A Wedding Photographer’s Guide to Timelines — with Danielle Brown Photography
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY Dani Brown, Danielle Brown Photography
Creating your wedding day timeline sounds daunting — coordinating dozens of people, multiple locations and countless moving parts. But here’s what 18 years of wedding photography has taught me: A solid timeline isn’t about rigid perfection. It’s about having a framework that keeps your day flowing, even when hiccups happen.
TWO QUESTIONS THAT SHAPE EVERYTHING
Your timeline will look dramatically different depending on:
Locations: Are all activities at one venue or multiple? If moving between sites, map driving times and add buffer minutes for traffic and transitions.
First look: Will you see each other privately before the ceremony or wait for the aisle moment? This decision shapes your entire schedule and when formal portraits happen.
MAJOR COMPONENTS FIRST: CEREMONY & RECEPTION
Break the day into four sections: ceremony, reception, formal portraits and getting-ready.
Ceremony
When mapping out your ceremony, consider its start time, duration (confirm with your officiant!) and what special moments you want captured (think readings, unity ceremonies, etc.) I recommend reserving the 30 minutes before your ceremony for the couple and wedding party to tuck away and relax away from guests. Guests typically arrive a half-hour early, and if you’re visible, they’ll pull you into conversations that can delay the start time.
Reception
- Map out these major reception highlights so nothing gets missed:
- Grand entrance
- First dance and parent dances
- Dinner and welcome speech
- Cake cutting and toasts
- Open dancing and special dances
- Bouquet and garter tosses
- Grand exit
FOOL-PROOF FORMAL PORTRAITS
I like to walk my couples through a family and wedding party portrait sheet where they fill in all the important individuals. I recommend they review suggested groupings, adding what matters to them and removing what doesn’t apply.
The secret to fast-moving family and bridal party formals is to get everyone’s names in advance and pre-plan combinations. If you are doing a first look, some of these photos are able to be done prior to the ceremony. Budget two minutes per family combination. Additionally, alert family members about this photo timeline beforehand so they don’t run off during cocktail hour and get missed in pictures.
Typical cocktail hour breakdown:
- 20-30 minutes: Family and VIPs
- 10-20 minutes: Full wedding party
- 20 minutes: Couple’s portraits
A benefit to doing a first look is that you can complete most or all formal portraits before the ceremony. This lets you enjoy cocktail hour with guests and ensures your hair and makeup look fresh in photos.
PLAN THE FIRST PART OF THE DAY LAST
When your ceremony and reception are planned out, all that’s left is deciding the getting-ready activities you want photographed. I generally recommend one to two hours of getting ready coverage for:
- Detail shots (rings, invitations, shoes)
- Hair and makeup application
- Candid moments
- Opening gifts or notes from your partner
- Getting dressed with help from someone special
WHERE TIMELINES FALL APART
During timeline walk throughs, I generally give my couples some heads up scenarios where we see timelines fall apart. These include:
Hair and Makeup: Book a hair and make-up trial to know exactly how long each person needs in the chair and ensure services deliver what you envisioned.
Communication Gaps: Keep everyone informed at every stage. Bridesmaids and moms should know when to be ready for the bride’s dress reveal. Groomsmen need clear instructions on when and where to be dressed. Family members should know they’re needed for post-ceremony photos.
The Weather: For outdoor weddings, establish a 24-hour and a two- to four- hour weather decision point with your planner or venue. Delaying this call can push your timeline back by 30 to 60 minutes or more, creating a domino effect throughout your day.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Take time to plan, but stay flexible. In 18 years, I’ve never seen a wedding run exactly to plan, and that’s OK. A solid timeline details your important moments and gives your team the framework to deliver a great day, even when hiccups happen.
About the Author
Danielle “Dani” Brown has photographed weddings since 2007, bringing nearly two decades of experience to every celebration. Her background in graphic design — working with agencies, publications and small businesses since 1999 — gives her a unique eye for composition and how images will ultimately be displayed in albums, prints and keepsakes. When she’s not behind the camera, Danielle is at home in Woodstock, Georgia with her husband James and their three dogs.
