Wedding Timeline Advice – A Photographer’s Perspective
Looking for wedding timeline advice? A well thought out wedding timeline is key to a successful wedding day. A poorly designed timeline can add unwanted stress for you and your guests. Be sure to follow the wedding timeline advice below for a stress free wedding whilst maximising your photo opportunities!
1. Share your wedding timeline with your wedding photographer
Imagine discovering that your photographer was taking a pee whilst you were cutting the cake. Or even worse, during your first dance! Your wedding timeline is an invaluable tool for your wedding photographer. It helps your photographer know exactly when the defining moments are taking place on your wedding day. Be sure to avoid any missed photos by communicating clearly your wedding timeline with your photographer.
2. Always provide your photographer with an updated timeline
Wedding timelines often change, especially as the wedding day draws near. Keeping your wedding photographer up to date with the latest timeline helps to ensure no misunderstandings occur. In fact, having your timeline on a Google document means the photographer can always access the latest version at any time. Just remember to update any last minute changes as your photographer will likely review the timeline the night before your wedding.
3. Seek your photographer’s advice
Don’t forget, your photographer attends weddings all the time. They will have likely seen their fair share of timeline hiccups. Your photographer is therefore excellently placed to provide you with well informed wedding timeline advice. Use their expertise!
4. Detail is good
Be specific, your photographer (and other vendors) will love you for it! For example, when planning portrait locations, don’t just say location 1, locations 2, location 3 etc. Provide the name and even address of the different locations to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Check out this example of a detailed run sheet that your photographer will love: Wedding run sheet
5. Allow extra time
Have you ever heard the saying ‘weddings always run over time?’ Well, they don’t always, but they often do. Bill the groomsmen had a big night before and can’t find his wallet, the stars have aligned in such a way that the traffic is absolutely horrendous, you name it! Allowing time buffers between important parts of your wedding day will ensure you are not rushed and stressing. You can then be more present for your loved ones and guests.
6. Start early!
Bridal preparation is the one area I regularly see running into overtime. Chances are it will take 90 minutes for the bride to get her hair and makeup done. Important things to consider: how many people are getting their hair and makeup done? Are you and your partner getting ready in seperate locations? How far are people travelling for the preparations?
7. Allow enough time for your family photos
Have you planned in advance exactly what combinations of family photos you would like? You should! Proving your photographer with the different family photo combinations can allow them to better calculate how long to allow for family photos. Well planned family photos ensures that your portrait time doesn’t get eaten into.
8. Allow enough time for bridal photos
Your bridal or portrait photos are usually the ones that end up on your wall. You don’t want to skimp on these if possible. In an ideal world, your portrait photos should take place during cocktail hour. That way you can let the guests be merry for an hour or so whilst you spend a bit of alone time with your photographer, creating amazing portraits.
9. Dinner should be served no later than one hour after the reception starts
We’ve probably all been to a wedding where everyone is grumbling “when on earth is dinner getting served, I’m soooooo hungry.” Planning dinner to be served one hour after reception starts will make for happy guests. Even better, make sure there is finger food available as soon as the reception starts.
One last tip regarding reception planning, consider whether there will be any elderly guests attending. If yes, I recommend scheduling the cake cutting relatively early so no one misses out. Grandmothers love seeing this timely tradition.
Is there anything I forgot? Hit me up with a message and I’ll do my best to answer any questions you have.
Also, while you’re here, have you read my guest article on choosing a celebrant? Be sure to check it out!