Making Your Wedding Timeline

So, you’re getting married! Yay! Wedding planning is a joyous, yet often stressful time for couples. For many pairs, this is their first go-around and even if it’s not, getting married isn’t something you do all that often. It is going to be one jam-packed day and there are a lot of things to put into consideration when sorting out your timeline. How much time should you allocate to each “event” anyway?

As a wedding photographer, I have been to a lot of weddings. I have seen what has worked and what hasn’t. Hopefully, I can shed some light on this topic so that you can create your timeline with a little more ease.

Getting Ready- 3+ hours

How much time you need to get ready depends on several factors. How large is your bridal party? How many of you are getting hair and makeup professionally done? Your HMUA (hair and makeup artist) should be able to tell you how long this process takes. Are you getting your hair and makeup done at your wedding venue or elsewhere? In most instances, it is safe to assume you will need the majority of the morning to prep for your day.

From a photography standpoint, I like to have an hour and a half for your “getting ready” shots. This includes your detail photos (rings, the bride’s dress on the hanger, the bouquet, the groom’s shoes, cuff links etc.), some pre-wedding shots of you and your respective bridesmaids or groomsmen and maybe some shots of the venue before guests arrive.

First Look – 10 minutes

Some couples choose to do a “first look”. A first look is a new tradition where the bride and groom take a few moments to see each other before the ceremony. It’s non-traditional but helps many couples calm the pre-ceremony jitters. It’s also a rare opportunity for some one-on-one quiet time with your future spouse during a hectic day. Brides often choose to do a “first look” with their fathers before walking down the aisle as well. A first look usually takes about five minutes, but I’d recommend 10 just to be on the safe side.

Ceremony- 15 minutes-1 hour

Depending on the type of ceremony you plan, your timeline should allot 15 minutes to an hour for this portion of your day. Some religions require a longer ceremony. Your officiant should be able to tell you what to expect. On average, most wedding ceremonies take around 30 minutes.

Family Formals- 30 minutes

Family formals are photographs of the bride and groom and their most important guests (parents, siblings, grandparents etc.). You’ll want to have these to commemorate this special day with your loved ones who attended the wedding. These are typically taken right after the ceremony during the start of “cocktail hour”. This portion of the day can be time consuming if you don’t plan for it in advance. Make sure you have a shot list for your photographers that breaks down the groupings. Ask your officiant to tell your immediate family members to stick around after the ceremony and to tell the rest of the guests to please make their way to the appetizers. If possible, I recommend couples stick to 20 or fewer shot requests for family formals.

Couples Portraits- 30-45 minutes

You know all the dreamy photos you saw when you were Pinteresting wedding photography? Those are couples portraits. These are the photos that will be hanging on the walls of your home. It is so important that you set aside enough time for these. At minimum, you will want 30 minutes for these. If your venue is large or you plan on going to a different property, you’ll want even more time. These photos are super important so make sure you give them the time they deserve.

Click here for some couples’ portrait inspo www.instagram.com/sweetpeaimageskcraport

Dinner- 1 hour

Dinner typically takes about an hour. If you need to speed things up, you can plan speeches or dances during the dinner hour. Speeches usually take 20-30 minutes and special dances can take 15-30 minutes depending on your specifics. Couples often choose to end the dinner hour with a cake cutting which only takes about 5 minutes. Your DJ will be a huge help in planning your reception timeline and may even take the reins in planning this portion of your day.

Reception- as long as you want/venue allows!

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, your DJ will most likely plan your reception timeline. They will throw out ideas and work with the ones you already have to create the best timeline possible. You can plan on dinner being about an hour and the other reception events (dances, cake cutting, games, etc.) to take another hour or more. The night typically ends with open dancing which lasts until the venue says it’s time for guests to go. If you are planning a grand exit, you’ll want to allow an extra 15-20 minutes for this so that you have time to gather guests.

Takeaway

I know that it can seem overwhelming, but hopefully after reading this blog post you feel a little more prepared. When in doubt, check in with your wedding professionals for assistance. If you have a wedding coordinator, they will be a huge asset in planning your timeline. Your photographer, DJ and venue will also be able to help you plan your day. Need some vendor recommendations? Check out this blog post about amazing wedding vendors in Dayton, Ohio! https://sweetpeaimagesphotography.com/2023/02/17/amazing-wedding-vendors-in-dayton-ohio/

Keep in mind that no matter how hectic things get, at the end of the day, your wedding is about you marrying your spouse. The rest is just icing on the cake.