Last Updated: September 11, 2024
Wedding Timelines
Not sure where to begin when planning your wedding coverage? Let me help!
Below are a couple of sample wedding timelines, followed by a very detailed shot list, and finally, some tips for family portraits!
Notes: (1) These timelines include couple's 1st looks, but if you aren't doing a couple's 1st look, you can still take portraits with the Bride and Groom separately before the Ceremony (solo + wedding party & family members), to cut down on the portraits to be taken after the Ceremony. (2) These timelines are for weddings that takes place all one location, including the getting ready portion of the day. If you need coverage in multiple locations, make sure to add drive time! (3) These timelines start and end with actual wedding coverage, but many timelines also include the couple's additional info / times before and after coverage ends, and that's okay.
Timeline 1
10 Hours
11:30 | Coverage begins with Bridal Details, Drone Footage
12:15 | Candid Photos w/Bride, Bridesmaids & Moms in Robes/Pjs
12:30 | Groom Photos
12:30 | Bride Gets Dressed
01:00 | Bride's 1st Look with Bridesmaids
01:15 | Bride's 1st Look with FOB
01:25 | Groom's 1st Look with MOG
01:30 | Couple's 1st Looks & Portraits
02:00 | Wedding Party Portraits
02:30 | Family Portraits
03:30 | Buffer Time, Touch-Up, Line-Up
04:30 | Ceremony
05:00 | Portraits / Cocktail Hour
06:00 | Reception Introductions
06:05 | Couple's Welcome / Thank You Speech
06:10 | Dinner Begins / Couple & Coverage Team Eat
06:40 | Couple's Golden Hour Sneak-Away
07:00 | Couple Visits with Guests
07:30 | Toast Speeches
07:50 | 1st Dances
08:00 | Cake-Cutting
08:05 | Open Dancing
09:00 | Bouquet / Garter Tosses
09:30 | Coverage Ends
Timeline 2
8 Hours
01:00 | Coverage begins with Bridal Details, Drone Footage
01:15 | Candid Photos w/Bride, Bridesmaids & Moms in Robes/Pjs
01:30 | Groom Photos
01:30 | Bride Gets Dressed
02:00 | Bride's 1st Look with Bridesmaids
02:15 | Bride's 1st Look with FOB
02:25 | Groom's 1st Look with MOG
02:30 | Couple's 1st Looks & Portraits
03:00 | Wedding Party Portraits
03:30 | Family Portraits
04:00 | Touch-Up, Line-Up
04:30 | Ceremony
05:00 | Portraits / Cocktail Hour
06:00 | Reception Introductions
06:05 | Couple's Welcome / Thank You Speech
06:10 | Dinner Begins / Couple & Coverage Team Eat
06:40 | Couple's Golden Hour Sneak-Away
07:00 | Couple Visits with Guests
07:30 | Toast Speeches
07:50 | 1st Dances
08:00 | Cake-Cutting
08:05 | Open Dancing
08:30 | Bouquet / Garter Tosses
09:00 | Coverage Ends
Shot List
10 Hours
For our sample shot list, we wanted to include many of the shots that, given time, we capture on a wedding day (as well as some "behind the scenes" notes in italics) - placed within the timeline itself, for easy reference.
A separate timeline and shot list are also fine. If your shot list is going to be separate from your timeline, we just recommend separating your list into sections that correspond to the different parts of the day.
Lastly, shot lists don't need to be as extensive or detailed as the one below! We just wanted to provide as thorough as an example as we could, in order to provide a full snapshot of the day. If you want to keep things simple, just include portraits and any other must-haves on your list!
11:30 | Florist delivers Bouquets, MOB's Corsage & FOB's Boutonniere to Bride's location by 11:30, and includes a few extra flowers for the Bridal Flat Lays (not just petals, but whole flowers & stems).
11:30 - 12:15 | Coverage begins with Bridal Details (with Rachel while Mark captures drone footage & sets up video equipment at Ceremony site)
(Tip: Schedule hair & make-up to be finished the by the time coverage begins, so 11:30. This will give some buffer time since hair & make-up always runs late, and you will be ready for photos by 12:15.)
- Bride's Hair / Make-up Finishing Touches
- Bride's Robe, Slippers
- Bride's Dress & Bouquet
- Bridal Details Flat Lay: Veil, Rings (if with Bride), Vows, Shoes, Jewelry, Garter, Perfume (with Flowers)
- Invitations Flat Lay (2 sets of Invitations for front & back together) (with Flowers)
12:15 - 12:30 | Candid Photos w/Bride, Bridesmaids & Moms in Robes/Pjs
- Bride & Bridesmaids' in Robes, Slippers
- Bride & Bridesmaids Laughing on the Bed
- Hug & Portrait with Bride & Bridesmaids
- Hug & Portrait with Bride & MOH
- Bride Popping Champagne (Outside), Pouring Drinks for Bridesmaids, Cheers with Bridesmaids
- Hug & Portrait with Bride & MOB
- Hug & Portrait with Bride & MOG
- Hug & Portrait with Bride & Flower Girls
12:30 | Florist delivers Boutonnieres (except FOB's) & MOG's corsage to Groom's location by 12:30; FOG & Groomsmen are fully dressed and ready by 12:30 including Boutonnieres on; Groom is almost ready at 12:30 pm except for the details below.
12:30 - 1:00 | Groom Gets Ready (with Mark)
- Groom's Jacket
- Groom Details Flat Lay: Watch, Tie, Boutonniere, Belt, Vows, Ring (if with Groom), Flask, Cufflinks, Cologne, Shoes, Pocket Square
- Groom tying Shoe
- Groom putting on Watch, Cufflink
- FOG helping Groom with Tie
- Handshake + Portrait with Groom & FOG
- BM Helping Groom with Jacket / Pocket Square
- Handshake + Portrait with Groom & BM
- BM putting on Groom's Boutonniere (left lapel)
- Groom & Groomsmen Together, Candid (Giving Gifts, Pouring Drinks, Cheers, Showing Socks, etc.)
12:30 - 1:00 | Bride Gets Dressed
- Bride with Dress Hanging
- Bride putting on MOB's Corsage (right hand)
- MOB doing back of Bride's Dress
- Bride putting on Earrings
- MOB helping Bride put on Necklace
- MOH helping Bride put on Bracelet
- MOB / MOH helping Bride put on Shoes
- Hug & Portrait with Bride & MOH
- MOB hands Bride her Bouquet
- Hug & Portrait with Bride & MOB
1:00 - 1:15 | Bride's 1st Look with Bridesmaids (with Rachel & Mark together)
- Bridesmaids' 1st Look at Bride
- Bridesmaids helping put on Bride's Veil
- Hug & Portrait with Bride & Bridesmaids
- Bridesmaids fanning out Bride's Train & Veil
- Indoor Bridal portrait (ready for 1st Look with FOB)
1:10 | FOB is fully ready except for Boutonniere
1:15 - 1:25 | Bride's 1st Look with FOB
- FOB's 1st Look at Bride
- Bride Pins on FOB's Boutonniere (left lapel)
- Hug & Portrait with Bride & FOB
1:25 - 1:30 | Groom's 1st Look with MOG
- MOG's 1st Look at Groom
- Groom putting on MOG's Corsage (right hand)
- Hug & Portrait with Groom & MOG
1:30 - 2:00 | Couple's 1st Looks & Portraits
- Couple's 1st Looks
- Couple's Portraits
- Bride Solo
- Close-up of Bouquet
- Close-up Bridal Portraits
- Full-length Bridal Portraits (Front and Back)
- Groom Solo
- Close-up of Boutonniere
- Close-up Groom Portraits
- Full-length Groom Portraits (Front)
2:00 - 2:30 | Wedding Party Portraits
- Bride & each Bridesmaid (Formal & Candid)
- Bride & Bridesmaids Together (Formal & Candid)
- Groom & Bridesmaids Together (Candid)
- Groom & each Groomsman (Formal & Candid)
- Groom & Groomsmen Together (Formal & Candid)
- Bride & Groomsmen Together (Candid)
- Couple with Full Wedding Party (Formal & Candid)
2:30 - 3:30 | Family Portraits
Portraits List (Avg. 3 minutes per portrait / 1 total hour):
- Bride with Parents
- Couple with Bride’s Parents
- Bride's Parents
- Bride with Family
- Couple with Bride’s Family
- Groom with Parents
- Couple with Groom’s Parents
- Groom's Parents
- Groom with Family
- Couple with Groom’s Family
- Groom with Sister
- Groom with Sister & Sister’s Family
- Couple with Groom’s Sister & Sister’s Family
- Couple with Ring Bearer (Groom's Nephew) & Flower Girl (Groom's Niece)
- Groom with Ring Bearer
- Bride with Flower Girl
- Ring Bearer & Flower Girl
- Groom’s Sister’s Family
- Couple with all Grandparents
- Couple with all Family together
3:30 - 4:30 | Buffer Time, Touch-Up, Line-Up
3:30 | Couple, Wedding Party & Family hide, hydrate, snack, touch-up (while Rachel & Mark captures Ceremony, Reception & Cocktail Hour Details & Guests arriving)
4:15 | Couple, Wedding Party, Parents & Grandparents line up
4:30 - 5:00 | Ceremony
- All Standard Shots
- Unity Ceremony - Candle-Lighting
Special Shots:
- Guests throw flower petals during Couple's exit
- Couple does "dip kiss" halfway back down the aisle during exit
5:00 - 5:50 | Portraits / Cocktail Hour
Portraits List (Avg. 3 minutes per portrait / 30 total minutes):
- Couple with Officiant
- Couple with Bride's Family & Extended Family: (Names)
- Couple with Bride's (Relationship): (Names)
- Couple with Bride's (Relationship): (Names)
- Couple with Bride's (Relationship): (Names)
- Couple with Groom's Family & Extended Family: (Names)
- Couple with Groom's (Relationship): (Names)
- Couple with Groom's (Relationship): (Names)
- Couple with Groom's (Relationship): (Names)
- Couple alone at Arch
- Formal Portraits (Full-length & Close-up)
- Re-Enact First Kiss at Arch without Officiant behind
- Close-ups of Rings on Hands
Couple joins Cocktail Hour after Portraits
5:50 | Guests are Seated, Wedding Party Lines Up
6:00 | Reception Introductions
6:05 | Couple's Welcome / Thank You Speech
6:10 | Dinner Begins / Couple & Coverage Team Eat
6:40 | Couple's Golden Hour Sneak-Away (Sunset is at 7:30 pm)
7:00 | Couple Visits with Guests at Tables (3 minutes per table - Rachel captures portrait of Couple with each table)
7:30 | Toast Speeches - Bride's Parents, Groom's Parents, Maid of Honor, Best Man
7:50 | 1st Dances - Couple, Bride & FOB, Groom & MOG
8:00 | Cake-Cutting
8:05 | Open Dancing
9:00 | Bouquet / Garter Tosses
9:25 | Group Photo with all Guests on the Dance Floor (announced by DJ)
9:30 | Coverage Ends
Family Portraits Tips
Family portraits can be one of the most stressful parts of the wedding day - but they don't have to be! Below are some tips to help the family portraits time(s) of the day run more smoothly!
- Definitely create a family portraits list (or lists) before the big day! This will help you stay in control of your wedding day timeline and help you not to forget some of your most important photographs.
- On your list, include both the main relationship to you as a couple and your family members' names, which will help us to get people's attention.
- Give each portrait 3 minutes for us to set up and capture. When making your list, count up the portraits and make sure you have enough time in your timeline for them. Combine and condense where you can.
- Before the wedding day, ask your officiant to announce for all family to stay at the ceremony site instead of leaving to cocktail hour, once the ceremony is over. This will help you not lose your family to cocktail hour.
- Enlist one or two people from your wedding party or family to be a "family portraits coordinator". Before the wedding day, give them a copy of the list(s) and ask them to make sure your family members are present and to get the family members ready for the next portrait as I'm capturing the portrait before it. This will help the portraits take less time and is another way not to lose your family members to cocktail hour.
Contact Me
I know it's a lot to plan! Please feel free to reach out to me any time. Your photos & videos will last forever - and I want to help make them amazing for you!
So warmly,
Rachel Reynolds, Lead Photographer
Text: 760-468-0398
Email: info@rachelreynoldsco.com
Please allow up to 48 hours, Monday-Friday for a response.