THE PERFECT

TIMELINE

WHAT MAKES A FUN TIMELINE?

Most of the 350+ weddings we have photographed have been epic and fun, but a few have not. What were the main factors that made or broke a wedding day? Believe it or not it was a well-thought-out timeline with the right expectations going into the wedding day.

Women helping a bride put on her wedding dress in a room with floral curtains.

OUR COUPLES WANT TO CELEBRATE

When we meet a couple, we start nudging each other and falling in love when we start hearing things like "we're less about the perfect day and more about the real moments" and "we’re just so excited to get married".

Black and white photo of four women and two young girls relaxing in a room with large window and floral curtains, with a scenic landscape outside.

HAVE A RELAXED GETTING-READY TIME

Plan a longer time with some games or activities to play if you ever are done early. From a photography standpoint, this creates a much more relaxed environment to get ready, and having planned activities makes for great documentary photos. This is also a great time for friends and family to get to know me and feel more comfortable around me, I also learn the different family and friend dynamics.

Group of men playing or practicing baseball on a grassy lawn outside a house on a sunny day.
A group of friends playing poker at a table, smiling and laughing, with chips, cards, drinks, and snacks.

VERY SHORT TIME FOR STAGED PHOTOS

Without fail, the most fun weddings I have been a part of typically had the shortest time spent on the formal staged photos. Just a few snaps with you all looking your best then back to the party and story of your day. So much of wedding photography today has become a literal staged production for formal photos. Yes, the photos look nice, but there’s no story, and all you will remember is how bored you were the whole time.

A bride in a white lace dress holding a white lace umbrella stands in a vineyard, while a groom in a blue suit with sunglasses jumps in the air holding a bouquet, with rolling hills and rows of grapevines in the background.
Group of five men in suits and floral shirts jumping and posing outdoors on a sunny day in a vineyard with green trees in the background.

TIPS FOR THE CEREMONY

  1. Have a friend or someone you know marry you. This is one of the more intimate times of the day and to have a complete stranger up there with you in all your ceremony pictures is very impersonal. I have seen some good ones, but they still don’t come close to some of the worst jobs friends have done.

  2. Do some things that are you. Yes, there are lots of traditions, but what are some personal family traditions you have done? Think outside the box and watch the magic happen.

  3. Doing a confetti or rose petal send-off right after you’re married is epic!

A newlywed couple celebrating outdoors at their wedding ceremony, with the groom raising his arm in excitement and the bride smiling, surrounded by friends and family who are clapping and cheering.

TIPS FOR THE COCKTAIL HOUR

  1. You don’t have to have cocktails, but drinks and snacks for right after the ceremony is a great time for friends and family to mingle with each other

  2. Have a couple of games planned for kids and or adults

  3. Having a photo booth is a great way to get more staged photos in a beautiful way and this is a great time for them

People attending an outdoor wedding reception, dressed in formal and semi-formal attire, standing on a grassy area with umbrellas and bottles of wine, with scenic hills in the background.

TIPS FOR DINNER

  1. Think about the speed of service. You don’t want your guests to have to wait long for their meal.

  2. Combining speeches near the end of dinner is a great way to get people while they are still sitting down, and saves some time for being able to do more activities or dancing.

A gathering of people at a rustic indoor wedding reception with long wooden tables, string lights, paper bunting, and a stone fire pit in a barn-like setting.

TIPS FOR RECEPTION

  1. Have a good DJ or live band. When thinking about a DJ take into consideration that they are typically the MC and are instrumental to how well the flow of the reception goes. If you have an outgoing friend this has turned out to be epic at some of the weddings we have done. They need to be comfortable with public speaking though.

  2. Let your guests know what to expect beforehand. Most people are sheep at a wedding, and a little direction goes a long way. Even saying now is the time we eat and just hang out is very helpful. Your guests want to know what is happening, so tell them.

People dancing and enjoying themselves at a social gathering or party in an indoor venue with warm lighting.
A man dancing happily while holding a young girl at a lively party or celebration, with other adults and children dancing and enjoying themselves in the background under warm lighting.
A group of people at a celebration, with some reaching toward a bride and a young girl standing on a balcony in the background.

COPY AND PASTE FOR YOUR WEDDING

1:00 Getting ready vibes (This is vital for getting everyone comfortable with the camera and me learning family and friend dynamics).

2:45 Staged couple photos (bride and groom completely ready and have already seen each other. We often waste so much time staging a first look, so stop staging it, and just go see each other.)

3:15 Staged bridal party photos

Groom with groomsmen

Bride with bridesmaids

Bride and groom + bridal party

3:30 Staged Family photos 

Bride and groom with brides immediate family 

Bride and groom with brides parents 

Bride with Mom

Bride with Dad

Bride and groom with Grooms immediate family 

Bride and groom with Grooms parents 

Groom with Mom

Groom with Dad

Extras if we have time

Grandparent photo 

Singles of grandparents 

Just Grooms parents

Just Brides parents 

4:00 Final touch-ups before the ceremony (photographer sets up any necessary setups before the ceremony or documents ceremony and reception layouts.)

4:30 Ceremony 

5:00 Cocktail hour (photographers break or start-up photobooth)

5:00-6:00 Photo Booth during cocktail hour (our photobooth is perfect for couples that want more staged photos with family or friends, it’s a stress-free set up that frees me up to document.)

6:00 Head for Dinner 

6:15 Dinner service starts (photographers break) 

6:40 Toast (4 toasts max)

7:15 First dance 

7:30 Party (yard games, taboo?, mini games?, photobooth opens back up)

8:00 or 9:00 Other events

10:00 Afterparty?

PRICING/INQUIRY