Wedding Day Timeline Advice From A Photographer

A well-planned wedding day timeline can make all the difference. While each wedding is unique, and every couple prioritizes certain aspects differently, this guide offers a general outline to help you plan your wedding day, especially from a photographer/videographer's point of view.


Although I highly recommend hiring a wedding planner if your budget allows, I understand why some couples might opt out. For my own wedding, I chose to allocate my budget elsewhere and skipped a planner—a decision I now regret (but that’s a story for another time!). If I’m your wedding photographer, we’ll schedule a call to go over your timeline, essential shots, and travel times between locations.

One common regret I hear from clients is that they wished they had booked us for more time in the morning. For full wedding day coverage—from getting ready to capturing the action on the dance floor—I recommend 9-10 hours.


The timelines suggested below may seem stretched, but a general rule is that anything that normally takes 5 minutes, may take 30 minutes or more. The suggested coverage duration is a standard guideline.


Key Timeline Details

Be sure to include the following in your wedding timeline document:

  • A list of all vendors with their contact numbers and addresses. Having this information in one document helps vendors coordinate with each other, reducing stress.
  • Vendor arrival and departure times.


Now, let’s break down the wedding day timeline:

Getting Ready | ~90 Minutes

The morning is one of the most important moments to capture as it sets the tone for the entire day. This time is perfect for focusing on the details—your dress, suit, accessories, heirlooms, and anything else you’ve handpicked. We’ll also capture candid moments of you and your loved ones getting ready, the laughter, and the calm before the excitement of the day begins. The photos taken during this time with your parents are often the most cherished—those intimate first looks are incredibly special and genuine.


For full-day wedding packages, I always include two photographers to capture both the bride and groom getting ready simultaneously.


Key photos during this time:

  • Details (dress/suit hanging, rings, jewelry, shoes, invitations, heirlooms, bouquet, vows, personalized letters, etc.)
  • Hair and makeup final touches
  • Candid moments of everyone getting ready
  • Bride/groom robe or pyjama photos with their wedding party
  • The bride/groom getting dressed



White bridal shoes, wedding rings and red perfume bottle arranged on a wooden surface in elegant composition.
Black and white photo of a hair styling session with a stylist working on a client wearing a white salon cape.
A hand pours white wine into a glass in black and white monochrome.
Black and white photo of groomsman helping groom adjust his bowtie while both laugh during wedding preparations.
A silhouetted figure looks at a delicate lace wedding gown hanging in a window, creating a romantic black and white moment.
A black and white image of groomsmen adjusting a bowtie in a room with framed artwork on the wall.
Helper in a floral robe assists with fastening an elegant white lace wedding gown in a sunlit room.

Optional: First Look | ~20 Minutes

The first look is a private moment where the couple sees each other for the first time, before the ceremony.

One of the main advantages of doing a first look is that it allows you to get all your portraits, family, and bridal party photos done ahead of time. This way, you can enjoy your cocktail hour without worrying about photo time.




Black and white portrait of someone in a classic tuxedo with bow tie standing outdoors amid trees and grass.
Newlywed couple in formal attire standing on green lawn with white rose bouquet looking toward trees.
A couple in wedding attire stands on a grassy hillside, with the bride holding a white floral bouquet.
A couple shares a romantic moment on a lush lawn with majestic trees in the background, the bride wearing a fitted lace gown.
A couple stands together during their wedding ceremony on a lush green lawn surrounded by tall trees.
A joyful wedding moment captured outdoors on a green hilltop overlooking the ocean.
A couple in wedding attire stands on a hilltop overlooking the ocean under a cloudy sky.
Black and white wedding photo of an emotional first look moment between a bride in lace dress and groom outdoors.
A black and white wedding photo shows an emotional moment between a bride in a lace dress and groom in a tuxedo.

Ceremony | 20-60 Minutes

Ceremonies generally last between 20-60 minutes. Non-religious ceremonies tend to be shorter, while religious ceremonies may last up to an hour. Be sure to coordinate the ceremony duration with your venue’s staff.


Post-Ceremony | ~15-30 Minutes Buffer

Right after the ceremony, your friends and family will want to congratulate you. This is a great opportunity to soak in the moment, greet your guests, and share some hugs before moving on to the next event.


A wedding couple walks down the aisle in a beautiful church with ornate religious murals and gothic architecture.
A wedding ceremony takes place in a beautiful historic church with ornate stained glass windows and religious artwork.
A bride in a white wedding dress bends down to hug two children in matching white dresses at an outdoor event.
A joyous wedding party poses together for a group photo, with people in formal attire and bright smiles.
Large vintage group wedding photo on church steps with guests in formal 1920s attire gathered outside Gothic arches.

Family Photos | ~30 Minutes

It’s helpful to have a family shot list so your photographer can ensure all the key combinations are captured. A general rule is to aim for 5 family photos with the bride’s side and another 5 with the groom’s side. If you choose not to take family photos before the ceremony, plan to take them right after to keep guests from wandering off.

If extended family photos are important to you, consider adding another 30 minutes for photos.


Wedding party in formal attire poses together in color photo at indoor venue.
Wedding party group photo with adults and children in formal wear in black and white.

Cocktail Hour | ~1-1.5 Hours

During the cocktail hour, the photo and video team will capture candid moments of your guests mingling, group portraits, and details of the reception decor. If the couple hasn’t yet had their portraits taken, this time can also be used for family, bridal party, and couple portraits. The second photographer and videographer will focus on guest interactions and reception decor.


Dinner & Speeches | ~120-180 Minutes

During the dinner, key moments will be captured, including:

  • Grand entrance
  • First dance
  • Speeches
  • Mother/groom dance
  • Father/bride dance
  • Cake cutting


Dance Floor | ~30 Minutes

Once the dance floor opens, we typically recommend capturing 30 minutes of dancing shots. This is usually enough time unless you have a grand exit, surprise, or other special entertainment later on that you’d like us to capture. We'll take photos of your guests dancing, mingling, taking shots, and capture details of the late night snack tables.


Black and white photograph of wedding guests celebrating and raising their glasses during a reception dinner.
Wedding guests raise glasses in a joyful toast at an elegant reception dinner table captured in black and white.
A hand wearing an engagement ring holds a champagne flute filled with sparkling wine against a light background.
People dancing and having fun at an evening party with motion blur and festive lighting effects.
People dancing together at a celebration with a person in a white dress and others enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Black and white photograph of people dancing and celebrating at a party with motion blur effects creating a dynamic atmosphere.
Wedding celebration at an elegant reception with joyful couple seated at table decorated with floral arrangements.
A joyful moment captured in black and white at an elegant dinner party with formal attire and wine glasses on the table.
A couple stands next to an elegantly decorated table with floral centerpieces during an evening reception.