How to Plan Your Wedding Day Timeline: A Photographer's Guide

Planning your wedding day timeline can feel a bit daunting, especially when you’re trying to fit in everything from getting ready to your first dance. But honestly, it doesn’t need to be stressful!:)

A good timeline isn’t about planning every minute. It’s about giving each part of your day enough time to breathe, so you can properly see everyone, have a drink and enjoy yourselves without feeling rushed.

I help all of my couples with their timeline as part of the planning, so here’s a little guide to how a wedding day usually flows, and why I’d always plan things in this order.

Your wedding day timeline, step by step

Getting ready

If your package includes preparations, I’ll usually arrive around two hours before the ceremony. That gives plenty of time for the nervous excitement, the last touches and all the little details, like your dress or outfit, rings, shoes, jewellery, perfume, flowers and stationery.

Having everything gathered in one place makes this part so much easier!

The ceremony

This is the heart of the day, and I’ll be quietly capturing it all as it happens. The vows, the rings, the first kiss and all the reactions from your guests.

Confetti and group photos

I always recommend going straight from the confetti into your group photos. Everyone’s already gathered together, so we start with one big group photo and then work through the smaller groups. I normally recommend around ten group shots, which usually takes about 30 minutes. That way they’re done and out of the way, and everyone can get back to celebrating.

Drinks reception

This is when you get to properly see everyone, have a drink and enjoy yourselves. I’ll be capturing all the candid moments, guests catching up and laughing together.

Couple portraits

I’ll time your portraits around the best light and how you’re feeling. They don’t need to be long at all, and they’re a lovely chance to have ten or Fifteen minutes away together to breathe and take it all in. You don’t need to know how to pose, I’ll give you gentle prompts when you need them.

Wedding breakfast and speeches

The speeches are always full of laughter and happy tears, and some of my favourite reactions happen here, from you both and your guests.

The first dance

If you’ve booked my Signature Full Day, I’ll be there until your first dance and usually stay around 30 minutes afterwards to capture the dance floor filling up.

Your timeline is a guide, not a rulebook

Weddings almost never run exactly to schedule, and that’s completely okay! The ceremony might start a little late, or the speeches might run on because everyone’s having such a lovely time. That’s why my packages are based on blocks of your day rather than hours, so there’s no clock watching and nothing feels rushed.

On the day, I’ll keep an eye on the timings, light and weather, so you don’t need to worry about any of it.

Planning a winter wedding?

Once the clocks go back, the days get much shorter, and in the depths of winter it can be dark by around 4pm. For winter weddings, I’d suggest thinking about an earlier ceremony and getting group photos and portraits done while it’s still light. The cosy evenings make up for it though!

Need a hand with your wedding day timeline?

This is exactly what I’m here for. Once you’ve booked, I’ll help you put together a timeline that works for your day, your venue and the light, so everything feels relaxed and easy.

If you’re planning your wedding in Devon, Somerset, Bristol, the Cotswolds or anywhere across the South West, I’d absolutely love to hear from you:)

You can have a look at my packages or get in touch here.