Sample Wedding Timelines | simonearoraphoto

Wedding Day

Sample Timelines

If you're a client of mine, I'll help you with your timeline planning. I can give you insights and pointers, what we can do if we run out of time, what previous brides have experienced, etc. Even if you're not a client of mine, here are some sample timelines with different photo packages, ceremony times, and approximately how many photos the couple would receive! Since these are samples (though pieces are pulled from actual couples I've worked with), each timeline will be unique - some couples might have something special to add, or might decide to skip something.

Take me to packages!

6 Hour Photo Coverage

Ceremony Time: 4pm

Bridal party count: 6 women, 6 men

First look? Yes

# of photos delivered: Around 550 - 650 (more photos delivered with a second shooter)

8am - Hair + Makeup begin (this gives 1 hour for each person - this is a typical start time I see but will end up rushed - hair + makeup almost always takes longer than expected)

2:00pm - Bridesmaids + Bride are hair + makeup ready, Photo coverage starts - detail and flatlay shots, dress photos
2:15 - "Getting ready" shots with bridesmaids + Bride puts on dress

2:30 - Bridal shots (solo) (if add on for second shooter is purchased, second shooter is with groomsman)

3 - First look with Dad

3:05 - First look with Groom, Couple Photos start

3:30 - Full bridal party photos

3:45 - Ready for Ceremony

4 - Ceremony

4:30 - Ceremony Ends, Cocktail Hour begins, Family photos begin immediately following ceremony (this goes faster if someone is calling names for next group to line up), couple and/or bridal party photos are taken after family photos if we didn't get enough before or did not have time before ceremony

5:30 - Cocktail Hour Ends, Entrances, Cake Cutting

5:40 - Speeches start

6 - Dinner Starts

7 - Reception starts - Dance floor Open

8 - Photo Coverage Ends

10pm - Wedding ends

8 Hours Photo Coverage

Ceremony Time: 5pm

Bridal party count: 8 women, 4 men

First look? Yes

# of photos delivered: Around 750-900

7am - Hair + Makeup begin (this gives 1 hour for each person - this is a typical start time I see but will end up rushed - hair + makeup almost always takes longer than expected)

1pm - Photo coverage starts - detail and flatlay shots

1:20 - Groomsman "getting ready" photos

1:40 - Groom portraits (solo)

2 - Formal Groomsman Shots

2:20 - Venue shots (signage, reception room, ceremony area, details)

2:45 - Candid photos of bridesmaids, dress photos

3 - Bridesmaids + Bride are hair + makeup ready. "Getting ready" shots with bridesmaids

3:10 - Bride puts on dress

3:15 - Bridesmaids shots

3:40 - Bridal shots (solo)

4 - First look with Dad + Mom

4:05 - First look with Groom, Couple Photos start

4:30 - Full bridal party photos

4:45 - Ready for Ceremony

5 - Ceremony

5:30 - Ceremony Ends, Cocktail Hour begins, Family photos begin immediately following ceremony (this goes faster if someone is calling names for next group to line up)

6:30 - Cocktail Hour Ends, Entrances, Cake Cutting

6:40 - Speeches start

7 - Dinner Starts

8 - Reception starts - Dance floor Open

8:30 - Fake "exit" pictures, late night couple photos

9 - Photo Coverage Ends

11pm - Wedding ends

10 Hours Photo Coverage

Ceremony Time: 4pm

Bridal party count: 10 women, 12 men

First look? No

# of photos delivered: Around 800-1100

8am - Hair + Makeup begin (two hair + two makeup vendors with 1 hour for each person)

11am - Photo coverage starts - detail and flatlay shots, candids of bridal party getting ready

11:45 - Drive to Groomsman + Groom hotel (second shooter, if hired, would be handling groomsman)

12pm - Groomsman "getting ready" photos

12:20 - Groom portraits (solo)

12:40 - Formal Groomsman Shots

12:55 - Drive back to bridesmaids + Bride

1:05 - Dress photos

1:10 - Bridesmaids + Bride hair + makeup ready. "Getting ready" shots with bridesmaids

1:30 - Bride puts on dress

1:40 - Bridesmaids shots

1:55 - Bridal shots (solo)

2:15 - First look with Dad + Mom

2:20 - Bridesmaids + Bride to party bus, party bus photos

2:45 - Bridesmaids + Bride shots downtown, bridesmaids back on party bus, photographer to ceremony hall

3 - Venue shots (signage, reception room, ceremony area, details)

3:30 - Bridal party back from party bus, photographer gets photos of attendees arriving

3:45 - Ready for Ceremony

4 - Ceremony

4:30 - Ceremony Ends, Cocktail Hour begins, Family photos begin immediately following ceremony (this goes faster if someone is calling names for next group to line up)

5 - Bride + Groom couple photos

5:20 - Full bridal party photos