Wedding Day Timeline Tips to Help Your Day Flow Smoothly

Before you get too deep into the planning, let’s talk timelines. Trust us—it’s so much better to figure this out early than to realize a month before your wedding that you’ve only got 40 minutes set aside for all your photos (yikes).

The timing of your day affects everything—from when your ceremony starts, to how relaxed your morning feels, to whether you’ll get that golden, glowy sunset light in your portraits. We're here to walk you through all of it, so you can make decisions that support a calm, connection-filled wedding day.

Let’s build a timeline that actually works for you—one that gives space to breathe, soak it in, and be fully present.

Best tips for your wedding day timeline:

Start With Sunset

A quick Google search is your best friend here:“Sunset time, [Wedding City] [Wedding Date]”

Once you have that, we can build the whole timeline around it.

• Outdoor Ceremony? Plan for it to start 30–60 minutes before sunset. This is golden hour, when the light is soft, dreamy, and oh-so-flattering.

• Indoor Ceremony + No First Look? You’ll need about 2 hours post-ceremony for portraits (Couple, Family, and Wedding Party). So ideally, start your ceremony 3.5 to 4 hours before sunset to avoid racing the light.

Considering a First Look?

Doing a first look can be a total game-changer. You get to:

• See each other before the nerves really hit

• Knock out all the formal photos beforehand

• Actually attend (and enjoy!) your cocktail hour

If you go this route, plan for about 2 hours of photo time before the ceremony for Couple, Family, and Wedding Party portraits. Got a big group? Add 30 extra minutes.

Hair & Makeup: More Time is Better

Here’s the deal: hair and makeup always take longer than expected.

Start at least 2 hours before you think you need to be ready. If you have a larger wedding party, consider booking an extra artist to keep things moving and minimize stress.

Running ahead of schedule just means more time for mimosas, music, and happy tears. Win-win.

Keep Details Together

On the wedding morning, gather all your special details in one place:Rings, invitation suite, vow books, perfume, shoes, jewelry, bouquet, heirlooms—anything you want photographed.

We’ll send a list ahead of time so nothing gets missed, and your Maid of Honor can help have everything ready to go when we arrive.

Don’t Forget Travel Time

If you're moving between locations (getting ready, ceremony, reception), build in time for travel—and not just the drive itself, but the time it takes to load up, gather your people, and settle in at the next spot.

If travel eats into your timeline, let’s talk about adjusting your coverage to make sure you don’t lose time where it really matters.

Sneak In Reception Detail Photos

If we’re doing portraits during cocktail hour, we’ll need about 15 minutes alone in the reception space before guests are let in. This lets us capture all those beautiful details you’ve worked so hard on—florals, place settings, candles, signage—and gives us time to set up lighting for the evening.

Dresses: Steam Early

Do yourself a favor and steam all dresses the day before. Morning-of steaming = unnecessary stress (and burns—yep, we’ve seen it happen). Knock it out early and check one more thing off your list.

A Day-Of Coordinator? Yes, Please.

Whether it’s a full planner or just day-of coordination, having someone to manage the timeline and put out fires is worth every penny.

From fluffing your dress to fixing boutonnières to finding the backup champagne, they make sure you (and your family) can actually enjoy the day—not manage it.

We’ve filled in that role more than once as photographers, and while we’re happy to help, we’d rather be behind the camera than sewing buttons or tracking down groomsmen. You deserve a full team in your corner.

Coverage Hours = Event Timing

If your photo and video coverage is for a set number of hours, plan your timeline so that the big moments—first dance, toasts, cake cutting—happen within that window. If you’re unsure, we can help you map it out so nothing gets missed.

The Most Important Tip

Take a deep breath. This day is about so much more than the timeline. Sure, we want it to run smoothly. But if something goes a little sideways? That’s okay.

You’re marrying your best friend. The rest is just part of the story—and we’ll be there to capture it all, just as it unfolds.

Need help building your own timeline? We’d love to help you craft something that fits your day perfectly—reach out anytime and we’ll walk through it together.

Let’s make space for connection, calm, and a wedding day that actually feels like you.