How much time to set aside for wedding photos, with a sample timeline

Most wedding timelines go wrong in the same place: family photos. This is how long each part of the day takes in my experience, followed by the timeline I send couples as a starting point.

Getting ready: 90 minutes

I arrive 90 minutes before you get dressed. That covers the details (dress, rings, invitations, shoes), the last part of hair and makeup, and getting into the dress or suit. I don’t need to be there for all three hours of hair and makeup.

First look and portraits: 30 to 45 minutes

If you do a first look, we take most of the couple portraits straight after it, and you get to go to your own cocktail hour. Without one, we take 20 minutes of portraits during cocktail hour and another 15 at sunset.

Family photos: 2 minutes per group

Plan two minutes per group and keep it to 10 to 15 groups. Send me the list two weeks before, with names, and ask one person from each family to help gather people. The groups that take longest are the ones where someone has gone to the bar.

A sample timeline for a 4:30 pm ceremony

• 1:00 pm: I arrive for details and getting ready

• 2:30 pm: Getting dressed

• 3:00 pm: First look and couple portraits

• 3:40 pm: Wedding party photos

• 4:30 pm: Ceremony, about 25 minutes

• 5:00 pm: Family photos, 12 groups

• 5:30 pm: Cocktail hour

• 6:30 pm: Dinner and toasts

• 7:00 pm: Sunset portraits, 15 minutes

• 8:00 pm: First dance and dancing

• 9:00 pm: I leave after the first hour of dancing

Six weeks before the wedding I send a version of this adjusted for your venue and your sunset time, and we go through it on a call.