer arrives
1:00 pm: Hair and makeup finish
2:15 pm: Photographer leaves for ceremony
3:00 pm: Ceremony starts
3. Allocate Time for Family Photos
After the ceremony, set aside time for family and group photos. Prepare a detailed family photo list closer to the date to ensure you capture all desired combinations. Keep the list manageable, around 10 combinations, to avoid spending too much time on this. Allow about 15 minutes to greet guests before moving on to location photos.
4. Stay Nearby for Location Photos
Plan for about an hour for wedding party and couple photos. Choose a location close to your venue to minimize travel time and get back to the celebration quickly. An example schedule might be:
3:00 - 3:30 pm: Ceremony
3:30 - 3:45 pm: Greet guests
3:45 - 4:15 pm: Family photos
4:15 - 4:30 pm: Travel to photo location
4:30 - 5:30 pm: Portraits
5:30 pm: Sunset
Me as the photographer will always help you schedule the day, sunset might vary depending the time of the year. Working together will make the dream team, so I always make sure there's great communication between my clients and me so we can create the perfect schedule for them to enjoy their wedding day.
5. Plan Reception Events
Collaborate with your venue or caterer to time reception activities like entrees, mains, and speeches. If sunset occurs during your reception, set aside 15 minutes for sunset photos. This could be between courses or speeches, offering a private moment for you amidst the festivities.
Instead of having your photographer stay until the end, consider early evening events like a sparkler entry, first dance, or a ‘mock’ sparkler exit. This approach maximizes the photographer’s time and keeps costs down.
Creating a detailed wedding timeline is essential for a smooth and easy day. I will assist you in crafting the perfect timeline to capture every beautiful moment.
Whether you’re getting married on the Gold Coast, Tweed Coast, Brisbane, Byron Bay, or worldwide, I'm here to help make your day unforgettable.
Check out my wedding photography packages and recent galleries.
Con Amor,
Marina
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