Creating your wedding day timeline is what helps the flow of your day. It gives you a clear idea of when things are happening so there’s no guessing.
It is important to talk with both your photographer and day of coordinator when finalizing your timeline. Both help your day go smoothly!
Questions to think about when creating your timeline:
Do we want to do a first look?
Who do I want to do a first look with?
Should we do some family portraits before the ceremony?
When is golden hour on my wedding day?
Do we want to do a controlled exit and then get back to the party?
The answers to these questions and more will determine how your timeline is laid out. You may need more time for family photos if you have a larger family and less time if your family is smaller. Remember, this day is about the two of you—so it’s okay (and encouraged!) to prioritize yourselves. If you can knock out a good portion of family photos before the ceremony, do it. This will save you valuable time later on. Ideally, you don’t want more than 10–12 family groupings after the ceremony.
Next, let’s talk about golden hour (sunset) photos. It can be tempting to start photos right at sunset, but you’ll get the best results by starting a bit earlier. You want to capture the light during golden hour. I personally prefer to end photos about 20–30 minutes before the actual sunset time, which ensures there’s enough light for the entire time we've set aside for pictures.
The sun can go down quickly—especially during fall and winter weddings. One moment the light is perfect, and the next it’s gone, so starting photos too close to sunset can be risky.
At the end of the day, trust your photographer’s expertise and enjoy every single moment of your wedding day!
Every wedding day is different, but this sample timeline will give you a realistic starting point and help you visualize how everything can flow together.
Example of a fall wedding timeline:
1:00 Photographers Arrive
1:00-2:00 Details
2:00-2:30 Bride Getting Dressed, Groom Getting Dressed
2:40 First Look Bridesmaids
2:50 First Look Father of Bride
3:00-3:30 First Look Groom & Photos Together
3:30-4:00 Bridal Party Photos
4:00-4:30 Ceremony & Reception Space Photos
4:30-5:00 Ceremony
5:00-6:00 Photos (5-5:20 family, 5:20-5:40 Full Bridal Party at Ceremony Location, 5:40-6:00
Bride and Groom Golden Hour Photos)
6:10 Reception Introduction
6:15-6:25 First Dance and Parent Dances
6:25-6:35 Speeches
6:35 Dinner
7:10-7:20 Bouquet dedication, Garter Toss, Cake Cutting
7:20-8:45 Open Dancing
8:50-9:00 Sparkler Exit
9:00 Photographers Leave