Indianapolis Wedding Photographer

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How To Create The Perfect Wedding Timeline

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There are SO many things to think about when planning a wedding, and one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle is your timeline! The timeline really drives the entire day and plays a huge role in how relaxed, fun, and stress-free your wedding feels.

One of the first things I help my couples with after they book is creating a wedding day timeline. Why? Because romantic, candid, joyful photos don’t just happen by accident. They happen when there’s enough time built into the day to actually enjoy it!

Before I can start building a timeline, there are a few important questions I always ask:

1. What time is your ceremony?

2. Are you planning to do a First Look?

3. Is there travel time between your getting ready, ceremony, and reception locations? (This is the thing most often missed in planning a timeline!)

4. Are you having a cocktail hour, and if so, how long will it be? (This is especially important if you’re going the traditional route. We’ve gotta have enough time afterward for all the photos!)

Once we have those answers, we can start building a timeline that fits your day. Knowing these details early means we can create a solid plan and then simply make small adjustments as the wedding gets closer.

One of the biggest mistakes I see couples make is not leaving enough buffer time throughout the day. Trust me, something always takes a little longer than expected! A boutonniere goes missing, transportation runs behind, or someone can’t find their shoes. Building extra breathing room into the timeline helps keep those little hiccups from turning into stress.

When a timeline is planned well, everything feels easier. You get to enjoy your day, your guests aren’t left waiting around, and we have plenty of time to create the beautiful images you’ve been dreaming about!

Here’s a breakdown of how I plan the day out with each of my couples and the ideal time I need to capture it:

1. Bridal Details: One Hour

I like to arrive at least an hour and a half before the bride needs to leave for the First Look. This gives me to chance to meet everyone and ease into the day slowly. I loooove starting with details; it gets my creative juices flowing! Having this time planned guarantees I have plenty of time to shoot the details and grab some candids of everyone together. This is the time with your girls; make sure to enjoy it! Wear those matching robes, drink a mimosa, have FUN with it!

It’s best to have ALL your details – dress, shoes, jewelry, rings, invitations, and any other keepsakes you’d like photographed – ready in a bag or box so no one has to hunt them down once I arrive. Natural light makes a HUGE difference in capturing detail shots and candid getting-ready photos, so really think about the room you are getting ready in. The more windows, the better!

2. Bride Getting Into Dress: 30-45 Minutes

I like to make sure we’re planning for at least 30 minutes for the bride to put on her dress. Every dress is different, but it’s another task that takes longer than many expect it to. Some brides have dresses that are a quick zip up, and we’re done, while others have a full back of buttons that need a team of 2-3 people to get done.

For a clean, cohesive look in the photos, we’ll ask the bridesmaids to be in their dresses before we get started. And speaking of clean, try to keep the room as clean as possible. I often try to find a spot away from the makeup prep area, preferably outside, with beautiful, natural light, but in a lot of instances portraits will take place in the same area. No one wants piles of clothes, shoes, food, and/or drinks cluttering the background of their portraits!

3. First Look and Couples Portraits: 45 Minutes-One Hour

Let’s talk about the First Look debate for a minute! This really depends on you as a couple. I know it is super important to a lot of couples to not see each other until the ceremony begins…and there’s nothing wrong with that! Heck, my husband Jon and I waited until our ceremony to see each other! However, there are some major benefits of doing a First Look.

Looking at it in a technical way, couples that do a First Look will have extra time for portraits, which translates to more images you get to enjoy. We’re also able to knock out all of the bridal party and family photos before the ceremony, which means everyone can move straight to the party right after the ceremony. This means if you’re having a cocktail hour, you actually get to enjoy it!

Speaking from a more romantic view, one of the reasons couples hesitate to do a First Look is because it’s not traditional. I’ve had couples that tell me they don’t want a First Look because they’re afraid the reaction won’t be there. But think about it…the groom is nervous, excited, and once the ceremony begins, this is when it gets real for him. Plus, every single wedding guest is now staring at him, watching for his reaction to seeing you for the first time. You enter and BAM, he has the sweetest reaction ever…but now you have to move forward through the ceremony. You don’t get to hug and kiss each other; he doesn’t get to tell you how beautiful you are – nothing. By the time you guys can actually talk to each other after the ceremony, the reaction and that special moment for the two of you has faded. But imagine if you could go off, just the two of you, where you can enjoy that special moment together. First Looks are one of the few intimate moments you’ll get to enjoy on your wedding day!

If you choose to forgo a First Look and stick with a traditional timeline, all of your bride & groom portraits, family formals, and wedding party portraits will be after the ceremony. This creates a little more of a time crunch. So we’re not holding up the reception, I recommend looking at having an extended cocktail hour to make up for it and keep your guests happy!

4. Bridal Party: 30 Minutes

Once the First Look and the bride and groom photos are complete, then it’s onto the bridal party! I like to schedule 30 minutes for bridal party shots. That way I’m able to capture the whole party together, the bride with the bridesmaids, the groom with the groomsmen, and individuals with the bride and groom. I have a flow to these, so we’re working quickly and getting everyone to the party quickly!

5. Family Photos: 15-30 Minutes

I say it to each of my couples…family photos are the most challenging part of the day. We’re trying to corral a large group of people and keep their attention. Most don’t want to be having their photo taken and would rather be heading towards the bar. To keep things moving during this time, I tell my couples to keep this to just immediate family. This means parents, siblings, their families, and grandparents.

As part of the planning process, I send each of my couples a questionnaire of the family photo combinations they’d like for me to capture the day of. That way I show up ready with a family formals list (mom-approved, of course!) to help keep things moving. That way my second photographer can call names, line people up, and we can move quickly through the groupings. Any other large groups that should be captured (aunts, uncles, cousins, family friends, college friends, etc.) I am more than happy to capture during the reception!

6. Reception Details: 30 Minutes

I work hard every wedding to try and photograph the reception space before the guests arrive. While it’s not always possible if the room needs to be flipped or the ceremony and reception are in the same spot, I love getting to capture the gorgeous details you’ve spent months and months planning. Your vision deserves to be captured! I do my best to plan to capture this while you’re hiding for the ceremony, depending on if the room is set and ready.

7. Sunset Portraits: 20 Minutes

We can’t miss out on golden hour photos!! During dinner, we’ll plan to sneak out for 15-20 minutes of photos. That way you’re not missing out on anything, and we’re not keeping the guests waiting. Plus, you get another chance to step away from the chaos for a short break. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day!

So now that I’ve noted a few key things to keep in mind when creating your wedding day timeline, here are a few examples you can use!:

5 pm Ceremony + First Look + One Location:

1:00-1:45 pm: Bridal Details

1:45-2:30 pm: Bride Getting Into Dress

2:30-3:15 pm: First Look and Bride & Groom Portraits

3:15-3:45 pm: Bridal Party Photos

3:45-4:30 pm: Hide!

4:30-5:00 pm: Family Formals

5:00-5:30 pm: Ceremony

5:30-6:30 pm: Cocktail Hour

6:30 pm: Grand Entrances

7:15 pm: Sunset Photos

7:30 pm: Toasts, Cake Cutting, Dances, etc.

9:00 pm: Coverage Ends

4 pm Ceremony + First Look + Two Locations:

12:00-12:45 pm: Bridal Details

12:45-1:30 pm: Bride Getting Into Dress

1:30-2:15 pm: First Look and Bride & Groom Portraits

2:15-2:45 pm: Bridal Party Photos

2:45-3:15 pm: Travel to Ceremony & Reception Location

3:15-4:00 pm: Hide!

4:00-4:30 pm: Ceremony

4:30-5:00 pm: Family Formals

5:00-5:30 pm: Bride and Groom Join Cocktail Hour

5:30 pm: Grand Entrances

6:15 pm: Sunset Photos

6:45 pm: Toasts, Cake Cutting, Dances, etc.

8:00 pm: Coverage Ends

4 pm Ceremony + No First Look + One Location:

12:30-1:15 pm: Bridal Details

1:15-2:00 pm: Bride Getting Into Dress

2:00-2:15 pm: Bridal Portraits

2:15-2:30 pm: Bride & Bridesmaids Photos

2:30-2:45 pm: Bride with Family

2:45-3:00 pm: Groom & Groomsmen Photos

3:00-3:15 pm: Groom with Family

3:15-4:00 pm: Hide!

4:00-4:30 pm: Ceremony

4:30-4:45 pm: Family Formals

4:45-5:00 pm: Full Bridal Party

4:45-5:00 pm: Bride & Groom Portraits

5:00 pm: Grand Entrances

6:15 pm: Sunset Photos

6:45 pm: Toasts, Cake Cutting, Dances, etc.

8:30 pm: Coverage Ends

5 pm Ceremony + No First Look + Two Locations:

1:30-2:15 pm: Bridal Details

2:15-3:00 pm: Bride Getting Into Dress

3:00-3:15 pm: Bridal Portraits

3:15-3:30 pm: Bride & Bridesmaids Photos

3:30-3:45 pm: Groom & Groomsmen Photos

3:45-4:15 pm: Travel to Ceremony & Reception Location

4:15-5:00 pm: Hide!

5:00-5:30 pm: Ceremony

5:30-6:00 pm: Family Formals

6:00-6:15 pm: Full Bridal Party

6:15-7:00 pm: Bride & Groom Portraits

7:00 pm: Grand Entrances

7:45 pm: Sunset Photos

8:00 pm: Toasts, Cake Cutting, Dances, etc.

8:30 pm: Coverage Ends

This is just a few starting points for building your perfect wedding day timeline. Every wedding is different, so don’t worry if one of these examples doesn’t fit your day perfectly! Talk over those initial questions with your photographer, and they’ll help you tweak any timeline to fit all the unique parts of your day!!