I like to be organised. My equipment is cleaned and checked before your wedding day, batteries are fully charged, I've packed backups of everything, the car is cleaned, stocked up on snacks and drinks, addresses entered in to the navigation system, and the car is topped up with petrol.

Part of being organised is having a clear time line - this helps you, me and the other vendors know where they should be at what time.  But how do you know how much time to allocate to each part of your day?

We've put together a sample timeline for a "traditional" wedding day to assist you but of course each wedding is unique and you will need to make adjustments depending upon your circumstances.  Of course as our client we will work through your timeline together.

Light - when we arrive at the bride or grooms for getting ready photos we will take a look around the house or hotel to find the best room in which to take photos. Our preference is to photograph using natural window light and therefore we are looking for a room with a large window (preferably without direct sunlight).

Clutter - it can be pretty hectic on a wedding day and very easy for rooms to become cluttered.  Try to keep non essential items hidden away in other rooms We will run around tidying up and decluttering when we arrive but the less mess the better!

When we arrive the groom and groomsmen should be dressed in their shirts and trousers so we can photograph the final stages of getting ready in a relaxed and candid fashion.

Parents and any other family members should also be fully dressed and ready for portraits.

After introductions we photograph the smaller details such as cuff links, aftershave, shoes, written vows, ties and rings etc so it is important to have these items on hand. 

Once everyone is fully dressed its time for individual portraits and photographs with the groomsmen and any family members.

(please allow 1hr for groom getting ready portraits)

Upon our arrival the bride's hair and makeup should be finished except for final touch up photos and the bridesmaids should be completely ready and on hand to assist the bride into her gown. (unless you would like robe photos).   Parents and other family members should also be fully dressed and ready for portraits.

We photograph the gown, bouquets, veil, fragrance, engagement ring, other jewellery, shoes and other items of significance so please have these items on hand.

We then take some candid photos along with the makeup artist doing some final touch ups before the bride gets into her gown and puts on jewellery, shoes, veil etc.

Once everyone is fully dressed its time for individual portraits, photographs with the bridesmaid and any family members.

(please allow 1.5hrs for bride getting ready portraits)

Pre Ceremony

Prior to the ceremony we take some detailed shots of the venue, ceremony space, the groom and groomsmen and guests arriving.  It's a great opportunity for us to ensure we are set up in the best spot to capture your ceremony and to introduce ourselves to the celebrant or officiant.  (20 - 30 minutes required prior to bride arrival)

The bride and her escort should wait in the car so we can capture the moments before your entrance. 

Ceremony

We then photograph the ceremony as it unfolds - the bride walking down the aisle, vows, exchange of rings, first kiss, signing the register. Depending upon the type of service your ceremony may be as short as 15 minutes or as long as an hour or more. 

Congratulations

Your family and friends will want to congratulate you after your ceremony and after about 15 minutes we are ready to take family formals. 

Family formals are a significant part of your wedding day, capturing those important family members (and sometimes friendship groups) who helped share your day.  There's a couple of things to consider when making up your list of family formals.  We allow 3 minutes per photograph.  Therefore if you are having 10 groupings we will need to allocate 30 minutes.  Time can quickly get a way from you when doing family formals particularly if more groups are added on the day.  It is important that those people involved in the family portraits are advised before the day not to "disappear" straight after the ceremony.  Allocate one person who knows everyone to assist in gathering the groups and give them a copy of the list.  I've written another blog post on family formals that you will find at the link below.

Family Formal Blog Post

After the excitement of the ceremony it's time to take a break from guests and formalities to have some fun with the bridal party. We take a variety of images with the bridal party then focus on the couple.  Our couples often comment that this is one of the best parts of the day as they have time to take a breather and just be together. Allow at least 45 minutes per location and plenty of travel time between locations.  

It is very important to ensure you are back at the reception venue on time to allow you to have a break in the bridal suite and also ensure that we are not creating headaches for the catering staff.  While you are waiting to be announced into the reception we utilise the time to photograph the details in the reception room and prepare for your entrance.

Our coverage includes one hour into your reception (additional coverage is available upon request) so any important events should take place during this time.

Hopefully this short blog post has provided you an insight into the timings for your wedding day.  It's important to work through the timeline with your photographer early so that other vendors can be booked accordingly.  If you'd like to find out more about our wedding photography service and pricing please request a brochure at the following link:

Request Wedding Brochure 

Sandra