Planning
A wedding day timeline built for photos
A good wedding day timeline is the quiet reason some galleries feel calm and complete while others feel rushed. It decides whether you get portraits in soft evening light or in harsh midday sun, and whether family photos take twenty minutes or an hour. Below are three sample timelines we use as starting points for 6, 8 and 10 hours of coverage, built around a summer evening ceremony in Southern California. Your day will be different, and we always adjust ours to your venue, sunset time and priorities, but these show how the pieces usually fit.
How to read these sample timelines
Each sample assumes a summer date with sunset close to 7:50 pm, a ceremony and reception at the same venue, and a first look before the ceremony. If you plan an aisle reveal instead, the couple and wedding party portraits move to cocktail hour and family photos stay right after the ceremony.
In winter, sunset in Southern California can come before 5 pm, so the whole day shifts earlier. Our guide to the best time of day for wedding photos explains how we plan around the season.
Sample timeline: 6 hours of coverage
Six hours suits smaller weddings or couples who want the main moments without full getting-ready coverage. Our 6-hour package is $2,800 and includes a second photographer.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2:00 pm | Arrive, photograph details, rings and final getting ready |
| 2:45 pm | Getting dressed and individual portraits |
| 3:15 pm | First look and couple portraits |
| 3:45 pm | Wedding party photos |
| 4:15 pm | Couple tucks away before guests arrive |
| 4:30 pm | Ceremony |
| 5:00 pm | Family photos |
| 5:30 pm | Cocktail hour, reception room details |
| 6:15 pm | Grand entrance and first dance |
| 6:40 pm | Dinner and toasts |
| 7:20 pm | Golden hour portraits |
| 7:45 pm | Cake cutting and open dancing |
| 8:00 pm | Coverage ends |
Sample timeline: 8 hours of coverage
Eight hours is the most common choice. It covers getting ready through the start of the party, and our 8-hour package at $3,900 adds 2 hours of photo booth to the second photographer and engagement session every package includes. With two of us, one photographer can be with each partner while getting ready, and the second covers guests during cocktail hour.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1:00 pm | Both photographers arrive, one with each partner; details and rings |
| 2:00 pm | Getting dressed, letters or gifts exchanged |
| 3:00 pm | First look |
| 3:15 pm | Couple portraits |
| 3:45 pm | Wedding party photos |
| 4:30 pm | Couple tucks away; second photographer covers ceremony setup and arriving guests |
| 5:00 pm | Ceremony |
| 5:30 pm | Family photos |
| 6:00 pm | Cocktail hour and reception room details |
| 6:30 pm | Grand entrance, first dance, welcome toast |
| 7:00 pm | Dinner and toasts |
| 7:25 pm | Golden hour portraits |
| 7:55 pm | Parent dances and cake cutting |
| 8:15 pm | Open dancing |
| 9:00 pm | Coverage ends |
Sample timeline: 10 hours of coverage
Ten hours covers the full day, from the quiet start of getting ready to the send-off. Our 10-hour package is $4,900 and adds rehearsal day coverage and 4 hours of photo booth.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 12:00 pm | Arrive, venue overview, details and rings |
| 12:30 pm | Hair and makeup, candid getting ready |
| 1:45 pm | Getting dressed and individual portraits |
| 2:45 pm | First look |
| 3:00 pm | Couple portraits |
| 3:45 pm | Wedding party photos |
| 4:30 pm | Rest, touch-ups, couple tucks away |
| 5:00 pm | Ceremony |
| 5:30 pm | Family photos |
| 6:00 pm | Cocktail hour and reception room details |
| 6:45 pm | Grand entrance and first dance |
| 7:00 pm | Dinner and toasts |
| 7:25 pm | Golden hour portraits |
| 7:55 pm | Parent dances and cake cutting |
| 8:15 pm | Open dancing |
| 9:00 pm | Night portraits, optional |
| 9:30 pm | Send-off |
| 10:00 pm | Coverage ends |
Why golden hour sits in the middle of dinner
In summer, the best light arrives during the reception. We usually step out with the two of you for fifteen to twenty minutes between courses or right after toasts. Guests are eating, nobody misses you for long, and you get a calm break from a busy day. We coordinate the timing with your planner or venue coordinator so food service is not disrupted.
Tips for a family photo list that moves fast
Family photos are where timelines most often slip. A clear list and a helper make the difference between twenty minutes and an hour.
- Write the list ahead of time and send it to us at least two weeks before the wedding.
- Use names, not just roles, so we can call people up quickly.
- Start big, then go small. Begin with the largest group and release people as you go.
- Put older relatives and kids first so they can sit down or get back to cocktail hour.
- Pick a family wrangler, a cousin or friend who knows everyone and can gather people.
- Announce it at the ceremony. Ask your officiant to tell family members on the list to stay put.
- Plan about two minutes per grouping. Ten to twelve groupings fit comfortably in about twenty to thirty minutes.
If your family is complicated, tell us privately. We are happy to plan the order so everyone feels comfortable.
Build in buffer time
Every sample above has a little slack, and you should protect it. Hair and makeup often runs long, traffic between a hotel and venue adds up, and a ceremony rarely starts right on time. We suggest at least fifteen minutes of buffer before the first look and before the ceremony. When you are ready to build your own timeline, our wedding photography packages include a planning call where we work through it together.
