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Timelines

Bride Getting Ready

Photography coverage should begin after hair and makeup is complete for all members of the bridal party, including the mother of the bride. Plan your schedule with your stylists, then add 30 minutes to buffer for cleaning up their kits and getting ready area prepped for photos to begin. 

  • 10 Minutes - Bridesmaids in matching attire (eg. robes or PJs) 
  • 45 Minutes - Detail pictures (dress hanging, bouquet, accessories, all 3 wedding rings, invitation suite, jewelry, etc.) 
  • 30 Minutes - Bride putting on her dress, veil, shoes, and accessories
  • 15 Minutes - Reveal to the bridal party and celebratory pictures with them
  • 10 Minutes - First look with mom, dad, or a loved one
  • 15 Minutes - Letter reading or gift exchange

60+ minutes

Groom Getting Ready

The guys should be in their dress pants and dress shirt when photographer arrives. They can put on tie, coat, and other items while photographer is present. 

  • 10 Minutes - Detail pictures (tie, shoes, watch, cufflinks, socks, etc.) 
  • 15 Minutes - Groomsmen hanging out candids, celebrating, getting dressed
  • 20 Minutes - Groom's solo pictures putting on his suit and tie, shoes, and accessories
  • 5 Minutes - Mom/VIP pinning the boutonniere
  • 15 Minutes - Letter reading or gift exchange

45+ minutes

Ceremony

75 minutes

Length of time can vary depending on type of service that it is. 

  • 45 Minutes - Rite of marriage (no mass)
  • 75 Minutes - Rite of marriage within the mass - Most popular
  • 90 Minutes - Traditional latin mass wedding

Don't forget: 
  • 30 Minutes - Out of sight before ceremony
  • 10 Minutes - Transition time afterwards for wedding party and/or designated people to clean up items and bring them to your transportation
  • 30 Minutes - Receiving Line (optional)

Family Pictures

45 minutes

We recommend limiting your family picture list your top 20 most important combinations. 

  • 45 Minutes - Immediate family combinations (parents, siblings, grandparents), celebrant, flower girl and ring bearer, godparents, other special relationships. 
  • +10 Minutes - Wedding party formals at the church (optional) 

Bride & Groom Portraits

60+ minutes

Don't forget time for the two of you! This varies based on if you choose a first look so here's a few ideas to consider how you may want to spread it out throughout the day. 

Before the ceremony:
  • 30-45 Minutes - First Look & portraits after
  • 10 Minutes - Pray together (without first look)

After the ceremony:
  • 45-60 Minutes - Newlywed portraits
  • 15-20 Minutes - Sunset pictures

Wedding Party Pictures

45 minutes

You may want to add additional time if you have special photo requests during this time or additional stops you'd like to make with your wedding party. 

  • 15 Minutes - Full wedding party group
  • 15 Minutes - Smaller groupings within the wedding party (eg. Bride with bridesmaids; Groom with groomsmen) 
  • 15 Minutes - Individuals 

General Recommendations

Travel Time

varies

Don't forget to factor in travel time throughout the wedding day! We recommend using Google Maps to get an estimate, then add 8-10 minutes to their recommendations to account for the logistics of getting into and out of the vehicles. If you suspect there will be traffic or road construction based on the location, time of day, or other events in the city, please round up for this too!  

  • Getting Ready 
  • To First Look (if applicable)
  • To the Church
  • To any locations between Church & Reception
  • To the Reception

Cocktails & Reception

2+ Hours

While the cocktail hour may last longer for your guests, we recommend that you include the following timing as a minimum for yourselves being at the reception.

  • 15 Minutes - Bustle the dress, go to the bathroom, line up for grand entrance
  • 30 Minutes - Reception decor pictures (guest book, centerpieces, seating cards, signs, etc. ) 
  • 15 Minutes - Grand Entrance and blessing of the meal
  • 45-60 Minutes - Dinner service
  • 15-30 Minutes - Toasts and speeches
  • 15 Minutes - First dances
  • 30 Minutes - Open dance floor pictures

sample timelines

First Look Timeline

with a 2:00 p.m. Wedding Mass

couple + family pictures before mass

couple + wedding party pictures before mass

all pictures
before mass

Doing a first look adds flexibility to your wedding day timeline, gives you a private moment to see each other before the day begins and allows you to spend more of your wedding day together than apart. Because of the flexibility it offers you, we created three sample timelines to help you see how the day could be arranged depending on if you want to do some or all of your portraits prior to mass

Getting Ready
Travel to First Look
First Look & Couple Portraits
Travel to church
Family Pictures
Out of Sight
Wedding Mass
Travel to next location
Wedding Party pictures
Newlywed portraits
Travel to reception
Cocktail hour & Reception details
Dinner served
Toasts and speeches
First Dances
Open dance floor
Photographers finish

10:45 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
12:45 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:25 p.m.
6:45 p.m.

back to beginning

This timeline focuses on completing all family pictures prior to mass. Often times churches will need you to leave so that confession and evening liturgies can begin. This gives you peace of mind that you won't be rushed out of the church and confidence that you'll walk away from the day with all of your cherished family pictures requests.

Getting Ready
Travel to First Look
First Look & Couple Portraits
Wedding Party Pictures
Travel to Church
Out of Sight
Wedding Mass
Family Pictures
Newlywed Pictures around church
Travel to reception venue
Cocktail hour & Reception details
Dinner served
Toasts and speeches
First Dances & Open dance floor
Photographers finish

10:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.

This timeline focuses on completing all wedding party pictures prior to mass. If you have large extended families and pictures with them are a high priority for you, it is often easier on everyone to take pictures with them after the wedding mass concludes. Be sure your church allows you to be in the church long enough for us to complete them!

back to beginning

Getting Ready
Travel to First Look
First Look & Couple Portraits
Wedding Party Pictures
Travel to church
Family Pictures
Out of Sight
Wedding Mass
Travel to reception venue
Cocktail hour & Reception details
Dinner served
Toasts and speeches
First Dances & Open dance floor
Newlywed Sunset Photos
Photographers finish

9:45 a.m.
10:45 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
12:45 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
5:45 p.m.

The benefit of completing all major group pictures before mass begins means that you'll have time to do a receiving line, spend time traveling the city on a party bus with your wedding party, or mingling with guests at cocktail hour. This is also helpful for couples who want a smooth transition from ceremony to reception for their wedding guests and don't want to keep anyone waiting too long before dinner!

back to beginning

Aisle Reveal Timeline

Getting Ready
Travel to church
Praying together - no peeking ;) 
Out of Sight
Wedding Mass
Family Pictures
Travel to next location
Wedding Party Pictures
Newlywed portraits
Travel to reception venue
Cocktail hour & Reception details
Dinner served
Toasts and speeches
First Dances & Open Dance Floor
Sunset Photos
Photographers finish

12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
1:20 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:15 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
8:00 p.m.

with a 2:00 p.m. wedding mass

For couples who want to save the surprise of seeing one another down the aisle, the earlier you can schedule your wedding mass the better! You'll want to plan at 2.5-3 hours following the ceremony to accomplish all portraits with your family, wedding party, and as a couple. 

If the sunset is 4:30 p.m. or earlier, we recommend a first look in order to ensure there is enough daylight for outdoor pictures.

Fridays & Evening Timeline

with a 4:00 p.m. wedding mass

In order to spend the most amount of time together as a couple on your wedding day, and to help your guests move quickly from ceremony to dinner, we encourage you to do a first look so that the majority of pictures can be completed prior to the ceremony.  The time of year that your wedding takes place can impact how much daylight is available for pictures after the ceremony. Please note that the later the ceremony time, the fewer outdoor pictures we will be able to take before sunset.

Getting Ready
Travel to First Look
First Look & Couple Portraits
Wedding Party Pictures
Travel to church
Family Pictures
Out of Sight
Wedding Mass

Newlywed portraits
Travel to reception
Cocktail hour & Reception details
Dinner served
Toasts and speeches
First Dances & Open Dance Floor
Photographers finish

11:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:15 p.m.
2:45 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:15 p.m.
7:30 p.m.

Update the ceremony time if needed then adjust travel times based on your ceremony and reception locations 

Factor in any constraints given to you by the church or reception venue

Look up the scheduled sunset for your wedding date to make sure all photos can be completed during daylight hours

How to modify the sample timelines

Incorporate any other activities or events for your day (eg. limo transportation for wedding party with stop at a brewery in route to reception)

Determine what kind of experience you want to offer your wedding party, family, and guests

Make a list of what photos are most important to you within each part of the day and ask photographers how they might affect your timeline