Every year, I get the question: How much time do we need for our wedding? The answer varies with so many factors: Are you doing a first look? What time is sunset? Are your ceremony and reception venues in different locations? Based on all of these factors, I created some wedding timeline templates I think will be helpful in planning your wedding day. As a photographer, I am typically covering anywhere between 8-12 hours but that all depends on you! Enjoy these free wedding timelines below!
Spring (March-May) 7PM Sunset or 8PM Sunset | Day light Savings Early March. 6:15PM Sunset if before DLS
First Look (Same Property)
1PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
1:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
1:45PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
2:15PM First Look
2:30PM Soonlywed Photos
3PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Group/One on Ones)
3:30PM Wedding Party All Together
4PM Family Photos
4:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
5PM Ceremony
5:30PM Ceremony Complete
5:35PM Extended Family Photos (Optional)
5:45PM Cocktail Hour *Kir Shoots Untouched Reception
6:45PM Golden Hour Photos (weather/timing dependant)
7:15PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
7:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
8:15PM Speeches
8:30PM Parent Dances
9PM Cake Cutting *Coverage Ends
No First Look (Same Property)
2:30PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
3PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
3:30PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
4PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Separated. Second Photog Needed)
4:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
5PM Ceremony
5:30PM Ceremony Complete
5:35PM Family Photos *Second Snaps Reception Details
6PM Wedding Party All Together
6:15PM Newlywed Photos
7PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
7:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
8:15PM Speeches
8:30PM Parent Dances
8:45PM Open Dancing
9:30PM Cake Cutting
10:30PM Sparkler Exit *Coverage Ends
First Look (Different Locations)
12PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
12:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
1PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
1:30PM First Look *Can be at Getting Ready Locale
2PM Soonlywed Photos
2:30PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Group/One on Ones)
3PM Wedding Party All Together
3:30PM TRAVEL TO CEREMONY
4PM Family Photos
4:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
5PM Ceremony
5:30PM Ceremony Complete
5:35PM Extended Family Photos (Optional)
5:45PM TRAVEL TO RECEPTION
6:30PM Cocktail Hour *Kir Shoots Untouched Reception
6:45PM Golden Hour Photos (weather/timing dependant)
7:30PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
7:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
8:15PM Speeches
8:30PM Parent Dances
9PM Cake Cutting *Coverage Ends
No First Look (Different Locations)
2PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
2:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
3PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
3:30PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Separated. Second Photog Needed)
4PM TRAVEL TO CEREMONY
4:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
5PM Ceremony
5:30PM Ceremony Complete
5:35PM Family Photos *Second Snaps Reception Details
6PM Wedding Party All Together
6:15PM TRAVEL TO RECEPTION
6:45PM Newlywed Photos
7:30PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
8PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
8:45PM Speeches
9PM Parent Dances
9:15PM Open Dancing
9:30PM Cake Cutting
10PM Sparkler Exit *Coverage Ends
Summer (June-August) 8:30PM Sunset or 7:45PM
*Optional 6PM Ceremony
First Look (Same Property)
1PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
1:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
1:45PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
2:15PM First Look
2:30PM Soonlywed Photos
3PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Group/One on Ones)
3:30PM Wedding Party All Together
4PM Family Photos
4:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
5PM Ceremony
5:30PM Ceremony Complete
5:35PM Extended Family Photos (Optional)
5:45PM Cocktail Hour *Kir Shoots Untouched Reception
7PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
7:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
8PM Golden Hour Photos (weather/timing dependant)
8:15PM Speeches
8:30PM Parent Dances
9PM Cake Cutting *Coverage Ends
No First Look (Same Property)
2:30PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
3PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
3:30PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
4PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Separated. Second Photog Needed)
4:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
5PM Ceremony
5:30PM Ceremony Complete
5:35PM Family Photos *Second Snaps Reception Details
6PM Wedding Party All Together
6:15PM Newlywed Photos
7PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
7:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
8:15PM Speeches
8:30PM Parent Dances
8:45PM Open Dancing
9:30PM Cake Cutting
10:30PM Sparkler Exit *Coverage Ends
First Look (Different Locations)
12PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
12:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
1PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
1:30PM First Look *Can be at Getting Ready Locale
2PM Soonlywed Photos
2:30PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Group/One on Ones)
3PM Wedding Party All Together
3:30PM TRAVEL TO CEREMONY
4PM Family Photos
4:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
5PM Ceremony
5:30PM Ceremony Complete
5:35PM Extended Family Photos (Optional)
5:45PM TRAVEL TO RECEPTION
6:30PM Cocktail Hour *Kir Shoots Untouched Reception
7:30PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
7:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
8PM Golden Hour Photos (weather/timing dependant)
8:15PM Speeches
8:30PM Parent Dances
9PM Cake Cutting *Coverage Ends
No First Look (Different Locations)
2PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
2:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
3PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
3:30PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Separated. Second Photog Needed)
4PM TRAVEL TO CEREMONY
4:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
5PM Ceremony
5:30PM Ceremony Complete
5:35PM Family Photos *Second Snaps Reception Details
6PM Wedding Party All Together
6:15PM TRAVEL TO RECEPTION
6:45PM Newlywed Photos
7:30PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
8PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
8:45PM Speeches
9PM Parent Dances
9:15PM Open Dancing
9:30PM Cake Cutting
10PM Sparkler Exit *Coverage Ends
Fall (Sept-Nov) 7:30PM Sunset or 6:15PM | Daylight Savings early November. 5PM Sunset if after DLS
*Keep to 5PM Ceremony if early fall
First Look (Same Property)
12PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
12:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
12:45PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
1:15PM First Look
1:30PM Soonlywed Photos
2PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Group/One on Ones)
2:30PM Wedding Party All Together
3PM Family Photos
3:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
4PM Ceremony
4:30PM Ceremony Complete
4:35PM Extended Family Photos (Optional)
5:45PM Cocktail Hour *Kir Shoots Untouched Reception
5:45PM Golden Hour Photos (weather/timing dependant)
6:15PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
6:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
7:15PM Speeches
7:30PM Parent Dances
8PM Cake Cutting *Coverage Ends
No First Look (Same Property)
1:30PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
2PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
2:30PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
3PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Separated. Second Photog Needed)
3:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
4PM Ceremony
4:30PM Ceremony Complete
4:35PM Family Photos *Second Snaps Reception Details
5PM Wedding Party All Together
5:15PM Newlywed Photos
6PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
6:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
7:15PM Speeches
7:30PM Parent Dances
7:45PM Open Dancing
8:30PM Cake Cutting
9:30PM Sparkler Exit *Coverage Ends
First Look (Different Locations)
11PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
11:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
12PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
12:30PM First Look *Can be at Getting Ready Locale
1PM Soonlywed Photos
1:30PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Group/One on Ones)
2PM Wedding Party All Together
2:30PM TRAVEL TO CEREMONY
3PM Family Photos
3:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
4PM Ceremony
4:30PM Ceremony Complete
4:35PM Extended Family Photos (Optional)
4:45PM TRAVEL TO RECEPTION
5:30PM Cocktail Hour *Kir Shoots Untouched Reception
5:45PM Golden Hour Photos (weather/timing dependant)
6:30PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
6:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
7:15PM Speeches
7:30PM Parent Dances
8PM Cake Cutting *Coverage Ends
No First Look (Different Locations)
1PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
1:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
2PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
2:30PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Separated. Second Photog Needed)
3PM TRAVEL TO CEREMONY
3:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
4PM Ceremony
4:30PM Ceremony Complete
4:35PM Family Photos *Second Snaps Reception Details
5PM Wedding Party All Together
5:15PM TRAVEL TO RECEPTION
5:45PM Newlywed Photos
6:30PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
7PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
7:45PM Speeches
8PM Parent Dances
8:15PM Open Dancing
8:30PM Cake Cutting
9PM Sparkler Exit *Coverage Ends
Winter (Dec-Feb) Sunset 5pm or 6PM *First Look Always Suggested
First Look (Same Property)
12PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
12:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
12:45PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
1:15PM First Look
1:30PM Soonlywed Photos
2PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Group/One on Ones)
2:30PM Wedding Party All Together
3PM Family Photos
3:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
4PM Ceremony
4:30PM Ceremony Complete
4:35PM Extended Family Photos OR Golden Hour
5:45PM Cocktail Hour *Kir Shoots Untouched Reception
6:15PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
6:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
7:15PM Speeches
7:30PM Parent Dances
8PM Cake Cutting *Coverage Ends
First Look (Different Locations)
11PM Kir Arrives to shoot Details
11:30PM “Getting Ready” Photos (Matching PJS etc. Beauty DONE)
12PM Bride in Dress (Portraits putting one shoes/earrings etc)
12:30PM First Look *Can be at Getting Ready Locale
1PM Soonlywed Photos
1:30PM Bridesmaids + Groomsmen Photos (Group/One on Ones)
2PM Wedding Party All Together
2:30PM TRAVEL TO CEREMONY
3PM Family Photos
3:30PM Couple in Hiding *Kir Snaps Ceremony Details
4PM Ceremony
4:30PM Ceremony Complete
4:35PM Extended Family Photos OR Golden Hour
4:45PM TRAVEL TO RECEPTION
5:30PM Cocktail Hour *Kir Shoots Untouched Reception
5:45PM Golden Hour Photos (weather/timing dependant)
6:30PM Intros + First Dance + Welcome Toast
6:30PM Dinner *Kir Break to Eat
7:15PM Speeches
7:30PM Parent Dances
8PM Cake Cutting *Coverage Ends
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