Tips for a Smooth Wedding Timeline
Wedding day timelines can be the most stressful part of making sure the wedding day is stress-free. But, it doesn’t have to be! As a wedding photographer, part of the experience I provide is a customized wedding photography timeline. Not to be confused with a timeline you create with your coordinator – however, we do eventually collaborate! A wedding photography timeline is self explanatory – this timeline carves out time for each set of portraits.
In my experience with wedding day timelines, some are on time and some are not. And that’s OK! It takes the whole village, families and vendors, to pull off the big day. And below are some tips to make sure your wedding day timeline goes smoothly.
1. Organize your flat lay details.
Your flat lays are some of the first photos I take when I arrive. Flat lay details can include invitations, floral samples, your rings, perfume, veil, your bouquet, shoes, anything sentimental you would want to include. Having all of these in a box or bag is a huge help to get those photos started. This way no one is scrambling to find anything before and after the photos are taken – especially the rings!
2. Have someone steam your dress as soon as you arrive.
Another detail I love capturing is your dress before you get into it. If you have a family member or bridesmaid (that has seen the dress) either waiting to get hair and makeup done or is already finished, ask if they can make sure your dress is steamed while you are getting ready!
3. Communicate, over-communicate, with EVERYONE!
The number one cause of a delayed timeline is someone showing up late due to miscommunication (unless lateness is their nature, ha). Once we nail down the time for family portraits, make sure they know they need to be ready before that time. Another part of my client experience is creating a family portrait shot list. This way once we get to family portraits, we know exactly who gets their photos taken with who. All I have to do is go through the shot list and check off everyone’s names so no one is left out!
If someone you know is naturally late, I do give you permission to tell them an earlier time 😉
You should hopefully not have any issues with your vendors, but this is where I would over-communicate to be sure.
4. Prepare to have a cocktail hour if you opt for no first look.
I am not going to try to convince you to have a first look for the sake of a timeline. This is YOUR day! If you want the first time you see each other to be at the altar, don’t let anyone change your mind. However, we just need to be prepared for extra time post ceremony for photos with both families, the whole wedding party, and of course, bride and groom portraits. Don’t fret about keeping people waiting – appetizers alone even will keep them busy!
5. Practice having your gown bustled with a family member or bridesmaid.
This sounds so silly, but the time you save with this tip! This saves the headache spending forever trying to figure it out, or the bustle getting undone and you have to redo it. Some brides even opt to getting a second dress for the reception, and that’s an option too! As long as we have already gotten your sunset photos in your wedding dress of course!!
Some final thoughts
On time or not, your day will be absolutely perfect. Remember, the goal is to get married! I have never had to under deliver or miss important shots from a delayed timeline – and I have shot weddings that have run up to 2 hours behind! So take that stress off your shoulders and just expect the unexpected. Things happen and it will still be beautiful!
