Wedding Timeline Examples
While I do believe that a First Look is a great idea for a wedding day, its not for everyone.
Howeverrrr, if you’re planning a winter or sun set wedding or you want to spend as much time as possible with your guests, I find it’s CRUCIAL to do a First Look.
I’ve created a sample scenario and timelines to show how a First Look could benefit you on your wedding day! By doing a First Look, you get 90% of the formal photos out of the way before the ceremony, you get to enjoy cocktail hour with your friends & family, and you get to spend SO MUCH TIME with each other!
Scenario First Look: 8 hours of coverage / 1 location / 6:00pm ceremony / 8:15pm sunset
1:00 photos start – Katie shoots details & Jay shoots candids of Partner A
1:30 all hair & makeup (if its being done) to be completed at this time
1:45 Jay heads to Partner B for details & candid photos
2:15 Partner’s A & B get dressed
2:50 1st look
3:00 couples photos
4:00 wedding party photos
4:30 All family photos
5:00 everyone is hidden & freshens up for ceremony
5:00 Katie & Jay shoot ceremony details
5:10 Katie shoots photos of reception details, Jay shoots candids of the couple hanging out
5:30 guests begin arriving, Jay shoots candids of guests greeting each other
5:45 everyone lines up for ceremony
6:00 ceremony starts
6:30 ceremony ends
6:30 sign marriage license
6:35 Just Married Photos
6:40 Couple joins cocktail hour w/ Katie following as their personal paparazzi
7:30 Introductions & first dances
7:45 dinner begins
7:45 golden hour portraits of the couple
7:55 end portraits
8:15 cake cutting & toasts / sunset
8:30 dance floor opens
9:00 photographers depart
With the first look, the couple gets a total of 1.5 hours of portraits…which is a lot! AND they get to enjoy cocktail hour.
Scenario Traditional: 8 hours of coverage / 1 location /6:00 ceremony / 8:15 sunset
1:00 photos start – Katie shoots details & Jay shoots candids of Partner A
1:30 all hair & makeup (if its being done) to be completed at this time
2:15 Partner’s A gets dressed / Jay heads to Partner B for details & candids if they want it
3:00 Partner A & their wedding party photos
3:15 Partner A & their family photos
3:30 Partner A’s solo photos
3:50 Partner A & their side are hidden away
4:00 Partner B & their wedding party photos
4:30 Partner B & their family photos
4:45 Partner B’s solo photos
5:00 everyone is hidden & freshens up for ceremony
5:00 Katie & Jay shoot ceremony details
5:10 photos of reception details
5:30 guests begin arriving, Jay shoots candids of guests greeting each other
5:45 everyone lines up for ceremony
6:00 ceremony starts
6:30 ceremony ends
6:30 sign marriage license
6:35 family photos with the couple
7:00 full wedding party photos with the couple
7:15 couples photos
7:30 with a traditional 1 hr cocktail portrait time ends here…so only 15 minutes of picture time together
(8:00 with extended cocktail hour (1.5 hrs) portrait time ends here for 45 minutes of picture time together)
7:30 line up for introductions
7:40 introductions, first dance & parent dances
8:00 dinner (guests will try to talk to you and it will be hard to get away for more photos)
8:15 sunset
8:30 cake cutting & toasts
8:45 dance floor opens
9:00 photographers depart
Without a first look the couple will get 15 minutes of portraits if they have a traditional 1 hour cocktail, and 45 minutes if they have an extended cocktail.
Katie + Jay of Catherine Ann Photography are Charleston SC Based Wedding & Elopement Photographers specializing in candid & fun wedding photos that feel like you!
Ready to book your wedding with us? Get in touch here!
