Wedding Photography Timeline: Sample Schedules
The order of shots, then two sample schedules for a 4 PM ceremony: one with a first look and one without.
In what order should wedding photos be taken?
Take wedding photos in the order the day runs:
- Details and getting ready
- First look (if you have one)
- Ceremony
- Family photos
- Wedding party
- Couple portraits
- Reception
With a first look, some family and wedding party photos move before the ceremony.
Sample timeline with a first look
Sample schedule for a 4 PM ceremony, not a rule
| Sample time | Part of the day | Photos |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 to 2:00 PM (2 to 3 hours before) | Getting ready | Bride prep, groom prep, detail shots |
| 3:00 PM (1 hour before) | First look | Couple's first look, early portraits |
| 3:30 PM (30 min before) | Family photos | Immediate family, wedding party |
| 4:00 PM | Ceremony | Processional, vows, rings, kiss, recessional |
| After the ceremony | Family and group | Extended family, all guests group photo |
| Cocktail hour | Couple portraits | Golden hour couples photos, venue shots |
| Reception | Reception | Entrance, first dance, toasts, cake, dancing |
Sample timeline without a first look
Sample schedule for a 4 PM ceremony, not a rule
| Sample time | Part of the day | Photos |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 to 2:00 PM (2 to 3 hours before) | Getting ready | Bride prep, groom prep, detail shots |
| 4:00 PM | Ceremony | Processional, vows, rings, kiss, recessional |
| First 30 min after the ceremony | Family photos | Immediate family, extended family, all guests group photo |
| Next 30 min | Wedding party | Wedding party with the couple |
| Next 30 to 60 min | Couple portraits | Golden hour couples photos, venue shots |
| Reception | Reception | Entrance, first dance, toasts, cake, dancing |
These are sample times, not rules. Your photographer will set the real blocks from your ceremony length, family list and venue. Add your ceremony length to turn the times after it into clock times.
Is 4 hours of photography enough?
Four hours covers part of the day, not all of it. In the sample without a first look, getting ready through couple portraits takes 3.5 to 5 hours plus the length of the ceremony, before the reception starts. With 4 hours, leave out getting ready or most of the reception, and ask your photographer which hours they suggest for your day.
Plan portraits around sunset
Look up the sunset time for your date and venue, then place couple portraits in the golden hour before it. With a first look, most portraits can happen before the ceremony, so keep only a short sunset session for later.
Cocktail hour: guests are the only cameras
While the photographer is with the family and the couple after the ceremony, guests are at cocktail hour, and their phones are the only cameras in the room. Put a QR code on the bar and on each table so guests can add their photos to your gallery. Here is how a QR code for wedding pictures works. Then run a live photo slideshow on a screen so guests see the photos arrive.
Build the shot list with the wedding photo checklist, then take these times to the planning call along with the questions to ask your wedding photographer.