Discover How To Create An Amazing Timeline By Following My Wedding Day Timeline Template. This Will Help To Ensure Your Wedding Runs Smoothly!

Every bride and every wedding has different needs.  

We are Creative Wedding Photographers In Saratoga Springs, NY and there are some ideal time frames you will need to consider when planning your big day.  Some parts of the timeline may seem long on paper, but it's essential to keep a few things in mind:

1.  Most weddings run behind schedule

2.  Time moves rapidly on the wedding day

3.  We keep the photo sessions fun, interactive and sensitive to your time needs

4.  I will work closely with you to ensure we capture amazing photos and you get plenty of time to enjoy your party

The Details (Dress, Shoes, Jewelry, Accessories, & Other Details)

Ideal Time Allotment:  60 minutes minutes

Ideal Time of Day:  Prior to wedding ceremony

Ideal Location:  Bridal suite

Professional Advice:  At least 30 minutes is needed for capturing still photographs of important details and 60 minutes is ideal.  We often have to account for additional time to move the details to more aesthetic locations due to crowded hotel rooms or locations that aren't as appealing, but it's well worth the extra effort.  

Preparation

Ideal Time Allotment:  45 minutes

Ideal Time of Day:  Prior to wedding ceremony

Ideal Location:  Bridal Suite

Professional Advice:  45 minutes is ideal for the bride "getting ready" photos.  During this time we can capture close ups of hair and makeup being applied, and candid moments.  These are often some of the most emotional and treasured photographs from the day, so you don't want to cut them short.  

Bridal Portraits

Group Portraits

Ideal Time Allotment:  60 - 120 minutes

Ideal Time of Day:  Prior to or immediately following the ceremony

Ideal Location:  Church, empty venue garden (if outdoors, shaded areas with natural light)

Professional Advice:  If couples are having a pre-ceremony first look, it's common to capture the wedding party and family photos prior to the ceremony.  This will ultimately reduce the amount of time required for pictures following the ceremony, so you can spend more time with family and friends.

Reception Details

Ideal Time Allotment:  30 minutes

Ideal Time of Day:  Between the ceremony and reception, but following the portrait sessions

Ideal Location:  Reception Site

Professional Advice:  It's important that we have a solid 20-30 minutes to photograph the reception site prior to any guests being seated and disturbing the table settings and/or other details.  We want to ensure we capture the best scene possible for your reception site and detail photographs.  

Creative Couple Session

Ideal Time Allotment:  45 minutes - 1 hour

Ideal Time of Day:  Prior to or following the ceremony (depending on when you have the first look)

Ideal Location:  Venue, garden, park, hotel lobby, etc.

Professional Advice:  We want to set aside a good 45 minutes to 1 hour to photograph your couple session.  Ideally, the best time to take the photographs is 30-45 minutes before sunset.  The lighting is soft, romantic, and beautiful.  These photographs are usually the most desired images by couples and they are often displayed on the walls of your home, so it's critical to allot enough time for this session.  Lastly, we recommend setting aside an additional 20-30 minutes for a "sneak-out" session to capture some unique night portraits. 

In summary

The timeline above provides a solid outline for most weddings; however, your wedding may have additional details or events that require adjustments. Approximately 1-2 weeks prior to your wedding, we will schedule a phone call to create your wedding day timeline. This will ensure we have a great strategy in place to keep your day running smoothly.