Why Your Wedding Timeline Needs Buffer Time
If you’ve ever looked at a wedding timeline I’ve created and wondered why there are extra pockets of time built in throughout the day, I promise I didn’t just forget to schedule something there! 😂 One of the BEST things you can do when planning your wedding timeline is give yourself a little breathing room. Because no matter how organized you are or how perfectly everything is planned, wedding days have a lot of moving pieces and sometimes things just take longer than expected!
What’s Buffer Time?
Buffer time is simply a little extra time intentionally built into different parts of your wedding day. It’s not necessarily time you’re planning to use, but it’s there when you need it! Maybe hair and makeup runs 15 minutes behind, someone can’t find Grandpa when it’s time for family photos, a boutonniere needs to be pinned again, or the party bus hits traffic on the way to the venue. None of those things are a big deal on their own, but when your timeline is scheduled down to the minute, even one small delay can start pushing everything else behind.
And here’s the best part: if we DON’T end up needing that extra time, you don’t lose it! It just means you get a few extra minutes to relax, hang out with your wedding party, grab a drink, or simply enjoy the fact that you’re ahead of schedule. I will happily take that problem on a wedding day!!
Why Add Buffer Time?
The biggest reason I love adding buffer time is that it keeps one little delay from turning into a stressful day. If hair and makeup finishes 15 minutes late but we already planned for a little extra time afterward, we’re still right on schedule! You don’t have to immediately start cutting portraits or rushing through something else to make up those minutes.
It also gives you the chance to actually ENJOY your wedding day! I never want my couples to feel like I’m constantly looking at my watch and rushing them off to the next thing. I want you to have time to laugh with your friends while you’re getting ready, hug the family member who came over to say hello, and spend a few extra minutes together after your First Look if you want to. Your timeline should keep the day organized without making you feel like you’re racing against it!
Buffer time also gives us flexibility when something unexpectedly amazing happens. Maybe the weather clears after a rainy afternoon or we suddenly get the most gorgeous sunset! If we’ve given ourselves some breathing room, it’s much easier to sneak outside for ten minutes of incredible portraits without throwing the rest of your reception timeline completely off track.
Where Should You Add Buffer Time?
Getting ready is one of the first places I like to add it. Hair and makeup can run behind, getting into a wedding dress almost always takes longer than you think, and there are usually a dozen little things happening at once that morning. An extra 15-30 minutes here can make a HUGE difference and keep a small delay from following you for the rest of the day.
Travel time is another big one! If we’re moving between your getting-ready location, ceremony, portrait locations, and reception, I’m never going to build a timeline assuming Google Maps’ absolute best-case scenario. 😂 We need time for loading everyone into cars, traffic, parking, unloading, and actually getting everyone where they need to be.
I also love having some wiggle room around portraits. Wedding party and family photos involve a lot of people, and occasionally someone disappears at exactly the moment we need them. It happens! Giving ourselves a little extra time means we can get all those important photos without everyone feeling stressed or watching the clock.
A Little Extra Time Makes A Big Difference!
IAdding buffer time doesn’t mean we’re expecting your wedding day to run behind or planning for everything to go wrong. It’s actually the opposite! We’re planning ahead so that when one of those completely normal wedding-day hiccups happens, it DOESN’T feel like something has gone wrong.
That’s why building a custom timeline is such an important part of the experience I give my couples. I want you to know there’s a plan in place, trust that we have enough time for the photos that matter to you, and then forget about the schedule and enjoy your wedding!!
Want to see what all of that actually looks like when it’s put together? Head over to my Sample Wedding Day Timelines post next! I share examples of how I structure different wedding days so you can get a better idea of how much time you may need for yours. And if having a photographer who helps you plan a relaxed, stress-free wedding day sounds like exactly what you’re looking for, you can learn more about my Wedding Photography Experience and see if we’d be a good fit!
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