Wedding Day Timeline

Intro

I understand that every wedding is unique and represents one of the most important days of your lives as a couple. It’s a rare and special occasion where all your loved ones come together in one place for a single day. Maximising your time with your guests is essential, so I design my timelines to prioritise this while ensuring I capture the key photos that matter most to you.

In this short blog post, I will go over some typical timelines to give you guidance on how to manage your Wedding Day from my perspective.

Wedding Day Timeline

I like to design timelines tailored specifically to your ceremony time, as this serves as the anchor for the day’s schedule. Starting with the ceremony, I work backward to determine the best time for me to arrive and begin capturing the pre-ceremony moments, such as your getting-ready preparations and any special details you'd like included.

This approach also helps me map out the flow of the day, ensuring we allocate enough time for family photos, wedding party shots, and your couple portraits without feeling rushed. By carefully planning these moments, I can provide a clear estimate of when you'll return to the reception, allowing you to maximize your time with your guests while still capturing all the important memories of the day. This method ensures a seamless balance between enjoying your wedding and documenting it beautifully.

Example Timeline

Sample Church Wedding Timeline

Every wedding day flows differently, but this sample timeline gives you a great idea of how a typical church weddingmight run from morning prep through to the first dance.

I always plan the day backwards from your ceremony time, allowing plenty of buffer so things feel relaxed, never rushed. From morning prep and family photos to couple portraits, speeches, and dancing — everything is structured to keep the day natural, enjoyable, and documented as it flows.

This timeline allows space for moments to unfold, ensuring you spend most of your day with guests while still capturing all the key photos that tell your story perfectly.

Quick notes,

  • I only cover both Bride and Groom prep if you’re within 30 minutes of each other — otherwise, travel time makes it difficult to capture both properly.

  • If there’s a long drive between the church and the reception, keep in mind you’ll likely miss part of your drinks reception — travel, traffic, and small delays can quickly eat into that time.

  • I only get a limited window with you as a couple, so it’s important we protect that time to capture your key shots.

  • Always plan for traffic, getting in and out of cars, and the inevitable quick chats along the way — it all adds up!

  • If you’re late for the ceremony, it will have a knock-on effect for the rest of the day.

  • Aim to be in your dress one hour before you need to leave for the ceremony — it gives time to relax, breathe, and enjoy the moment without rushing.

  • Your first dance typically happens after 10:15 pm — it’s very rare for it to start any earlier.

  • If you’re having a late ceremony or 180+ guests, I highly recommend skipping the receiving line — you’ll gain that valuable time back later in the day.

  • Trust me on the timings — they’re built from experience!

Civil Ceremony Morning Timeline & Prep Tips

A full breakdown of an entire Wedding Day, this is similar to a 1330pm start or even 1430pm start

Civil ceremonies usually start anywhere between 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm, depending on your venue. Many venues host ceremonies at 2:00, 2:30, or 3:00 pm, but some start as late as 3:30 pm.

If you’re having a civil ceremony, you’re likely getting ready onsite or nearby, so travel isn’t something you’ll need to worry about.

For example, if your ceremony starts at 2:00 pm, here’s how I typically structure the morning:

  • 11:45 am – Bride prep begins
    I’ll start with you, the bride, for around 30 minutes. During this time, I’ll capture detail shots — your dress, shoes, hair, makeup, and those lovely pre-ceremony moments that help you ease into being in front of the camera.

  • 12:15 pm – Groom prep
    Next, I’ll pop over to the lads for around 30 minutes — maybe even head to the bar with them for a quick drink (don’t worry, I’m not drinking!). These relaxed shots really help tell the full story of your morning.

  • 12:45 pm – Back to the bride
    By now, hair and makeup are nearly finished — usually just final touch-ups left. This is the perfect time to pop a bottle of champagne! It’s that moment where everyone starts to feel the excitement — “we’re actually getting married!” Music goes on, the energy lifts, and it’s time for a few fun, candid shots with the girls.

  • Bridesmaids get dressed first
    I always suggest the bridesmaids get into their dresses first so they’re ready to help you. If a parent is helping you into your dress, they’ll be dressed and ready too.

  • 1:00 pm – Bride gets into the dress
    I recommend getting into your dress one hour before the ceremony. This gives plenty of time for adjustments, touch-ups, and a few calm moments to soak it all in with your favorite people before things start moving quickly.

  • 1;45pm Portraits & first looks
    Once you’re in your dress, I’ll grab a few portraits and then organize any first looks — whether that’s with your mum, dad, bridesmaids, or family. These are emotional moments, so I’ll make sure the space is tidy, well-lit, and free of distractions for beautiful photos and video.

  • 14:00-14:45pm After the Ceremony – What Happens Next

    Once your ceremony finishes — let’s say around 2:45 pm — the next part of the day can vary slightly depending on whether or not you choose to have a receiving line.

    If you’re having a 3:00 pm ceremony, I usually recommend skipping the receiving line, especially during the winter months, as daylight disappears quickly and we’ll need all the available light for your photos.

    If you do decide to have one, just keep in mind that with around 100 guests, a receiving line can take 10–15 minutes.

  • 15:00 -15;15pm Family Photos

    By around 3:00 pm, we’ll begin the family photos. The biggest time delay here usually isn’t taking the photos — it’s finding missing people. Once everyone is gathered, I can organize and capture these shots quickly and efficiently.

    I always start with elderly grandparents and families with young kids so they’re not left waiting around too long.

  • 1520:1550pm Bridal Party & Couple Photos

    After family photos, I’ll take a few formal and fun bridal party shots — this usually takes about 5–10 minutes.

    Once that’s done, we’ll move straight into your couple portraits. Even if we only have 10–15 minutes, I’ll make sure to capture my “safety shots” — the must-have moments, just in case we lose light later or the weather turns.

    If we’re traveling to another location for photos, we’ll need to factor in extra time for travel.

    Later in the day, couples often choose to step out for a few extra photos after the drinks reception or at sunset. So, as you can see, your photos are naturally broken up into small parts throughout the day, rather than one long session.

    That said, I always like to be realistic — on a typical wedding day, I’m lucky if I get 30 minutes total with the couple alone. It’s a lot of pressure to capture those key shots quickly, so all I ask is that you play the game with me for those few moments.

  • 16:00-1715pm Drinks Reception & Dinner

    After the couple photos, it’s time to relax and enjoy your drinks reception, usually running from around 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm (though this can vary slightly by venue).

    I always make sure you get at least one full hour to mingle, chat, and enjoy the canapés — that’s important! I plan your photo timings carefully to make sure you don’t miss out on this part of the day.

    Once the dinner bell rings around 5:15 pm, there’s typically a 30-minute gap before you’re announced into the room. This is a great chance for a quick drink, a small bite to eat, or even another 10 minutes of photos if you’d like.

  • Speeches, Dinner & Dancing

    Most venues — and I — recommend doing speeches before dinner. Your speakers will thank you for it, and it helps the evening run more smoothly. If speeches are delayed until dessert, it can slow everything down — the band’s setup, the venue’s turnaround, and ultimately the start of your dancing.

    Dinner service usually wraps up around 9:00 pm, so if you’re planning your first dance, don’t expect it to happen at 8:30 or even 9:00 pm (trust me — it never does!).

    In my experience shooting over 200 weddings, 95% of first dances happen around 10:20–10:30 pm, sometimes as early as 10:00 pm if everything runs perfectly on schedule.

First Looks?

If you’re planning a first look, aim to schedule it about one hour before the ceremony. If it’s on the ceremony grounds, we’ll need to keep you out of sight from arriving guests and allow time to freshen up before walking down the aisle.

The groom will also need to be available 15 minutes before the ceremony for the celebrant/priest and to greet a few guests. During the first look, we can capture some couple photos while being mindful of your dress and giving you a private moment together.

First looks usually take around 45 minutes (including couple photos, time alone, and travel). I often suggest the groom stands with his back to the bride so she can approach him, or he can turn when he hears her—whichever feels natural.

Since this shifts the timeline, hair and makeup will need to be completed earlier. Be sure to inform your HMU artists so everyone can stay on schedule. With a little planning, a first look can be a smooth, beautiful, and memorable moment.

Additional Timing & Flow Tips

Keep prep spaces tidy
Cluttered rooms can make photos feel messy. Ask a bridesmaid or family member to keep things tidy—it really makes a difference in your pictures. I will help clean for certain shots..

Nominate a “photo helper”
Assign someone who knows both sides of the family to help round people up for group photos. It makes the process so much faster and less stressful.

Factor in church exit time
Even once the ceremony is over, it can take 10–15 minutes to get everyone out and away, if you're skipping the receiving line I usually bring you and the family to another location straight away. If not, you hide :)

Keep cars and drivers ready
It seems simple, but sometimes cars or drivers go missing at just the wrong moment. Double-check this ahead of time to avoid delays.

Eat something during prep
A light breakfast and snacks keep your energy up. It’s a long day, and you might go hours without eating otherwise!

Consider daylight
Especially in winter, ceremonies after 2:30 pm can mean limited natural light for portraits. If photos are important to you, discuss earlier ceremony times!! I will advise you on this, but especially in winter it can be very dull and dark at 4pm even.

Sunset timing = golden photos
Sunset time is the best chance for amazing photos a 5–10 minute couple shoot around golden hour, is worth every second.. The light is magical and gives you a little moment to breathe together.

Don’t stress about perfection
Some of the best photos happen when you’re relaxed. Trust the timing, go with the flow, and enjoy every moment—it will all shine through in your images. I will keep you on track as best as possible.