Your wedding is one of the biggest days of your life.
It's finally time to put your Pinterest boards to good use and plan the day of your dreams. It's only natural to want to remember every bit of it, and your photographer (me perhaps??) can help you to do just that! In this blog post, I'm going to walk you through what a timeline might look like with each wedding package that I offer (you can check out my pricing here). Of course, your day likely won't look exactly like one of these, so once you book with me, I always work with you to develop the a custom timeline for your day. About a month before your wedding (or earlier upon request), I send out a questionnaire for you to fill out and then we'll go from there to develop a timeline.
Also, a little for those of you who have already booked with me (first of all . . . thank you I love you you're the best): I never charge a fee for upgrading or downgrading your package. If you decide that you need more or less coverage on your wedding day, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm happy to work with you to build the perfect timeline and amount of coverage for your big day.
Start to finish coverage?
If you're wanting a more relaxed timeline capturing your whole day with more candid photos throughout the day, I'd suggest 10 hours. Another reason that a 10 hour timeline might work best for you is if there will be driving between multiple locations (getting ready, ceremony, reception). This timeline also often allows for golden hour portraits, which are often *chefs kiss.*
11:00 - detail shots (rings, flowers, dress, etc.)
11:30 - bride/bridesmaids getting ready
12:00 - groom/groomsmen getting ready
12:30 - bride getting into dress
1:00 - first look + portraits
1:45 - wedding party photos
2:30 - ceremony space + guests arriving
3:00 - ceremony
4:00 - family portraits
4:30 - bride & groom portraits
5:00 - cocktail hour candids
5:30 - grand march + dinner
6:15 - speeches
6:45 - cake cutting
7:00 - golden hour portraits (depends on time of sunset)
7:30 - dances + candids
8:45 - sendoff (or mock sendoff)
9:00 - photographer end time
Want a "standard" full coverage day?
If you're wanting a standard full day of coverage (but not all-day), including getting ready coverage and reception coverage, I'd recommend 8 hours. Here's what that timeline might look like:
11:30 - detail shots (rings, flowers, dress, etc.)
12:00 - bride/bridesmaids getting ready
12:30 - groom/groomsmen getting ready
1:00 - bride getting into dress
1:30 - first look + portraits
2:00 - wedding party photos
2:30 - ceremony space + guests arriving
3:00 - ceremony
4:00 - family portraits
4:30 - bride & groom portraits
5:00 - grand march
5:15 - eat
6:00 - speeches + cake cutting
6:45 - first dances + open dancing
7:30 - photographer end time
Want photos getting ready or during the reception?
The Gold Package includes 6 hours of coverage and is perfect if you'd like getting ready photos or reception coverage. While it doesn’t allow for full start-to-finish documentation, we can build a timeline that captures the moments most important to you. Whether you want those emotional getting ready photos, or the big reception moments like toasts and first dances, this package gives us room to cover more of your story without feeling rushed. Here's an example timeline, assuming you want the reception covered:
1:00 - detail shots (rings, flowers, dress, etc.)
1:30 - first look
2:00 - wedding party portraits
2:30 - ceremony space + guests arriving
3:00 - ceremony
4:00 - family portraits
4:30 - bride & groom portraits
5:00 - cocktail hour candids
5:15 - grand march
5:30 - dinner
6:00 - speeches
6:30 - cake cutting
6:45 - first dances
7:00 - photographer end time
Just the highlights?
My silver package is 4 hours. This is the smallest package that I offer for full-fledged weddings, even if you don't want a ton of photos, because it gives us a little "wiggle room" in case things don't go according to schedule. It's perfect if you're just looking to get the basics of the wedding captured: ceremony, group photos, and formal portraits. Sometimes, there is also a bit of time left over for cocktail hour candids or some finishing touch getting ready photos. Here's what a timeline might look like:
1:00 - detail shots (rings, flowers, etc.)
1:30 - first look
2:00 - wedding party photos
2:30 - photos of ceremony space + guests arriving
3:00 - ceremony
3:30 - family portraits
4:00 - bride & groom portraits
4:30 - cocktail hour candids
5:00 - photographer end time
Intimate elopement?
My lowest package is 2 hours, and it is only for very small weddings with a 30-guest maximum (think immediate family only and no wedding party) and elopements. My own wedding was like this, so these hold a special place in my heart. Typically the timeline is a little more relaxed, but here is what an elopement timeline might look like:
5:00 - detail shots (rings, flowers, ceremony site, etc.)
5:30 - first look
5:45 - ceremony
6:00 - family portraits
6:15 - couples portraits
Too much? Not enough? Customize your package!
Whether you want to add a second shooter, add some extra coverage, or something else, I've got you covered! After all, this is YOUR day. Reach out to me today and I can get you a custom quote. Even if you've already booked your package, I don't charge a fee to upgrade (or downgrade) your coverage. Ready to chat? Contact me now.