Focus on Forever; Your Wedding Playbook: The Wedding Timeline
 

Welcome to my new blog series: "Focus on Forever: Your Wedding Playbook." As a seasoned wedding photographer, my mission is to guide you in creating a flawless canvas for your picture-perfect wedding day!

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Today, let's delve into a crucial aspect that sets the tone for your entire day: the wedding day timeline. Weddings are a whirlwind of excitement and activity, and having a well-thought-out plan is the key to ensuring everything unfolds seamlessly. So in this blog we'll go over all the elements of the wedding day and I'll give you a few samples of my ideal timelines. I'll use the language of bride and groom but our LGBTQ+ couples are equally important to us and these timelines will work for everyone. 

First of all I cannot stress how important it is that you involve your photographer in the planning of the timeline. Professionals will be able to tell you best lighting and scheduling in order to get all the photos you want most for your special day. And its so crucial for the photographer to have ample planning and preparation to capture everything.

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Wedding day photography typically commences with capturing the getting-ready moments, including detail shots that add a touch of elegance to your memories. Starting in the bride's room offers a wonderful opportunity to capture the anticipation and excitement as the final touches come together. To ensure these moments are flawlessly captured, consider having all essential details ready in the bride's room – rings, bouquets, dress, shoes, and invitations. Personal touches like written vows or gifts for your loved ones add an extra layer of emotion that we want to immortalize in your photographs.

One of the common reasons for a delayed timeline is the preparation time for hair and makeup. Always plan for at least one extra hour for hair and makeup, allowing a buffer for unexpected delays. Being ready early allows you to savor the moment with a glass of champagne, ensuring a stress-free start to your day.

While the ladies wrap up their preparations, I make my way to the boys' room to capture the groom and his party getting ready. From boutonnieres to ties, accessories, and candid moments, this part of the day is a blend of camaraderie and anticipation. Then it's the brides turn for bridal portraits and formal portraits with her bridesmaids and mom, sisters, etc. It's quite common for the boys to dress much earlier than they are needed for, and often times there is time for them to change back before the ceremony but this is a great way to prioritize shooting time when the girls may be running behind. Having flexibility as the photographer is a huge advantage and helps ensure a successful day.

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Consider incorporating a first look – a private moment just before the ceremony where the couple sees each other for the first time. It's a beautiful way to share an intimate moment and can also free up time for later in the day. If you shoot the majority of your bride and groom portraits before the ceremony you have more time for group portraits and to enjoy the cocktail hour.

Whether with your partner, dad, grandma, little brother or dear friends, first looks create unforgettable moments. And if you want a little of both, consider a first touch; where you'll just hold hands around the corner from your lover or pass a note and gift without peeking at them. 

Following the first look, we embark on couple portraits, family or bridal portraits, depending on your preference. Otherwise; we'll save this section for right after the ceremony. I always arrive early to scout out some beautiful portrait locations for the best options, so we'll already have a plan of action and then we'll quickly hide you away before guests arrive. 

For the ceremony your photographer will capture all the special moments of you walking down the aisle and your partners reaction, your vow and ring exchanges, and of course your first kiss. But you can also expect candid shots of your guests and details of the ceremony as well. Ceremonies can differ in time lengths depending on how many rituals or traditions you've included in your ceremony, but we'll do our best to catch every significant moment!  NFPG1018

After the ceremony you can have the opportunity to catch a photo of the entire wedding, guests and all at the alter. This will only require a ladder for the photographer as well as a bit of a heads up from the officiant to let guests know about it and where to go. In lieu of or after that your guests will be guided to the cocktail hour; if you didn't have a first look this is when we would shoot the full bridal party as well as the bride and groom portraits and family/ group photos. For the family and group photos a great preparation is to send your photographer a list of their names and relations so that we can create a shot list that flows easily and keeps the process as quick as possible. I prefer not to use up the entire cocktail hour for portraits because for the bride and groom this is a great opportunity to get to visit with guests as well as enjoy some appetizers which is typically very welcomed. I also love to use this time to take candids of the party as well as offer portraits to the guests. This always makes an excellent souvineer for your beloved friends and family; a gorgeous portrait of their significant other, bff or family.  NFPG9532-Edit

Timing the cocktail hour to end just before sunset provides the ideal opportunity for stunning sunset portraits. This is really only 10-15 mins so it's typically not a problem to sneak off during dinner or in between toasts, depending on the sunset time. Following this, the couple can seamlessly transition to introductions and dinner. Your photographer will take a break during dinner, ensuring they are ready for the toasts and subsequent events. Providing them with a meal beforehand is appreciated, as they will be working throughout the day to capture every precious moment.

After toasts, the celebration continues with the first dance, parent dances, and open dancing. Later in the evening, you might have cake cutting, churros or taco trucks, fireworks, or sparklers. Communicating these special occurrences in advance allows us to prepare and capture them with the artistry they deserve. Make sure the coordinator is on top of giving the photographer a heads up before each event and not to start them without us. Usually we all work as a team and you don't need to worry about our communication. 

Remember, your wedding day is a unique masterpiece, and by crafting a meticulous timeline, you pave the way for a day filled with love, laughter, and everlasting memories. Stay tuned for more tips and insights in the "Focus on Forever: Your Wedding Playbook" series!

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