Wedding Timelines

THE BIG DAY

Here are some examples of timelines for your wedding day to correspond with the packages we offer. Your day is unique to you, and we can work with whatever structure you would like to work with! There will always be longer ceremonies or additional scheduled events - but these timelines may help you see the timeframes we often work with. We are always ready to pivot, and will be looking for special moments to capture from the moment we arrive until we leave.

Disclaimer - These timelines may not fit every wedding. A little wiggle room is always a good idea when you can add it in! Some things to consider when planning your schedule are things like travel, and any part of the day running late. (Common things we see...waiting on uncle Jim to show up to the family photo location, a spontaneous receiving line forming after your ceremony, speeches running long, dinner coming out late bumping back the rest of the evening schedule, etc.)

You can use these timeframes as recommendations for picking your wedding package. We are always happy to add on extra hours to your wedding package when needed for $400/hr. (The larger packages have discounts applied.)

6 hours

1pm-7pm

1pm photographers capture candid finishing touches of bride getting into dress. (consider travel time +parking and arriving at church early for photographers)

2pm ceremony

2:30 family photos

3-5pm leave for creative photos

(its nice to have a little wiggle room here in case anything runs a bit behind from the itinerary above.)

5pm Cocktail Hour (this can be a fun time grabbing your favourite people for photos, or we take candids we also love if we can get into your reception space before guests to get decor details!)

6-7pm Reception speeches, etc

(We are getting candids of guests laughing, cake, decor details.) You can consider having first dance and cake cutting upon arrival to start the reception off if you want this captured!

(Look at the bigger packages for groomsman getting ready and more documentary style getting ready photos. Golden hour, dances, cake cutting and more of your guests.

8 hours

12:00-8:00

12:00-12:30 groomsmen getting ready (consider drive time between groom & bride getting ready spots

(details, just putting on jacket & shoes, cheers)

12:45-1:45 Bride getting ready

(details, cheers moment, getting into dress, first looks with bridal party/dad)

2pm Ceremony (add half an hour if you want to do a receiving line here, otherwise it can be helpful to get right to the family photo spot reserved for your smaller group of people)

2:45 family photos

3:15-5pm leave for creative photos

(its nice to have a little wiggle room here in case anything runs a bit behind from the itinerary above.)

5:30pm Cocktail Hour (this can be a fun time grabbing your favourite people for photos, or we take candids we also love if we can get into your reception space before guests to get decor details!)

6pm Entrance with first dance

6:15 Dinner, speeches, etc

(We are getting candids of guests laughing, etc at this time)

7:45-8 golden hour photos

dependant on time of year

(look at the bigger package if you want to do portraits in the morning, first dance after dinner/speeches, cake cutting, late summer golden hour, guests dancing, sparkler exit.)

10 hours

11:00-9:00

11:00-11:30 groomsmen getting ready

11:30-11:45 guys formal photos together

11:45-1:45 bridal party prep (extra single cut flowers from florist, a printed invitation, pretty perfume, other little details can be nice to have around and set aside for documentary style detail photos.)

2pm Ceremony (add half an hour if you want to do a receiving line here, otherwise it can be helpful to get right to the family photo spot reserved for your smaller group of people)

2:30 family photos

3-5pm leave for creative photos

(its nice to have a little wiggle room here in case anything runs a bit behind from the itinerary above.)

6pm Dinner, speeches, etc

(We are getting candids of guests laughing, etc at this time)

8:00pm Cake cutting

8:10pm First dance

8:15pm Fathers-daughter

8:20pm Mother-son dance

8:25pm Dance floor opens

8:45 golden hour photos (dependant day of year)

9pm Photographers depart

Time Frames

These quoted times are the minimum - most optimal timing.

We are taking photos all day, and are happy to pivot with your schedule! For finding timing for directed photographs, you will find our recommendations and tips below.

Please keep in mind the travel time needed in between locations.

We recommend keeping your photographers together in the morning to capture everything efficiently - but we can separate in the morning when needed.

Getting ready

Groom & Groomsmen - 30 minutes- 45minutes

Timing tip for shorter coverage: Have the groom and groomsman nearly ready when we arrive and the room tidy'd up. Shoes, watch, cufflinks, tie and bouteniere can be set aside for a detail shot. We will take jackets off and put them back on, put on shoes/watch. Have the groomsman ready glasses for a cheers moment. Have the groomsman getting ready location near by where the Bride and bridesmaids are getting ready for short travel time.

Bride & Bridesmaids - 45minutes - 1.5 hours

Timing tip - have the invitation, ring(s), perfume, jewelry, shoes, veil/dress and any other accessories together before we arrive. We love to photograph details first, finishing touches of makeup, candid moments of the bridal party, cheers moments, getting into the dress, first looks with the bridal party and the father of the bride can be really lovely. Portraits of the bridemaids with the bride and with mom and dad can be nice to have while everyone is fresh in the morning when there is more time allowance.

Bride & Groom First Look

15-30 minutes

We love to set this up where the creative photos will take place and find a lovely spot to help create a beautiful moment that is unscripted and candid.

Once the groom is in place, and turned around -the bride can walk down the path and tap him on the shoulder where we can capture everything and also give you the space to enjoy this amazing moment!

Family Photos

30 minutes

We love to choose a location nearby the ceremony whenever possible and take these photos right after the ceremony while everyone is in attendance. Shaded areas are optimal for lighting/to avoid squinting. It is best to communicate this location to everyone that needs to be there at your wedding rehearsal the night before - or it is common to have your officiant announce where the family is meeting at the end of your ceremony. We will ask for a family list in advance so that we can make this time efficient and organized for everyone.

Creative Photos

1.5 hours is our recommendation for this time, but we can work with whatever time you have. If it is shorter than 1.5 hours, we recommend giving time for golden hour photos. This is the best lighting of the day. We often find the time allotted for photos can changed when the ceremony runs later or we are waiting for people to show up for family photos. It is good to keep the extra wiggle room in there when possible!

Bridal party and creative photos of the bride and groom.

This can be two locations, but it is best to consider travel time, lunch, and parking.

Golden Hour Photos

10minutes - 30 minutes

These images are taken as close to sunset as possible, anywhere from one hour before sunset. We generally work this in around speeches in the summer. We keep our eye on the lighting at your venue and find a spot nearby. This would look like a little break from speeches for your guests to socialize while it is announced you will be taking golden hour photos.