SUGGESTED WEDDING TIMELINE
While setting exact times for your photographs without consulting with the coordinator is difficult, there are optimal times for some sets. These timeframes may seem long, but remember that your wedding day will move quickly, most weddings run late, and many details must be considered.
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9:00AM
9:00 AM - Rings, Dress, Shoes & Other Details
Duration: 30m
When: Morning
Location: Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite
Advice: Having at least 30 minutes for details ensures we have plenty of time to get that perfect photo of the dress, rings, shoes, bouquets, and the other details of the day. Sometimes, a hotel room is too crowded or simply unappealing; we must take the dress to the lobby or outside. This can take some time, but as you can see from the results, it’s well worth the additional work.
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9:30AM
9:30 AM - Preparation
Duration: 1h
When: Morning or Early Afternoon
Location: Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite
Advice: Having an hour of preparation is ideal for our style. During this time, we get close-ups of the makeup and hair being applied and the candid moments as the bridesmaids and groomsmen prepare for the day. Remember that these are some of the day’s most emotional and fun times, so you don’t want to cut it short. The lead creative will be with the bride, while the second will be with the groom. While it doesn’t take guys an hour to get dressed, there are still many great moments between the groom and his family and friends.
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10:30AM
10:30 AM - Individual Portraits
Duration: 30m
When: Morning or Early Afternoon
Location: Bridal Suite, Hotel Suite, Venue Lobby, or Venue Garden
Advice: Right after prep is the best time for individual portraits of the bride and groom (separately); besides makeup and hair being completely fresh, the day hasn’t gotten hectic yet, so we can take our time and get those perfect portraits. Also, remember that the window lighting in most hotel rooms creates a unique look that can’t be duplicated in any environment throughout the rest of the day.
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11:00AM
11:00 AM - First Look & Daytime Couples Session
Duration: 45m
When: Morning or Early Afternoon
Location: Venue Garden, Empty Venue Hallway (shaded areas with natural light)
Advice: The first look should be around 45-60 minutes. During this time, the bride and groom enjoy seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day. While the actual first look might only be 5-10 minutes, the rest is spent on a few basic portraits of the bride and groom. Ideally, we save most of the couple’s session for later (see the “couples session” section below). However, if there is no other time in the day, it is best to allocate another 45 minutes to an hour here to ensure we have enough photos of just you two.
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11:45AM
11:45 AM - Wedding Party
Duration: 45m
When: Morning or Afternoon
Location: Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location
Advice: Wedding Party Photos should be around 45 minutes to 1 hour. During this time, we get a variety of shots in a variety of poses. We start with the classic photos focused on great expressions and lighting. Then we move into a set of fun and creative shots. Finally, we know how much your wedding party means to you so we will get pictures with you and your bridesmaids or groomsmen individually.
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12:30PM
12:30 PM - Immediate Family
Duration: 30m
When: Morning or Afternoon
Location: Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location
Advice: Immediate Family Photos should take another 45 minutes. Additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings are essential beyond the basic formal (mentioned below). Plan on 3 minutes per group on average. For example, if you have ten groups, schedule in a 30-minute time slot. We all know how much weddings mean to the immediate family and want to ensure we capture enough pictures with them.
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1:00PM
1:00 PM - Ceremony Detail & Venue
Duration: 30m
When: Morning or Afternoon
Location: Ceremony Site
Advice: Please allow 30 minutes for the second shooter to take pictures of the ceremony site, which is completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area. Before you have the guests seated, we must be there to capture the complete setup of your ceremony site so we can capture the scene at its best.
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1:30PM
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2:15PM
2:15 PM - Formals (Extended Family, Immediate Family, & Friends)
Duration: 45m
When: Morning or Afternoon (Post Ceremony)
Location: Ceremony Site
Advice: Formals should take around 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the size of your family and the number of guests. Plan on 3 minutes per group on average. For example, if you have ten groups, schedule in a 30-minute time slot. Some couples have decided they want a picture with all guests, while others have only wanted pictures with select VIPs to save time. We recommend something in between. We also recommend being very organized, with a list of groups and helpers from each side of the family to help round people up.
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3:00PM
3:00 PM - Couples Session
Duration: 1hr
When: Late Afternoon (Sunset)
Location: Venue Garden, Beach, Hotel Lobby, Park
Advice: The couple’s session should be around 1 hour, ideally 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. This is the best time in terms of lighting. It also allows us to capture fantastic scenic shots with colorful skies. If your wedding is downtown or in an area with tall buildings, it’s not as essential for us to have this specific time frame (although it still helps). However, if you booked your venue because of the spectacular view of the ocean or the gorgeous vines in the winery, it’s essential to follow this advice in your timeline.
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4:00PM
4:00 PM - Reception Detail & Venue
Duration: 30m
When: Early Evening
Location: Reception Site
Advice: Please allow 30 minutes for the second shooter to take pictures of the reception room, which is completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area. Similar to the ceremony details, this is the only opportunity we have to capture the beauty of the reception room before guest arrival.
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4:30PM
4:30 PM - Reception First Look
Duration: 10m
When: Before doors open for guests
Location: Reception Site
Advice: This is when the reception space is revealed to the couple for the first time. It’s a great opportunity to capture a genuine reaction and a moment alone with the dance floor to practice your first dance, which also makes a great photo!
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4:40PM
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6:40PM
6:40 PM - Couples Session (Sneak Out)
Duration: 20m
When: Dusk to Night Time
Location: Areas with interesting lights, fountains, cityscapes, and mirrors.
Advice: Please plan on sneaking out for a couple of night shots during the reception. We only need 20-30 minutes, as we understand the importance of being a good host. However, this time is essential if you appreciate the night photography that we deliver. The ideal time for this is right after you grab a bite to eat or during the open floor dancing after you’ve danced a few songs and would like a break. Another suggestion would be to get these shots at the very end of the night once all the guests have departed.
