~ Sample Photography Timeline for a 2pm Saturday Wedding ~
I created this timeline to give my clients a tool to figure out exactly how much coverage they need. I have filled in sample times to give you a feel for how much time the whole thing takes. Use the blank lines to the left to enter your own times and be sure to fill in the blank lines with the time that you want the photography to begin and to end.
Time Event
____ 9:30am Bride and Bridesmaids arrive at salon.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 12:00 Pictures w/Groom & Groomsmen (for the sake of this timeline photography begins).
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 12:45 Exit Groom (Groomsmen stay), enter Bride and Bridesmaids for pictures.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 1:30 Bride goes back into waiting area as guests arrive.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 1:30 Photographer gets shots of the guests arriving and detail shots.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 2:00 Ceremony begins.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 2:30 Ceremony ends.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 3:00 Formal pictures of Bride and Groom together followed by formal pictures of the entire bridal party. This is where it starts getting long, because you suddenly remember that you want pictures of the bride and the groom and his nieces, and another with just your nephews, and another with all the nieces and nephews.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 4:00 Leave for reception (the couple who booked for only 4 hours just ran out of coverage).
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 4:20 Arrive at reception.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 4:25 Bridal party is announced by the DJ and make their entrance.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 4:45 Exhausted and hungry Bride and Groom finally get to sit down and eat. (Usually at this time I and my assistant will take a 15 minute break).
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 5:10 Cake cutting and eating.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 5:30 Toast.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 5:45 Bride and Groom's First Dance.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 5:50 Father-Daughter dance/Groom-Mother dance.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 5:55 Bridal Party Dance (the couple who booked for 6 hours just ran out of coverage).
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 6:15 Bouquet toss.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 6:30 Garter toss.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 6:45 Bride and Groom finally get to spend time with family and friends.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 8:00 Bride and Groom leave.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
There are variations on this theme of course, if the wedding and reception is at the same place it cuts down on travel time. Some brides and grooms will have a "dollar dance" This is why I suggest a minimum of 6 hours of coverage, with 8-10 hours being ideal for the bride who wants every minute covered.
Time Event
____ 9:30am Bride and Bridesmaids arrive at salon.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 12:00 Pictures w/Groom & Groomsmen (for the sake of this timeline photography begins).
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 12:45 Exit Groom (Groomsmen stay), enter Bride and Bridesmaids for pictures.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 1:30 Bride goes back into waiting area as guests arrive.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 1:30 Photographer gets shots of the guests arriving and detail shots.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 2:00 Ceremony begins.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 2:30 Ceremony ends.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 3:00 Formal pictures of Bride and Groom together followed by formal pictures of the entire bridal party. This is where it starts getting long, because you suddenly remember that you want pictures of the bride and the groom and his nieces, and another with just your nephews, and another with all the nieces and nephews.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 4:00 Leave for reception (the couple who booked for only 4 hours just ran out of coverage).
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 4:20 Arrive at reception.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 4:25 Bridal party is announced by the DJ and make their entrance.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 4:45 Exhausted and hungry Bride and Groom finally get to sit down and eat. (Usually at this time I and my assistant will take a 15 minute break).
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 5:10 Cake cutting and eating.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 5:30 Toast.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 5:45 Bride and Groom's First Dance.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 5:50 Father-Daughter dance/Groom-Mother dance.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 5:55 Bridal Party Dance (the couple who booked for 6 hours just ran out of coverage).
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 6:15 Bouquet toss.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 6:30 Garter toss.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 6:45 Bride and Groom finally get to spend time with family and friends.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
____ 8:00 Bride and Groom leave.
____ _____________________________________________________________________
There are variations on this theme of course, if the wedding and reception is at the same place it cuts down on travel time. Some brides and grooms will have a "dollar dance" This is why I suggest a minimum of 6 hours of coverage, with 8-10 hours being ideal for the bride who wants every minute covered.
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