Dear brides, I've gathered all the essential information to help you create the perfect timeline for the most important day of your life.
In this guide, you'll find a classic 12-hour wedding timeline, along with key principles for structuring your schedule. At the end of the article, I've also included frequently asked questions about wedding timelines—make sure to check them out!
The timeline below is designed as a foundation for a seamless and beautiful wedding day. You can adjust it to fit your specific needs, but the key takeaway is to always allow extra time so you can enjoy every moment without stress.
The sample timeline includes 30-minute buffers between location changes. This is intentional because delays happen in 90% of weddings. If things run late, these buffers prevent major disruptions to your key events. And if everything goes smoothly, that extra time can be used for additional wedding photography, videography, or simply to relax.
If we remove the built-in buffer times and optimize the schedule slightly, the timeline can be condensed into a standard 10-hour wedding day.
How Many Hours Should You Book for Wedding Photography & Videography?
Should you choose 8, 10, or 12 hours for your wedding photographer and videographer? Here's a general guideline:
Generally, an 8-hour package is best suited for small family weddings with a limited number of guests, often skipping the bride’s morning preparations. The coverage usually starts with the first look or the ceremony, and all locations are close to each other.
A 10-hour wedding day is the standard timeline, covering everything from the bridal preparations to the cake cutting and the beginning of the dance party. In most cases, this amount of time is enough, especially if you don’t have too many locations or if your entire wedding takes place in one venue.
A 12-hour wedding day is ideal for 95% of weddings. It provides a comfortable schedule for the couple, avoiding unnecessary stress and allowing time for unexpected delays. You won’t have to rush from one location to another, and you’ll even have time to grab a snack on the way to the venue. For the photo and video team, this is also the best timing, as it allows them to capture more footage, be creative, and ensure a relaxed and enjoyable experience without the pressure of a tight schedule.
What’s the Better Choice: 12 Hours with a More Affordable Team or 8-10 Hours with a More Experienced Team on the Same Budget?
The answer is simple—always choose experience, skills, and professionalism over the number of hours. Your wedding photos and videos are the only things that will remain after the wedding day. If your team is truly professional, they will not only document your wedding beautifully but also allow you to relive the emotions of this magical day over and over again.
1. Bridal Morning
⏳ Duration: 2-4 hours
📍 Locations: Hotel, parents’ house, rented studio, Airbnb, wedding venue
When Does the Photo & Video Team Arrive?
✅ The photographer and videographer arrive at least one hour before the bride is fully ready (when hair, makeup, and dress are complete). If there is only one photographer, or if the groom’s preparations and bridal party moments are included, additional time may be needed. Ideally, the team should arrive two hours before the bride is fully ready to ensure enough time for capturing all the essential moments without rushing.
What Do We Capture?
- Flat Lay: Invitations and bridal details (dress, shoes, jewelry, rings, bouquet, accessories). These items, especially the wedding bouquet, should be ready for shooting in advance.
- Atmosphere: The bridal morning, getting ready, interactions with bridesmaids and family.
- Behind-the-Scenes: Final touches of makeup and hairstyling.
- Getting Dressed: Ideally with help from the bride’s mother or a bridesmaid.
- Bridal Portraits
- Photos with parents, mother, bridesmaids, and even pets
- Father’s First Look at the Bride
- Any Cultural or Family Traditions
🕘 Sample Timeline:
8:30-9:00 AM – Start of bridal preparations (coordinate with your hair and makeup artists, ensuring your final look is completed on time. In this example, that means by 11:00 AM. A misalignment in this step is one of the most common causes of delays in the timeline).
10:00 AM – Arrival of the photo/video team (ideally by 9:00 AM for more coverage).
11:00 AM – Bride is fully ready (hair and makeup finished, dress on).
11:00-11:30 AM – Bridal portraits, photos with mom, parents, and bridesmaids.
11:30-12:00 PM – Reading personal vows/letters, final shots, and departure for the next location.
💡 Tip: Choose a separate room for bridal portraits, away from the space where makeup and hairstyling are done. The work area of a makeup artist is often cluttered with bags, brushes, and tools, which can ruin the aesthetic of your photos. The best option is a clean, naturally lit area near a window with minimal distractions. Once hair and makeup are complete, the bride moves to this prepared space for the final shots of the morning.
2. Groom’s Preparations
Scenario 1: Groom Getting Ready at a Separate Location
⏳ Duration: 1-1.5 hours
📍 Locations: Groom’s house, hotel, studio
A second photographer is required to capture the groom’s preparations at a separate location.
What Do We Capture?
- Details: Suit, watch, cufflinks, cologne.
- Atmosphere: Friends, brother, or father helping with preparations.
- Groom’s Portraits
- Photos with Groomsmen
🕙 Sample Timeline:
10:00 AM – Groom’s preparations begin.
10:30 AM – Second photographer arrives to capture the groom’s morning.
11:30-12:00 PM – Reading personal vows/letters, final shots, and departure for the next location.
💡 Tip: Choosing a stylish, well-lit room significantly enhances the quality of groom preparation photos.
Scenario 2: Bride and Groom Getting Ready in the Same Location
⏳ Duration: 3-4 hours (combined)
📍 Locations: Same house, hotel (separate rooms), or wedding venue (separate rooms or halls).
This setup allows one photographer to capture both preparations efficiently. The photographer starts with bridal details and atmosphere, moves to the groom’s preparations, and then returns to the bride for final touches.
🕘 Sample Timeline:
8:30-9:00 AM – Start of preparations (confirm with stylists that the bride will be fully ready by 11:00 AM).
9:00 AM – Photo/video team arrives, capturing bridal details and atmosphere.
9:45-10:30 AM – Groom’s preparations, reading vows/letters.
10:30-11:00 AM – Photographer returns to the bride, capturing behind-the-scenes moments and final makeup touches.
11:00 AM – Bride is fully ready (hair and makeup complete, dress on).
11:00-11:30 AM – Reading vows/letters, bridal portraits, family photos.
11:30-12:00 PM – Final shots and departure for the next location.
💡 Tip: This approach minimizes travel time, ensures a seamless photo & video flow, and maximizes the results of your wedding coverage.
Scenario 3: Staged Groom Preparations Later in the Day
If logistics or budget don’t allow for capturing the groom’s real preparations, you can stage them later in the wedding day:
Set aside 15 minutes at a location with good lighting and a stylish interior.
Recreate key moments: adjusting cufflinks, putting on the jacket, groom’s portraits, and a few shots with his father or groomsmen helping with final touches.
If the groom has groomsmen, allocate 30 minutes and choose a spacious location for group shots.
This setup ensures that the groom still has beautifully captured preparation moments, even if they aren’t filmed live in the morning.
3. First Look
⏳ Duration: 20–30 minutes
📍 Locations: Elegant hotel staircase, scenic building facade, secluded outdoor spot
Why Have a First Look?
- An emotional moment where you see each other for the first time.
- Allows for romantic photos in a relaxed setting before the ceremony.
- Helps reduce stress and gives you more time for photos, avoiding a rushed schedule later in the day.
Optional: Reading Vows
After the First Look, you can read your personal vows in an intimate setting.
Choose a quiet, private location to ensure clear audio for video recordings and to maximize emotional impact.
Many couples use the same spot where the First Look takes place.
🕛 Sample Timeline:
12:30 PM – First Look
12:45 PM – Reading vows (if planned)
1:00 PM – End of the First Look session, possibly starting a short couple's photoshoot at the same location
💡 Tip: Choose a backdrop with a beautiful, uncluttered background and minimal distractions. Ideally, the location should be shaded to avoid harsh sunlight in your eyes.
4. Ceremony
⏳ Duration: 1–1.5 hours
📍 Locations: Church, park, wedding venue, hotel, banquet hall
When Does the Photo/Video Team Arrive?
15–30 minutes before the ceremony starts to capture decor details, guest arrivals, and the atmosphere.
Time is also needed to set up video equipment, audio recording, and additional lighting (if needed).
🕛 Sample Timeline:
12:15 PM – Guests arrive and take their seats.
12:45 PM – Ceremony begins.
1:30 PM – Ceremony ends.
1:30–2:00 PM – Congratulations, photos with parents and close family, group photo with all guests (if the location and timing allow).
💡 Tip: Plan extra time to avoid rushing in case of delays or unexpected circumstances.
5. Bridal Party & Group Photos
⏳ Duration: 1-2 hours (ideally 2 hours)
📍 Locations: Wedding venue facade, park, pre-selected photoshoot location along the route
What Do We Capture?
Bridal Party: Posed photos with bridesmaids and groomsmen.
After group photos, friends leave for cocktail hour or a short break, while we continue with the couple’s photoshoot.
🕓 Sample Timeline:
3:00 PM – Start of group photo and video session with the bridal party (bridesmaids and groomsmen).
3:30 PM – Couple’s individual photoshoot begins; friends leave for cocktail hour.
4:30 PM – Departure to the venue.
💡 Tip: Keep one bridesmaid available during the photoshoot to assist the bride with her dress, touch-ups, or any coordination, ensuring that the couple remains undistracted.
6. Cocktail Hour + Couple’s Photoshoot + Decor Reveal
⏳ Duration: 1-1.5 hours
📍 Locations: Bar area, outdoor terrace, park, venue, banquet hall
What is a Decor Reveal?
The Decor Reveal is the moment when the couple enters the fully decorated reception hall for the first time. This is especially important for weddings with elaborate decorations, as it allows for breathtaking photos of the venue before guests enter and disrupt the setup.
During this time:
- The couple’s emotional reactions are captured.
- A photoshoot with the venue decor is done—this is the only time to get clean, stunning shots of the decorated hall without guests.
- Some couples rehearse their first dance in the empty reception space.
- Occasionally, family portraits with close relatives are taken inside, especially during winter weddings.
What Happens During This Time?
- Guests relax, enjoy drinks, take photos in a photo booth, or with the roaming photographer.
- The photo and video team may be capturing:
- The final moments of the couple’s photoshoot at the park or venue.
- The Decor Reveal with the couple.
- The cocktail hour and reception details.
- If there are two photographers, one focuses on the couple’s photoshoot while the other documents guest interactions.
- The last 30 minutes before the Grand Entrance – The couple takes a break, freshens up, and prepares for the reception.
🕔 Sample Timeline:
5:00 PM – Decor Reveal and couple’s photoshoot in the decorated hall or around the venue.
5:30 PM – Break for the couple, end of the main photoshoot.
5:30-6:00 PM – Detail shots of the reception decor and candid guest photos during cocktail hour.
6:00 PM – Grand Entrance (official entry into the reception).
💡 Tip: If you have two photographers and two videographers, they can split tasks—one team stays with the couple for an extended photoshoot, while the other captures cocktail hour and guest interactions. This ensures more diverse and high-quality images from this key part of the wedding day.
7. Reception & Evening Program
⏳ Duration: 4–6 hours
📍 Location: Wedding venue, restaurant, marquee, estate
When Does the Photo/Video Team Leave?
Typically 30–60 minutes after the dance floor opens (after the cake cutting).
This is usually enough time to capture all the key emotions on the dance floor.
If your wedding includes special effects, fireworks, or cultural traditions later in the evening, the team can stay longer as per your preferences.
What Do We Capture?
Emotions & Atmosphere – The goal is to capture the essence of the wedding so that everyone watching the photos and video can truly feel the energy of the day.
- Grand Entrance – The couple’s official entrance into the reception.
- Toasts & Speeches – Special moments with heartfelt messages.
- Golden Hour Photoshoot (15-20 minutes) – This happens around sunset, but the exact time varies depending on the month, location, and surroundings.
- Father-Daughter Dance & Mother-Son Dance – Emotional highlights of the evening.
- First Dance of the Couple – A signature moment of the reception.
- Bouquet & Garter Toss – Fun traditions that engage guests.
- Cake Cutting – One of the final formal moments before the dance floor opens.
- Dance Floor & Guest Reactions – Capturing the joy and excitement as the party kicks off.
🕡 Sample Timeline (Important to Coordinate with Catering & Meal Service):
6:00 PM – Grand Entrance, start of dinner, speeches.
7:00–7:15 PM – Golden Hour photoshoot (time varies by sunset).
7:30 PM – Father-Daughter Dance & Mother-Son Dance.
8:00 PM – First Dance of the Couple.
8:45 PM – Bouquet & Garter Toss.
9:00 PM – Cake Cutting.
9:10 PM – Dance Floor Opens.
10:00 PM – End of main photo & video coverage.
💡 Tip: If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, the schedule can be more flexible. However, if they are in different locations, don’t forget to account for travel time between them.
Tips & Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Timeline Planning
What Are the Key Events to Plan Your Wedding Timeline Around?
The most important milestones to set in your wedding timeline from the start are:
- Ceremony start time (especially if it’s in a church, as this is typically non-negotiable once arranged with the officiant).
- Reception start time, as catering and guests will be expecting everything to begin at a set hour.
The start and end time for photo and video coverage should be chosen based on your timeline, agreements with your photographer, and your budget. However, most full wedding days fit within a 10-hour coverage window.
Want Perfect Wedding Photos? Hire a Wedding Planner!
Trusting your wedding timeline to a professional ensures that your day flows smoothly, without stress or rushing. A wedding planner will help you save time and money, connect you with trusted vendors, and find a beautiful and cost-effective venue. They will also assist in selecting the perfect locations for your photoshoots and making sure everything is perfectly coordinated. Let professionals handle the logistics so you can focus on enjoying your special day!
Practical Tips for a Stress-Free Wedding Day
💍 Prepare morning details in advance – Wedding rings, accessories, invitations, and shoes should be placed together in one location, so the photographer doesn’t waste time searching for them.
📞 Share key contacts – Give the phone numbers of your coordinator, makeup artist, and photographer to your maid of honor, who will stay close to the couple throughout the day. Likewise, share her number with the vendors so they can handle quick questions without interrupting the bride and groom.
🍽 Don’t skip breakfast! – Many brides forget to eat due to nerves, but this can affect their well-being later in the day.
🚗 Factor in parking time – If your wedding is in a busy downtown area, consider that guests and vendors will need extra time to find and secure parking.
📸 Plan for post-ceremony group photos – Prepare a list of family and group shots in advance and give it to your coordinator, maid of honor, or a family member who knows both sides of the family. This way, they can gather the right people ahead of time, making the process much more efficient.
By following these tips, your wedding day will flow seamlessly, ensuring stunning photos, minimal stress, and plenty of time to enjoy every special moment!