While the most amazing wedding photos may look effortless, there is a good deal of time that goes into creating those incredible images. Therefore, creating a wedding photography timeline is an absolute must. So, I’ve posted a few sample timelines so that you can get a sense of the differences between 4, 6, 8, and 10 hour coverage. Keep in mind, every wedding is different! You can adjust the timeline around your ceremony & reception time, whether you're having first look or a cocktail hour, etc.
Here's a sample timeline representing a wedding with the First Look. To determine your coverage needs, you can create your own timeline to both shorten the timeline to 4-6 hours or increase from 8-10 hours.
First Look Timeline
A First Look is a moment during the wedding day when the Bride and Groom plan to see each other for the first time. Traditionally, couples will wait until the ceremony before seeing each other for the first time. However, it’s becoming more and more popular to see each other just before the ceremony for a number of reasons…We want you to live in the moment and not just relive it through the photos. We want you to be present with your guests. A First Look allows you the time to take your formal wedding portraits BEFORE your ceremony allowing you more time to enjoy your guests & reception time!
The Aisle Reveal
An Aisle Reveal is when the groom sees his bride for the first time when she is walking down the aisle. The Traditional "Aisle Reveal", wedding day unfolds a bit like this: A morning full of bridesmaids hurrying around getting ready, lots of hair and makeup, getting dressed, being transported to the ceremony location, walking down the aisle, say your vows, moving on to a receiving line, family photos, bridal party photos, bride and groom portraits, getting introduced into the reception, first dance, parent dances, eating (if you are lucky!), greeting guests, dancing for a bit and the reception is over.
Which Is Right For Me?
Traditionally, the wedding day unfolds a bit like this: A morning full of bridesmaids hurrying around getting ready, lots of hair and makeup, getting dressed, being transported to the ceremony location, walking down the aisle, say your vows, moving on to a receiving line, family photos, bridal party photos, bride and groom portraits, getting introduced into the reception, first dance, parent dances, eating (if you are lucky!), greeting guests, dancing for a bit and the reception is over. And just like that, your wedding day came and went. For the majority of Aisle Reveals, most brides & grooms don’t make it to their cocktail hour because they are off taking pictures.
My Professional Opinion
With a First Look you give yourself more time to enjoy your wedding day and soak it all in. By seeing each other 2 hours beforehand you can get all your portraits out of the way (or at least the bride and groom ones), have a 30 minute break before the ceremony, take some formals after the ceremony and then go to enjoy your reception.Lastly, a First Look, most likely, will be the only time you get to spend alone with each other during your wedding day. Choosing a "First Look" saves time by utilizing the time in between wedding day prep and the scheduled ceremony ahead. When selecting an aisle reveal, there is no other time to take formal pictures other than post ceremony, which is typically rushed do to the reception events to follow. My couples never regret choosing the first look and they always end up with more intimate & posed bride and groom portraits, as a result.
Interested in booking your upcoming wedding with an experienced professional that will produce amazing images and to make sure that your day is magical, click on the image below to learn more about my services!
Comments