A Guide to Creating Your Dream Wedding Timeline

“𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.”✨ — Paulo Coelho

Hey friends! ❤

Today I want to chat about one of the most common questions I get asked as a wedding photographer: "How do I create a wedding timeline, and how do I incorporate photography?"

But first, can we just take a moment to appreciate how magical Broken Bow is? I absolutely adore this whimsical place, especially for elopements and intimate weddings. It's truly a hidden gem!

Alright, let's dive into wedding timelines. Creating a timeline can seem overwhelming at first, because you want to fit everything into your day seamlessly. But don't worry—I'm here to help!

✨ Step 1: Set Your Ceremony Time ✨

The very first thing you should decide is your ceremony time. Do you envision saying your vows in the early morning, in bright daylight, or perhaps during dreamy golden hour (sunset)? Your ceremony time will act as the anchor for the rest of your planning.

If you dream of romantic sunset couple photos, you'll need to schedule your ceremony accordingly, allowing enough time before or after to capture those perfect golden-hour moments.

✨ Step 2: Coordinate Your Vendors ✨

Next, consider your vendors—when will they arrive? This includes your caterer, makeup artist, hairstylist, photographer, and florist. Each vendor has their own timeline, so clear communication is key.

For example, if you're planning a cocktail hour before dinner, this gives your guests time to mingle and provides your photographer the perfect opportunity for family, bridal party, and couple portraits.

Not familiar with cocktail hour? It's typically a relaxed hour after the ceremony and before dinner, giving your guests a chance to socialize while you sneak away for some beautiful photos.

✨ Makeup & Hair Tips ✨

When it comes to makeup and hair, I recommend letting your makeup artist determine their arrival time. However, always ask them how long they anticipate makeup and hair styling will take. If you've had a trial run, even better—you'll have a clearer idea of timing.

Make sure to leave enough time for your photographer to capture getting-ready shots, dress details, and those beautiful candid moments with your bridal party!

✨ Photography Timeline Tips ✨

Every wedding is unique, but most photographers love starting with detail shots—flowers, jewelry, shoes, rings, invitations, and other special touches. Personally, I spend about 20-30 minutes capturing these details. I always recommend coordinating with your florist to have the flowers delivered before or right as your photographer arrives.

After details, it's all about getting ready and capturing candid moments with your bridal party. If you have two photographers, this is a perfect opportunity to split up and photograph both sides simultaneously. If there's only one photographer, having a clear timeline is essential.

✨ Sample Wedding Timeline ✨

Here's a tried-and-true timeline that I've found works beautifully for a relaxed yet organized wedding day:

- Photographer Arrives: 2:00 pm

- Detail Shots: 2:15–2:45 pm

- Bride Finishes Makeup: 3:00 pm

- Bride in Dress: 3:15 pm

- Bridal Party Photos: 3:30–3:50 pm

- Groomsmen Photos: 4:00–4:20 pm

- Ceremony: 5:30–6:00 pm

- Family Photos (with shot list): 6:00–6:20 pm

- Cocktail Hour Begins: 6:10 pm (guests mingle while you finish photos)

- Wedding Party Photos: 6:25–6:40 pm

- Couple's Sunset Photos: 6:45–7:10 pm

- Grand Entrance & Reception Begins: 7:20 pm

I hope this helps you feel more confident and prepared as you plan your special day! Remember, your wedding timeline is there to guide you, but don't stress too much—your day will be magical no matter what. ✨

Happy planning!

xoxo