Sample Associate Timelines
Sample Timelines
A well thought out timeline is an essential component to creating a collection of timeless portraits and candid moments from your wedding day. To allow time for the creation of meaningful images it is important to work closely with your photographer to create a timeline that fits with your unique celebration.
To help you understand how coverage could fall over the events of your day, I have shared several sample timelines below based on Lauren’s offerings . Use these timelines and the tips shared as a guide to selecting the best coverage for your day.
Typically, coverage will begin around 2-3 hours before the Ceremony to capture the getting ready portion of the day and end around 2-3 hours following introductions into your reception. This will typically look like 8-9 hours of coverage, depending your priorities, logistical considerations and reception flow.
APPROXIMATE TIMES
Details & Prep : 1 -2 Hours
First Look & Portraits : 30-45 Minutes
Wedding Party : 30 Minutes
Family Portraits : 30 Minutes
Extra Romantic Portraits : 15 Minutes or as much time as you’ll give me!
In our decade plus of experience, we have found that 8 hours is the perfect place to start for coverage. With 8 hours of coverage we can tell the story of your day, from getting ready through to the reception along with party atmosphere images towards the end of the day. You may want to consider more coverage if :
Your day have large gaps of time between events
You will be getting ready at a different location from your Ceremony
You will be hosting your Ceremony & Reception in different locations
Traffic considerations between locations such as local events or parades
You are having a longer ceremony
You are planning to attend cocktail hour
You wish you have your Grand Exit photographed
You are having a larger wedding party (8 or more people)
Your Ceremony takes place after sunset
You will have more than 70 guests
The timeline below is based on 5 hours of wedding day coverage. In this timeline the couple has chosen to have a First Look and take their portraits beforehand so that they and their loved ones can enjoy cocktail hour together. This timeline is best for couples getting ready and hosting their wedding all in the same location with less than 70 guests.
5 Hours of Coverage
2:00PM - 2:30PM
Photographer Arrival, captures venue details
2:30PM - 3:00PM
Couple Portraits
3:00PM - 3:30PM
Family Portraits
3:30PM
Couple freshens up, Lauren photographs ceremony details
4:00PM-4:30pm
Ceremony
4:30pm- 4:45pm
Just Married Portraits with Couple
4:45pm - 5:30pm
Lauren captures reception details & cocktail hour
5:30pm
Reception starts - Intros, First Dance, Toasts
7:00pm
Photography Ends
The timeline below is based on 8 hours of wedding day coverage that also includes a second photographer. In this timeline the couple has chosen to have a First Look and take their portraits beforehand so that they and their loved ones can enjoy cocktail hour together. This timeline is best for couples getting ready and hosting their wedding all in the same location without any long gaps or significant travel time during the day.
8 Hours of Coverage
12:30PM - 1:30PM
Deb arrives & photographs details, Hair & makeup finishing touches
1:30PM - 2:00PM
Bride gets into dress
2:00PM - 2:30PM
First Look & Couple Portraits
2:30PM - 3:00PM
Wedding Party Portraits
3:00PM - 3:30PM
Family Portraits
3:30PM
Couple freshens up, Deb photographs details
4:00PM - 4:30pm
Ceremony
4:30pm - 5:30pm
Cocktail Hour
4:30pm- 4:45pm
Just Married Portraits with Couple
4:30pm - 5:30pm
Deb captures reception details, second photographer captures cocktail hour
5:30pm
Reception Start, Introductions, First Dance
5:45pm - 6:45pm
Toasts & Dinner Service
7:00pm - 7:15pm
Cake Cutting & Parent Dances
7:30pm - 8:30pm
Open dance floor, photography ends.
Timing Tips
Creating a Cushion
I’m an advocate of padding in time throughout the day to ensure that if something runs late we don’t have to sacrifice coverage elsewhere. An extra 10 minutes here and there throughout the day can make all the difference.
T r a v e l
It is very important to take into account any travel that may occur throughout the day. Will there be traffic? Will your driver know the route? All of these things can affect the timeline. Factor in enough time to avoid unnecessary delays.
Share Your Timeline
Share your timeline with loved ones before the wedding to ensure they know exactly where to be and when. The more you can communicate ahead of time, the more smoothly the day will flow. Also, it is very important to consult with your vendor team to understand their expectations of the day and to ensure the photography timeline coordinates appropriately.
Bouquet & Boutonniere
If you are taking portraits before the ceremony, you’ll need your florals delivered to where you will be getting ready. We will ensure that the florals stay in water and are well taken care of.
Groom Prep
The Groom and his Groomsmen can be mostly dressed when the second photographer arrives. The photographer will capture details such as bouts, ties, shoes, cufflinks etc. Once those things have been photograph and it’s time to get “dressed”, the Groomsmen will be putting on final details like shoes and ties.
Bridal Prep
Your Mom and Bridesmaids should be finished with hair and makeup done at least 30-60 minutes before you put on your dress. This ensures that they have time to get dressed before you get into your dress and so they look best and feel comfortable in front of the camera.
Gifts
If you are choosing to exchange gifts, please wait to open your gift until a photographer is present to capture you opening the gift.
Hair & Makeup
I recommend telling your beauty team a finish time of 30-40 minutes ahead of the actual timeline. Hair and makeup often run late so padding in time to account for this can make a huge difference in your overall timeline.