As an Ontario and destination wedding photographer, one of the things I end up hearing most from my couples when we sit down for our Vision Meetings is “we want to really be present for all parts of our day”. Of course you’ll want to! There are so many emotional and beautiful and once-in-a-lifetime moments that happen during a wedding day. But when the timeline is too tight or things feel rushed, your ability to stay present disappears. Not only this, but your stress can show up in your photos.
A well-paced timeline isn’t just about sticking to a schedule. It creates space for moments that matter, allows for peace and room to breathe. It means that if something unexpected comes up ( which it very well might!) you don’t have to worry. I’m going to walk you through how to build a relaxed wedding timeline. One that allows for really connection, stunning photos and fewer last-minute stresses.
Why Your Timeline Can Impact Your Wedding Photos
If the day runs behind, photos are usually the first thing that gets shortened. Your timeline will directly affect not only how your gallery looks and the kinds of shots we can get but also how it feels!
If you’re rushing from place to place or skipping planned portrait time, it can be harder to get photos you’ve been dreaming of. Those soft, natural and emotional photos you’ve pinned and we’ve discussed. A thoughtful wedding timeline leaves room for me to capture everything without having to rush you through it or cut it out entirely.
This is so important because this is when you are able to stay present! Your energy and expressions will showcase joy, excitement and calmness, not stress and exhaustion.
Timeline Planning Tip 1: Start With Key Moments
When planning your timeline, start with the key moments you KNOW you must have and work backwards and in-between.
For example, if your wedding ceremony is being held at 4:00pm, then you know that by 3:30pm, photos from your portrait sessions need to be wrapped up (or even earlier if there’s travel time involved).
Getting ready photos (if you’re opting to have them) need to be scheduled into the timeline so that all wedding party members and any family have hair and makeup completed before we start! This time block then needs to be communicated to your HMUA team to make sure they know when you’re needed by!
Moments That Matter To You
Let’s look through a general breakdown of how long each key moment takes. This will help you build your timeline with the moments that mean the most to you:
Getting Ready Photos (usually 60-90 min) – think about details, flatlays, HMU touch ups, sweet moments with your wedding party or family. These often take longer than expected!
First Looks (usually 20-40 min) – there are a variety of factors that can impact the time for these. Are you doing a look with wedding party or any family first? Are you going to read private vows together after the first look? Depending on how many people you’re doing looks with and how you want to moments to feel, making sure to leave enough room for emotions to flow is key!
Couples Portraits (45 min-1 hour) – this can be broken down into:
- before ceremony and after
- before ceremony and golden hour
- after ceremony and golden hour…it’s up to you! The variety in moments I can capture in feeling and lighting is flexible, as long as we plan for it! The biggest factor is having scheduled time to be able to play at ease. To really take in the moments between you two without stress or pressure to wrap up and move on.
Family Photos (30 min) – A must have for both you and your loved ones. We talk through the family list in our 3-month-out call to make sure we know who is needed. Knowing who, when and where beforehand helps for a smoother photo session.
Wedding Party Photos (25-35 min) – this allows time for the more posed and editorial style, but also the fun, and more relaxed moments to be captured!
Reception and details (ongoing) – once the timeline is set, I will float from reception to cocktail, speeches to details and capture all those in-between moments when the timeline allows.
Give a Little Extra
If your timeline allows for it, the best thing you can do is give yourself an extra 10-15 minutes of buffer time. This means things like traffic, HMU running late or touch ups between portraits won’t throw off your whole schedule.
This cushion allows you to avoid that anxious feeling of falling behind. And less anxiety means space for more presence, more real reactions and more spontaneous moments.
Your wedding isn’t a photoshoot, it’s a day full of meaning and feeling and your timeline should reflect that!
It’s Part of My Package
If you’re still overwhelmed with where to start, timeline planning is part of my service offerings! All couples who book a wedding with me have complimentary help to plan your timeline. We work together to create the best stress-free plan. I want to let you soak in all the joy while I capture it!
Book a vision meeting to chat more about my photography and your dream day here
Or take a peek at my instagram to see if we’re the right fit here!
