Your wedding day has the potential to be very stressful. Especially if you don’t have a timeline that allows you to enjoy the day. One of the biggest things that can stress you out on the wedding day is running behind, and feeling like you have to hurry things along.
When we meet with our brides, one of the first things we do is put together a tentative video / photo timeline for the day. We can see it in the bride’s facial expression, the sigh of relief she has when we start nailing down the details. Since we have been to literally hundreds of weddings, we know what typically works! Below, you will see a sample timeline for a ceremony that has a “first look” (when the bride and groom see each other before the ceremony), as well as one without a “first look.” In this example, the ceremony start time is 5pm.
Timeline with 5pm Start Time and a “First Look”
1:15 Venue Footage / Aerial Footage / Atmosphere Footage
2:15 Detail Shots (Dress, Shoes, Jewelry)
2:30 Bride / Bridal Party Getting Ready
2:30 Camera 2 Groom / Groomsmen Getting Ready
2:45 Gifts and Letters
3:00 Bride Puts on Dress
3:10 First Look with Bride and Dad
3:15 First Look with Bride and Groom
3:20 Bride and Groom Portraits
3:45 Add Wedding Party for Pics
4:15 Hide Bride
4:30 Finish up Groom / Groomsmen Pics
4:45 Atmosphere / Guest Arrival Pics
4:50 Prayers / Blessings Before the Ceremony
5:00 Ceremony
5:30 Ceremony End
5:30 Cocktail hour starts
5:30 Family Photos
6:00 Romantic shots with the couple (Photo/Video)
6:20 Photo and Video capture reception details + Setup lighting on the dance floor
6:45 Grand Entrance Into Reception
6:50 First Dance with Bride and Groom
7:00 Welcome from Bride’s Parents and Blessing Over Couple / Food
7:10 Dinner is Served
7:30 Toasts (Best Man, Maid of Honor)
8:00 Father, Daughter / Mother, Son Dances
8:10 Cake Cutting
8:15 Dance Floor Opens
8:45 Bouquet and Garter Toss
9:00 Open Dance / Party time
9:00 Stage night shots outside of venue with B+G and Photo/Video Team
Timeline with 5pm Start Time and no “First Look”
1:15 Venue Footage / Aerial Footage / Atmosphere Footage
2:15 Detail Shots (Dress, Shoes, Jewelry)
2:30 Bride / Bridal Party Getting Ready
2:30 Camera 2 Groom / Groomsmen Getting Ready
2:45 Gifts and Letters
3:00 Bride Puts on Dress
3:10 First Look with Bride and Dad
3:15 Bride and Bridesmaids Portraits
3:45 Hide Bride
3:50 Groom and Groomsmen Portraits
4:15 Finish up Groom / Groomsmen Pics
4:45 Atmosphere / Guest Arrival Pics
4:50 Prayers / Blessings Before the Ceremony
5:00 Ceremony
5:30 Ceremony End
5:30 Cocktail hour begins
5:30 Family Photos
5:50 Full Wedding Party Pics
6:10 Bride and Groom Portraits
6:35 Photo and Video capture reception details + Setup lighting on the dance floor
6:50 Reception Introductions
6:55 Bride and Groom intro + First dance
7:00 Welcome from Bride’s Parents and Blessing Over Couple / Food
7:10 Dinner is Served
7:20 Toasts (Best Man, Maid of Honor)
7:30 Father, Daughter / Mother, Son Dances
7:40 Cake Cutting
7:45 Dance Floor Opens
8:15 Bouquet and Garter Toss
8:30 Stage night shots outside of venue with B+G and Photo/Video Team
8:45 Open Dance / Party Time