The Playbook
WELCOME TO THE PLAYBOOK!
Below is our suggested schedule for wedding day photography. This serves as a flexible blueprint based on our expertise and tailored to meet your expectations the for cherished memories.
Keep in mind that individual timelines may differ depending on personal preferences, venue specifics, and other factors. Open communication with your vendors ensures alignment with your vision for the day.
While we offer guidance, we're not wedding planners. For comprehensive assistance, we recommend engaging a skilled professional from our list of recommended wedding planners.
RECOMMENDED TIME ALLOCATION
Groom Prep - 1 hour
Bride Prep - 1-1.5 hours
Pre-Ceremony Set Up - 15-20 minutes
Ceremony - 30 minutes for Civil Ceremonies
The duration of religious ceremonies may vary depending on specific customs or traditions. Please see more details below.
Post-Ceremony Congratulatory Mingling - 15-20 minutes
Family Photos - 15-30 minutes
Location Photos (Bridal party) - 20 minutes
Location Photos (Couple only) - 40 minutes to 1 hour
Cocktail Hour - 30 minutes (if applicable)
Reception Decor | Set Up - 15-20 minutes
Sunset Photos - 15-20 minutes (depending on the time of year, see below for more details)
Reception Coverage - 30-60 minutes from when your dance floor starts.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Please note that the timeline above does not include travel time between locations. When planning your photo timeline, it's essential to factor in any travel requirements, considering that traffic and parking can cause delays.
To minimize travel-related issues, consider booking all wedding locations nearby. This approach simplifies capturing groom and bridal preparations and prevents the groom from getting ready too early. We highly recommend adding a second shooter to manage logistics effectively if proximity is unavoidable.
GROOM PREP
Upon our arrival, the Groom and groomsmen will be dressed and ready for photos. We will document the final getting-ready details, such as putting on cufflinks, tie/bowtie, suit jacket, and boutonnière/buttonhole.
Family members who wish to have portraits with the Groom should also arrive 30 minutes before our departure and be fully dressed.
Pro Tip: If you desire simultaneous coverage of Bridal and Groom Prep, it's necessary to have a second shooter. Otherwise, our standard order for documentation is Groom first, followed by Bridal prep. The advantage of starting with the Groom is that he is not bound by other vendors and can easily move in and out of his suit.
BRIDAL PREP
Your hair and makeup team should be fully finished, with just a few touch-ups to capture upon our arrival; this will help avoid significant delays.
Have your wedding details organised and set aside, ready to be photographed, including your wedding dress, veil, florals, shoes, perfume, rings, and stationery.
Any family members wishing to have formal portraits with the bride should arrive 30 minutes before our departure and be fully dressed. Coordinate additional time for a reveal to parents and/or the bridal party.
Our team must depart with enough time to reach the ceremony location 15-20 minutes before it begins. Consider hiring a second shooter if you want coverage until the end of bridal prep and coverage during transit in the bridal car.
Following these guidelines will streamline our workflow and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience on your wedding day.
Travel to the ceremony
If Google estimates a 15-minute drive, give yourself an additional 15 minutes as a buffer. Vintage bridal cars, in particular, tend to travel slower than modern vehicles.
Pro Tip: Consider the comfort factor when choosing your wedding transportation, especially if you plan to use a vintage car. Some vintage cars may not have air conditioning, which can be a concern, especially during summer weddings. Assess the distance between your preparation location and the ceremony venue and select a wedding vehicle that aligns with your comfort needs. If you're keen on a vintage car, inquire about air conditioning options before booking.
Pro Tip: It's essential to prepare for your wedding day by considering and planning for any significant events. This foresight allows you to adjust your schedule and arrangements accordingly, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable experience.
Pro Tip: Avoid sitting in a car for prolonged periods of time, as it can risk creasing your wedding dress, so plan accordingly based on the material.
ceremony
Civil Ceremonies: We allocate a standard 30-minute window, regardless of assurances from the celebrant regarding a shorter service duration. This timeframe accounts for various factors such as the processional, recessional, signing of the register, and any other elements of the ceremony.
Religious Ceremonies: If your ceremony is of significant religious or cultural importance, it may last longer. Discussing the ceremony length with your celebrant, priest, or minister to confirm these details prior to setting your wedding day timeline.
Pro Tip: Some churches prohibit flash photography, restrict photographer placement, or may not allow photography during certain ceremony parts. It's essential to inquire about any photography restrictions that may be in place prior to booking your church. Understanding these rules beforehand is crucial for our planning.
TIMING
For weddings held between October and April, it's advisable to schedule outdoor ceremonies after 3 pm to avoid harsh light and strong shadows typically present between 10 am and 2 pm.
During May to September, particularly in winter or non-daylight saving periods, daylight diminishes rapidly towards the end of the day. Consider the sunset timing for your wedding date and plan accordingly, ensuring at least a 2-hour gap between the end of your ceremony and sunset.
An example for weddings between May and September illustrates this point: if your ceremony starts at 2:30 pm and concludes at 3 pm, with the sun setting at 5 pm, this timeline provides an optimal window for outdoor events. By aligning your schedule with sunset times, you can ensure ideal lighting conditions for photography and create a memorable wedding experience.
POST-CEREMONY FORMALITIES
Post-Ceremony Congratulatory Mingling - 15-20 minutes
Following your exit from the aisle, we transition into congratulatory mingling, which usually lasts about 15-20 minutes. This timeframe works well for a guest list of approximately 85-110 people but should be adjusted accordingly based on a more extensive guest list.
Family Portraits - 15 to 30 minutes
Following the congratulatory mingling, we move directly to family photos. Prior to your wedding day, our team will request a detailed list of all the groups to be photographed.
We recommend 8-12 groups during this time, prioritising immediate family with additional friend groupings reserved for later at the reception. However, if you desire more combinations, please allocate extra time in your timeline to prevent impacting your bridal portrait time allocation.
To ensure efficient coordination, consider sharing copies of the photo list with a trusted friend who can assist as our 'loud helper' on the day. Their assistance will facilitate smooth communication and organisation between us and the various family groups, enhancing the photography experience.
One Big Group Photo
This isn't a shot we include as 'standard' as we feel the time taken could be better spent on small groupings. Capturing a well-composed image with 100+ people visible takes about 10 minutes to organise.
However, it may be challenging in venues without sufficient elevation.
Please inform us if this photo is essential before the wedding and ensure it's allocated in the timeline. Additionally, please share any arrangements to assist our team in achieving this image. This proactive communication ensures a smooth process on the day of the wedding.
Bridal Party Portraits
These photos are taken with the bridal party following your family portraits.
We typically need around 20 minutes for shooting with your entire bridal party. Plan for a 30-minute buffer if your bridal party is large.
Remember that delays in the ceremony or family portraits will affect your bridal portraits.
If needed, allocate extra time for travel between locations.
Couple PORTRAITS
These photos are taken with just the two of you after your bridal party portraits.
As visual storytellers, we seek inspiration from real emotions and genuine connections. We aim to authentically capture love and energy.
We require a minimum of 40 minutes, but most couples allocate 1 hour. Adequate time for your bridal portraits is crucial, as beautiful and genuine photos require time to create. Remember, moments like these cannot be rushed; you need time just to be together and for us to capture those special moments.
CoNTENT CREATORS
When working with content creators on your wedding day, it’s important to allocate additional time in your schedule.
While capturing behind-the-scenes moments and creating social media content can be fun, it can also take time away from key photography moments if not properly planned. Coordinating with your photographer and content creator ensures that both get the time they need without overlapping or causing delays.
Planning ahead will help everything run smoothly and allow you to enjoy your day without feeling rushed.
STYLE / Consistancy
Working with a content creator whose style and approach clashes with your photographer’s can disrupt the flow of your wedding day.
For example, if the content creator’s approach is loud and overbearing, focused on perfecting TikTok reels, while your photographer aims for polished, fine art-style natural and candid shots, it can result in inconsistent visuals and may not deliver the cohesive look you expected from both vendors.
This lack of harmony can also interrupt key moments, pulling attention from the photographer’s planned shots and ultimately impacting the overall aesthetic of your wedding album. Choosing a content creator who aligns with your photographer’s style is key to ensuring a seamless experience.
Best Time Of Day FOR PHOTOS
The optimal time for bridal photos is during the 'Golden Hour,' the hour before sunset.
Non-Daylight Savings: Plan your timeline to transition smoothly from your ceremony into the best lighting conditions for bridal portraits. As night falls, you'll seamlessly move into your reception festivities.
Daylight Savings: In the warmer months, when the days are longer, the golden hour coincides with your reception. Schedule approximately 20 minutes with your venue to step out for sunset photos.
Please remember that while we strive for sunset photos, we cannot guarantee them due to weather conditions or potential delays in reception formalities.
Cocktail Hour
While it may not align with your timeline or locations, we encourage couples to join at least a brief portion of their cocktail hour. Your presence during this time can add a special touch to the celebration and allow for memorable interactions with your guests.
Reception Decor | Set Up
If you wish for us to capture the reception space before guests are seated, additional time allocation is necessary. While this may not always align with your timeline or locations, we are open to collaborating during the planning stages to explore options and find solutions that work best for your event. Your input and coordination in advance can help us ensure that we capture the reception decor and setup beautifully.
reception
Most reception venues provide a rough timeline as a starting point, but it's important to remember that venues prioritise efficient service and their kitchen operations, often overlooking the client/guest experience.
The recommended timeline from the venue is a guide, and adjustments may be necessary to align with your specific needs and preferences. Collaborating with the venue and discussing your priorities can help tailor the timeline to ensure a smooth and enjoyable wedding experience for everyone involved.
Other Considerations
Adequate Lighting - Ensure there is ample lighting in your reception space. This will help enhance the ambience and facilitate optimal photography and guest experience. Consider adding fairy lights and an abundance of candlelight to contribute to the aesthetic appeal and set the mood for a memorable and enchanting evening.
Heating Options in Winter - Consider heating options for winter weddings to ensure guest comfort and enjoyment throughout the event, particularly if your reception location is outdoors.
Tight Formalities Schedule - Keep formalities concise to maintain a smooth flow and keep the night moving forward seamlessly. We recommend clustering the groom's speech, cake cut, and first dance together, followed by opening the dance floor. This arrangement creates an exciting and enjoyable wedding atmosphere with minimal downtime.
Avoid Speeches During Dinner - To avoid distractions and ensure better photo and video captures, refrain from having speeches while guests are eating. Clear audio and flattering images are more achievable with undivided attention.
Clear Bridal Table Before Speeches - Ensure that waitstaff clear dirty plates from the bridal table before speeches begin. This improves aesthetics for all vendors.
Multiple Speeches - If you have more than four speeches, consider breaking them up into two sections. Perhaps one member from each family is in one set, typically the Father of the Bride and Father of the Groom, and the second set would traditionally be the best man, maid of honour, and groom's speech.
Guest Transportation - If guests are traveling between ceremony and reception venues, consider arranging transportation options to ensure everyone arrives safely and on time.
Additionally, it's important to discuss any unique elements early in the planning process. This includes elements like fireworks, pyrotechnics, surprises, or cultural dances. Early discussion ensures smooth integration into the timeline and coordination with the photography and videography teams, enhancing the overall experience of your special day.
Vendor Meals + Seating
To ensure seamless wedding day coverage, many couples seat us as guests in the dining room. This is necessary because venues typically serve vendor meals long after guests have finished eating. Occasionally, we've been seated outside the main reception area, making it challenging to observe and capture important moments that coincide with the start of the next event. This arrangement can lead to missed moments that we strive to avoid.
If you choose not to seat us in the dining room, please ask your venue to serve our meals simultaneously with the bridal party. This will allow us to capture key moments like sunset photos, speeches, and the first dance without disruptions.
Please note that our team does not photograph guests during service time, ensuring that you can relax during dinner and avoid unflattering images of guests eating.
Dietary Requirement: no salmon, please.
Rainy Wedding Days
Ensuring that your chosen wedding venue has a suitable wet-weather backup plan is crucial. Unpredictable weather can be a significant concern, particularly for outdoor ceremonies or receptions. A backup plan ensures your special day can proceed smoothly regardless of rain or weather conditions.
Discussing and finalising the wet weather backup plan with your venue early in the planning process provides peace of mind and allows for seamless adjustments if needed on the wedding day.
Pro Tip: Embrace the weather! You can't control it, so it is best to roll with it and not let it ruin your day!
Final Note
Remember to take moments to connect with your loved ones on your wedding day! Allowing for natural interactions will create the most cherished memories.
Happy Wedding Planning!
