Wedding Photography Timeline
Clients often ask how much photography time they need for their wedding day. The answer is different for each client. What events are important to you? What do you want documented on your wedding day? Are you having a 15 minute ceremony or a 60 minute Catholic ceremony? Would you like us to capture your most important day entirely?
We’ve created a sample timeline for a typical wedding day. Keep in mind, we didn’t add travel time from the ceremony to the reception. Did you know that a Receiving Line after your ceremony can take away 20 to 30 minutes from your photography time? Additional photography time can be added at $150 per hour.
4 Hours of Coverage Time
- Perfect for intimate weddings – under 50 guests
- Bride and bridesmaids (before ceremony) – 30 minutes
- Groom and groomsmen (before ceremony) – 30 minutes
- Ceremony – 30 minutes
- Formal portraits after ceremony – 1 hour
- Bride and groom
- Group shot of entire wedding party
- Group shots of families with bride and groom
- Portraits of bride alone
- Portraits of groom alone
- Reception coverage – 1.5 hours
- Grand entrance
- Photos of key people
- Detail shots of flowers, tables, decorations
6 Hours of Coverage Time
- Perfect for mid-sized weddings – up to 100 guests
- Bride and bridesmaids (before ceremony) – 30 minutes
- Groom and groomsmen (before ceremony) – 30 minutes
- Ceremony – 30 minutes
- Formal portraits after ceremony – 1 hour
- Bride and groom
- Group shot of entire wedding party
- Group shots of families with bride and groom
- Portraits of bride alone
- Portraits of groom alone
- Reception coverage – 3.5 hours
- Grand entrance
- Photos of key people
- Detail shots of flowers, tables, decorations
- Bride and groom interacting with guests
- The toast
- First dance
- Father/daughter and mother/son dances
- Cake cutting
- Garter/bouquet toss
8 Hours of Coverage Time
- Perfect for large weddings – up to 150 guests
- Bride / groom getting ready pictures – 1 hour
- Bride and groom’s first look – 30 minutes
- Bride and bridesmaids (before ceremony) – 45 minutes
- Groom and groomsmen (before ceremony) – 45 minutes
- Ceremony (shots from two perspectives) – 30 minutes
- Formal portraits after ceremony – 1 hour
- Bride and groom
- Group shot of entire wedding party
- Group shots of families with bride and groom
- Portraits of bride alone
- Portraits of groom alone
- Reception coverage – 3.5 hours
- Grand entrance
- Photos of key people
- Detail shots of flowers, tables, decorations
- Bride and groom interacting with guests
- The toast
- First dance
- Father/daughter and mother/son dances
- Cake cutting
- Garter/bouquet toss
- Shots from two perspectives (2 photographers)
- Dancing shots / guests partying
10 Hours of Coverage Time
- Perfect for very large weddings – up to 200 guests
- Bride getting ready pictures – 1 hour
- Bride and groom’s first look – 30 minutes
- Bride and bridesmaids (before ceremony) – 45 minutes
- Groom and groomsmen (before ceremony) – 45 minutes
- Ceremony (shots from two perspectives) – 30 minutes
- Formal portraits after ceremony – 1.5 hours
- Bride and groom
- Group shot of entire wedding party
- Group shots of families with bride and groom
- Portraits of bride alone
- Portraits of groom alone
- Reception coverage – 4.5 hours
- Grand entrance
- Photos of key people
- Detail shots of flowers, tables, decorations
- Bride and groom interacting with guests
- The toast
- First dance
- Father/daughter and mother/son dances
- Cake cutting
- Garter/bouquet toss
- Shots from two perspectives (2 photographers)
- Dancing shots / guests partying
- Couple leaving event