Often times when a bride is planning her wedding, she works with a coordinator to ensure everything happens in the proper order and within the allotted time for the couple’s day.  While this is great, it’s important to keep your photographer in the loop with the wedding day timeline as we have to fulfill the bride and groom’s request for shots and we need to know how much time we have been given to work with.  A 30-minute portrait timeline may seem like a lot of time but if a bride has 10 combinations of family members that she wants photos with, we’re talking less than 3 minutes per group once you gather everyone and take several photos.  This doesn’t include the portraits of the bride and groom and the travel time (if needed) to the reception venue!

This is one of the many reasons that a “First Look” is becoming more and more popular.  A “First Look” is where the bride and groom opt to see each other prior to the ceremony.  They get a quiet moment together before the celebration of the ceremony and reception takes place.  This also gives them a chance to take many of their bridal portraits in an effort to save time between the ceremony and reception. Below is a sample timeline for 8 hours of photography coverage that includes a first look.  It serves as a guide for brides when they are trying to determine how much time to allot for portraits.

11:00- Photography coverage starts
11:45- Bride puts on dress
11:55- Bridal portraits
12:05- Leave for first look
12:15- First look
1:15- Depart for the ceremony
1:30- Arrive at Ceremony location / Bride freshens up make-up
2:00- Ceremony
2:45- Family formals
3:00- Cocktail hour starts
3:30- Arrive at Reception / Bridal party photos
4:05- Introductions
4:10- Prayer / Dinner
4:50- Toasts
5:00- First dance
5:10- Father/Daughter, Mother/Son dance
6:00- Cake cutting
7:15- Bouquet & Garter toss
7:30- Photography coverage ends
9:00- Reception ends

Terri Baskin is a Virginia-based wedding and lifestyle photographer. Terri is passionate about her work and has shot weddings in Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia and St. Lucia! Her work has been featured on various wedding blogs such as Capitol Romance, United with Love, Every Last Detail and Pretty Brass Tacks. To book her for your engagement or lifestyle session or your wedding, please contact us today!