Wedding Day Photography Timeline
In this guest blog, Dale Mitchell of Summit Photo and Film offers an overview of the perfect wedding day timeline.
Dale highlights the importance of including ideal timeframes for each part of the day, ensuring a seamless flow from getting ready to the final send-off, creating a timeline that balances structure and flexibility for a stress-free and memorable celebration.
With the diversity of the cultural aspects of our weddings, it's difficult to pinpoint an exact wedding photography timeline template. However, there are ideal time frames you should consider when planning your day. Some of these times may seem long on paper but keep in mind that:
The day will fly by.
Most wedding run slightly behind schedule.
We'll make these photo sessions fun, so it won't seem like a long time.
Rings, Dresses Shoes and Other Details
Ideal Time Allotment: 30 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Morning
Ideal Location: Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite
Advice: Having at least 30 minutes for details ensures that we have plenty of time to get that perfect photo of the dress, rings, shoes, bouquets, and other details of the day.
There are times when a hotel room is too crowded or simply unappealing; we have to take the dress all the way down to the lobby or even outside. This can take some time, but as you can see from the results, it's worth the additional work.
Preparation
Ideal Time Allotment: 60 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location: Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite
Advice: Having an hour of preparation is ideal for our style. During this time, we are getting close-ups of the makeup and hair being applied as well as the candid moments and the bridesmaids and groomsmen getting ready for the day. These are some of the most emotional and fun times of the day, so you don't want to cut it short.
The lead shooter will be with the bride while the second shooter will be with the groom. While it doesn't take guys an hour to get dressed, there are still tons of great moments during this time between the groom and his family and friends.
Individual Portraits
Ideal Time Allotment: 30 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location: Bridal Suite, Hotel Suite, Venue Lobby or Venue Garden
Advice: RIght after prep is the best time for individual portraits of the bride and groom (separately). Besides makeup and hair being completely fresh, the day hasn't gotten hectic yet so we can take our time and get those perfect portraits.
The window lighting in most hotel rooms creates a unique look that can't be duplicated later in the day.
First Look and Daytime Couples Session
Ideal Time Allotment: 45 - 60 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location: Venue Garden, Empty Venue Hallway (shaded areas with natural light)
Advice: The first look should be around 45 - 60 minutes. During this time, the bride and groom enjoy seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day. While the actual first look might only be 5-10 minutes, the rest of the time is spent on a few basic portraits of the bride and groom.
Ideally, we are saving the bulk of the couples session for later (see the "couples session" section below). However, if there is no other time in the day, it is best to allocate another 45 minutes to an hour here to make sure we have enough photos of just you two.
Wedding Party Photos
Ideal Time Allotment: 45 - 60 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Afternoon
Ideal Location: Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location
Advice: Wedding Party Photos should be around 45 minutes to 1 hour. During this time, we get a variety of shots in a variety of poses. We start off with the basic, classic photos focused on great expressions and lighting.
Then we move inot a set of fun and creative shots. We also make sure to get pictures with you and each of your bridesmaids or groomsmen individually.
Immediate Family
Ideal Time Allotment: 30 - 45 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Afternoon
Ideal Location: Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location
Advice: Immediate Family Photos should take another 45 minutes. It's important to have additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings beyond the basic formals.
Plan on 3 minutes per group on average. For example, if you have 10 groups, schedule a 30-minute time slot. We want to ensure we're capturing enough pictures with immediate family.
Ceremony Detail and Venue
Ideal Time Allotment: 15 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Morning or Afternoon
Ideal Location: Ceremony Site
Advice: Please allow 15 minutes for us to take pictures of the ceremony site, completely setup with no guests or vendors in the area. This is when we capture all the details you've spent so much time planning. We also take this time to find the best angles and lighting for the ceremony.
Ceremony Service
Ideal Time Allotment: 30 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Afternoon
Ideal Location: Ceremony Site
Reception Detail and Venue
Ideal Time Allotment: 15 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Early Evening
Ideal Location: Reception Site
Advice: Please allow 15 minutes for us to take pictures of the reception room, completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area. We want to capture the details and ambiance before guests enter, which are important parts of your wedding story.
Formal Family Group Photos
Ideal Time Allotment: 45 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Early Evening (after the ceremony)
Ideal Location: Ceremony Site
Advice: This is when we'll take family photos with both sides of the family, typically immediately following the ceremony. Plan for at least 3 minutes per group to ensure everyone is included and organized. We'kk arrange for both formal and candid family moments.
Reception First Look
Ideal Time Allotment: 10-15 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: At the end of Cocktail Hour, before doors open for guests
Ideal Location: Reception Site
Advice: This is when the reception space is revealed to the couple for the first time. It's a great opportunity to capture a genuine reaction, as well as a moment alone with the dance floor to practice your first dance, which also makes a great photo!
Couples Session (After Ceremony)
Ideal Time Allotment: 45 minutes - 1 hour
Ideal Time of Day: Late Afternoon - Early Evening
Ideal Location: Around the Venue
Advice: This is the best time for the couple's portraits. With the warm, softer lighting of late afternoon or early evening, we'll have ideal conditions for intimate, candid moments. If time is limited, we'll work with you to prioritize shots and make sure you get the photos you want most.
Sunset Couples Session
Ideal Time Allotment: 20 -30 minutes
Ideal Time of Day: Around Sunset
Ideal Location: Around the Venue
Advice: If the timing aligns, we highly recommend setting aside 20 - 30 minutes for sunset portraits. The golden hour lighting adds a stunning natural glow to photos, creating some of the most memorable images of the day.
Reception Room - "Open Dancing" Photos
Ideal Time Allotment: 2 hours
Ideal Time of Day: Evening
Ideal Location: Reception Site
Advice: Once the dance floor opens, we'll capture guests having a blast. Expect a mix of candid shots, close-ups, and crowd photos to capture the energy and joy of the evening.
Additional Wedding Day Details
Table Shots: Table shots are when you go around visiting tables. There are two options for photography during this time. (1) You can take formal pictures with each of these tables or (2) we can simply focus on photojournalism, capturing the smiles and hugs as you mingle with each table. If you're planning on doing formal table shots, please keep in mind that these will take about 3-5 minutes per table. For example 20 tables would require 60 - 100 minutes of time.
Ready to plan your dream Aspen wedding? From discovering the perfect venue to finding local photographers, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Need some inspiration? Explore our wedding blog or connect with us on Instagram @WeddingsAspen to kickstart your planning. Have questions? Reach out to us anytime at sales@aspenchamber.org.
