When it comes to planning a wedding, there are several elements that spring to mind. The venue, the dress and the food are all focal points that tend to be ticked off pretty early during the planning process. However, there is one key task that tends to be left until slightly closer to the big day and mustn’t be underestimated. I am, of course, talking about your ideal wedding day timeline. The running order and timings for your day can make all the difference between a rushed, chaotic affair and a relaxed, stress-free event that ensures great photos. Let’s take a closer look at how you can craft your timeline to help you get the very best out of your magical day.
Rise and Shine
When you hear the words ‘wedding timeline’ you might just think of the timings that will appear on your invitations. On the contrary, your wedding timeline begins as soon as you wake up. Bridal hair and makeup can take a couple of hours, and then you’ve got bridesmaids to factor in too. Make arrangements with your hair and makeup artist to ensure that you have plenty of time to prep without feeling rushed. As a photographer, a well-planned bridal prep slot is super helpful because it allows me to get those all important “getting ready” shots that really help with the storytelling of your day.
The “I Do” Moment
Once you’re all glammed and good to go, you will potentially need time to travel to the venue. If so, be sure to allow for traffic. No bride wants to be sprinting to the altar! You may also want to consider the time of day that you will say your vows, and what the lighting is like at your venue at this time. If you’re getting married later on a winter day, some candles could help to bring in a warm glow that will come across beautifully on camera. Alternatively, you may find that your ceremony venue is flooded with stunning natural light, in which case I will be jumping for joy and snapping up all of those gorgeously effortless shots.
We’re Married!
It’s crucial to allow time during your drinks reception for you to mingle with guests, enjoy some canapés and bask in the just-married glow. While all of this is taking place, I’ll be blending in with the guests, snapping candid photos of everyone having a lovely time and no doubt gushing over how gorgeous the ceremony was. As the drinks reception starts to transition into the wedding breakfast, and guests are ushered to take their seats, this is the perfect time for you two lovebirds to slip away with your photographer to get those all-important couple shots. It’s best to allow up to an hour, as we will not only be able to capture plenty of beautiful shots, but this also carves out a little bit of time in your day for you two to just catch up and enjoy each other’s company. Bonus points if you can time this section of your day to coincide with golden hour. The light at this time of day is so warm and soft, making for a perfect glow in your photos.
Party Time
Following your portrait session, it will be time to take your seat for your wedding breakfast, allowing me to capture some really raw emotions during the speeches before everyone lets loose during my favourite part of the day: the evening reception. There’s something about a wedding that really encourages people to let their hair down, be a bit silly and to just generally have a brilliant time which is such a joy to capture on camera. I particularly love it when I capture an especially hilarious or unusual moment. I’m thinking Uncle Dave ruining his trousers trying to do the splits, bridesmaids playing air guitar or the obligatory ties on heads. My key tip for this part of your timeline would be to space out your cake cutting and first dance a little, otherwise it can feel a bit like your guests are being shepherded from one area to another in quick succession. It’s also really exciting for me as a photographer when the couple has planned any extra little touches like fireworks or sparklers which make for some fantastic cinematic shots to end your wedding album on.
As you can see, I’m really passionate about a well-planned wedding timeline that helps the couple to relax, in turn translating into natural, stress-free photos. My biggest pieces of advice to you as you embark on this all-important task are to allow more time than you need for everything, and to make sure that your timeline works for you. With all of my couples, I take a flexible approach because nothing is more important than how you feel on your wedding day. If you feel time pressured, that pressure will be evident in your photos which breaks my heart as a photographer. By putting in the effort now to craft a bespoke timeline that fits your needs, you can ensure happy, carefree photos that you’ll cherish for years to come.
So, happy planning, make it work for you and if you need any more tips on how to craft your perfect timeline, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
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