One of the biggest sources of wedding stress? The timeline. You want your day to feel natural and not rushed—but you also want to make sure you’ve carved out enough time for all the moments you’re dreaming of seeing in your gallery. As your photographer, my goal is to help you create a timeline that flows beautifully, leaves you breathing room, and ensures nothing gets missed.
Here’s a breakdown of the key parts of your day, and how much time you should budget for photos:
1. Getting Ready Photos
Getting ready photos aren’t just about hair spray and bobby pins—they’re about capturing the anticipation, laughter with your wedding party, and those quiet little moments before everything begins.
- Final Touches Only: If you’re looking for the essentials (slipping into your dress, veil, jewelry, a toast with your bridesmaids, or a few makeup/hair touch-ups), plan for about 1 hour.
- Full Story Coverage: If you want the full documentary-style story of the morning—robes, first look with your bridesmaids, champagne popping, makeup brushes in action, tying ties and buttoning suits—plan for 2–3 hours.
💡 Pro tip: Make sure your getting-ready space has good natural light and isn’t cluttered. A bright, cozy environment makes for dreamy photos.
2. Detail Shots
Your details—rings, invitations, shoes, florals—help tell the story of your day in a timeless way.
- With One Photographer: Plan for 30–45 minutes
- With a Second Shooter: ~20 minutes
💡 Pro tip: Gather all your details in one box or bag (including rings and jewelry!) so we can dive right in without hunting things down.
3. Family Photos
Family formals are some of the most important photos of the day—and also one of the easiest parts of the timeline to underestimate.
- Groups of 5 people or less: ~1 minute each
- Groups of 5–10 people: ~2.5 minutes each
- Groups of 10+ people: ~3.5 minutes each
On average, family photos take 30–60 minutes total.
💡 Pro tip: A helper who knows both families can speed this up immensely.
4. Bridal Party Portraits
Your wedding party brings the energy, so setting aside time for them is key.
- Parties of 12 or less: ~20–30 minutes
- Larger parties: ~45 minutes
5. Couples Portraits
This is where you get to breathe, connect, and just be together while I capture it all.
- Standard session: ~45 minutes
- Spacious venues: ~1 hour
- Quick + natural: ~30 minutes if you’d rather prioritize cocktail hour.
- Sunset portraits: Add ~15 minutes for that golden glow.
6. First Looks
Whether it’s with your partner, a parent, or both, first looks give you a private moment before the whirlwind begins.
- Plan for 10–15 minutes each to set up, breathe, and let the emotions flow.
7. Reception Coverage
Reception timing can vary widely, but here’s a solid baseline:
- Dinner: ~1 hour
- Speeches & first dances: ~45 minutes
- Total before the dance floor opens: ~2 hours
8. Dance Floor Photos
Party shots are so fun, but after a while, they start looking the same.
- Sweet spot: ~1 hour of coverage after the dance floor opens.
- If your crowd loves to party: Add an extra 30 minutes to capture the wild energy.
Putting It All Together
When we sit down to create your wedding day timeline, we’ll build it around these anchor points—making sure you have the space to enjoy your day without feeling rushed.
Your wedding day is more than a checklist of photos—it’s a story. And when the timeline is crafted thoughtfully, you’ll not only get the dreamy, film-inspired images you’ve been envisioning, but you’ll actually enjoy every moment of the day as it unfolds. Still feeling lost? Let’s look at a timeline example below.
Sample 10-Hour Wedding Photography Timeline (11am–9pm)
📸 This is just one example of how a wedding day could flow within 10 hours of coverage. Every couple’s day looks a little different, but this gives you a starting point that ensures all the key moments are captured!
11:00am – 1:30pm | Getting Ready + Detail Shots
- 11:00–11:45 → Detail photos (rings, florals, invitations, accessories, etc.)
- 11:45–1:15 → Getting ready coverage (hair/makeup touches, dress/suit, veil, jewelry, candids with wedding party)
- 1:15–1:30 → Final prep + quick room touch-ups before first look
1:30pm – 2:00pm | First Look & Couple’s Portraits (Round 1)
- 1:30–1:45 → First look with partner (or parent if desired)
- 1:45–2:15 → Couple’s portraits (just the two of you)
2:15pm – 3:00pm | Wedding Party Portraits
- 2:15–2:45 → Bridal party photos (20–30 minutes for small groups, 30-45 minutes if larger)
- 2:45–3:00 → Capture larger group portraits or take a breather!
3:00pm – 4:00pm | Family Formals
- Plan 30–60 minutes depending on group sizes and combinations (see breakdown in blog above).
- Allow wiggle room here so no one feels rushed before the ceremony.
4:00pm – 4:30pm | Ceremony Prep + Guest Arrival
- Candids of guests arriving, venue details, and final pre-ceremony moments.
4:30pm – 5:00pm | Ceremony
- The main event! (Adjust based on religious or cultural traditions—many run longer.)
5:00pm – 5:45pm | Cocktail Hour Candids OR Couples Portraits (Round 2)
- If you’ve done a first look: enjoy cocktail hour while I grab candids + detail shots.
- If you didn’t do a first look: this is when couple’s portraits and extra family photos happen.
5:45pm – 7:45pm | Reception Coverage (Dinner, Speeches, Traditions)
- 5:45–6:45 → Dinner (~1 hour)
- 6:45–7:45 → Speeches, cake cutting, and first dances (~45–60 minutes)
7:45pm – 8:45pm | Dance Floor Opens 🎉
- 1 hour of dance floor coverage for energy + candids.
- If your family and friends are big partiers, consider extending an extra 30 minutes for more late-night fun.
8:45pm – 9:00pm | Sunset/Golden Hour Portraits (Time of Year May Require This to Happen Earlier)
- A dreamy ~15 minutes outside before wrapping coverage.
- Ends the night with soft, nostalgic film-inspired shots you’ll love forever.
Why This Works ✅
Keeps coverage within 10 hours.
Captures everything couples expect: details, getting ready, first look, ceremony, portraits, reception, and dancing.
✨ Need help building your own wedding timeline?
That’s what I’m here for! Every package includes timeline assistance, so you can relax knowing everything is covered. Let’s make your wedding day feel as effortless and magical as it looks in the photos.
👉 Inquire with Kendall Jewel Photography to start planning your story.
