Wedding Day Timeline Tips to Help Your Day Flow Smoothly

Before you dive too deep into your wedding planning, I want to share some important tips about wedding day timelines. My goal is to make sure we don’t get to a month before your big day only to realize we have just 40 minutes to get all your photos done! Getting this info in front of you early will help you decide your ceremony time, reception start, whether to do a first look, how much time to budget for pictures, and more.

I’m here to help you every step of the way, so if you’re ready to make big timing decisions (like when your ceremony will start) and want some input, just reach out! Together, we’ll craft the perfect timeline for your day.

Start With Sunset Time - Wedding Day Timeline Tips

Look up the sunset time for your wedding day by typing into Google:“Sunset time, [Wedding City] [Wedding Date]”

Use this as the centerpiece of your timeline.

• Outdoor Ceremony: Schedule your ceremony to start about 30 to 60 minutes before sunset. This window is called golden hour, and it’s when the light is soft, warm, and absolutely dreamy — perfect for photos!

• Indoor Ceremony (No First Look): You’ll need about 2 hours after the ceremony for Couples Portraits, Family Formals, and Wedding Party photos before heading to the reception. In that case, don’t schedule your ceremony too close to sunset — ideally, set it about 3.5 to 4 hours before sunset.

  
  

Thinking About a First Look?

If you’re doing a first look, it’s a great idea to do all your formal photos before the ceremony. That way, you can fully relax and enjoy your cocktail hour with your guests!

Plan for about 2 hours of photo time total for your Couple, Family, and Wedding Party portraits. If your wedding party or family is large, add about 30 extra minutes.

Hair and Makeup Timing

Start hair and makeup at least two hours before you think you’ll need to be ready. If you have a big bridal party, consider booking more than one stylist to keep things moving smoothly.

Having plenty of time in the morning is essential — and if you finish early, that just means more time for champagne and impromptu dance parties, right?!

Keep Your Details Organized

On the wedding morning, keep all your details (rings, invitation, shoes, bouquet, etc.) in one place, ready for me to photograph. I’ll also give you and your Maid of Honor a list of what I’ll want to capture, which saves tons of time and helps the day flow better.

Travel Time Matters

Remember to factor in travel time between venues — like Getting Ready, Ceremony, and Reception locations — when planning your timeline and booking coverage hours. If you have an hour of travel, ask about adding that hour to your contract to make sure no photo time gets lost.

Capture Reception Details

If your portraits happen during cocktail hour, make sure we have about 15 minutes to sneak into the reception space before guests arrive. This gives us time to photograph all your thoughtful details and set up our lighting for the evening.

Bridesmaids (and Groomsmen) Dresses

Steam your dress(es) before the wedding day! Trust me, no one wants to be panicking and wrestling with a steamer on the morning of the wedding.

Consider a Day-Of Coordinator

This is optional, but highly recommended! A day-of wedding coordinator keeps vendors on schedule and handles any last-minute hiccups—like fixing the bouquet, running to grab forgotten lipstick, providing comfy flip-flops when your feet hurt, or grabbing extra champagne when mimosas run low.

I’ve even had to jump in as a photographer to help with these kinds of emergencies, which eats into photo time. Don’t let these stressors fall on your bridal party or family—they’re there to enjoy the day just like you.

Coverage Timing

If your photography and videography coverage is booked for a set number of hours, make sure all your important reception events (toasts, cake cutting, first dances, etc.) fall within that window so nothing gets missed.

Most Important Reminder

Relax. Seriously. No matter what tiny details don’t go exactly as planned, at the end of the day, you’re marrying the love of your life. The wedding is just one day — the marriage is what truly matters.

I hope these tips help you feel confident and calm as you plan your perfect day!