How to create a wedding day timeline in 10 easy steps

How to create a wedding day timeline in 10 easy steps

A wedding day timeline is essential if you want to enjoy every moment of your wedding day.  It’s your day after all and you don’t want to feel rushed.  You want your day to flow effortless and seamlessly from one special moment to another.  

Creating a wedding day timeline is also essential if you want great Wedding photos as it will allocate sufficient time and space for us to really tell the story of your day through beautiful storytelling images.  So here are our 10 easy steps for creating the perfect wedding day timeline.  To make it easy to understand, I am basing it on a 1pm ceremony time.  So, you just need to adjust your timeline forward or back to suit the time of your ceremony.  

How to create a wedding day timeline… Preparation 09.00 – 10.30 

So much is going on when I first arrive on the morning of Wedding preparations. It’s often a gathering of three sometimes four generations of the family.  Members of the wedding party and wedding suppliers are constantly popping in and out.  Stories are shared, cards are read out, presents are given and emotions are running high.  And hair stylists and make-up artists are hard at work.  As your wedding photographer, I need enough time to capture the energy and emotion of the morning of your wedding which I will do discretely in background.

How to create a wedding day timeline… Preparation 10.30 – 11.30

In many weddings, the second wedding party or grooms party can get overlooked but, It’s important in telling the story of the day that I get images of the guys too.  For grooms’ parties, the preparations are less complicated so often don’t take as long giving us more time to get some great images of gift opening, a cheeky pre-ceremony drink and help getting that tie perfectly straight.  Candid images that look great in your wedding album.  

How to create a wedding day timeline… the final details 11.30 – 12.30

With the rest of the wedding party ready it’s time to get into the dress, perfect the bow tie, put jewellery on, get those fiddly cufflinks on and get your shoes on as it’s nearly time to get married!  Nerves can really kick at this stage so I keep things calm and get any final images with parents and significant people in the wedding party.  

How to create a wedding day timeline… the ceremony 13.00 – 13.45

Most ceremonies are about 30 minutes long. But I tend to allocate a little more time to the timeline just in case it slightly over runs. The walk to the ceremony is always a great chance to get amazing images.  Especially if it involves sweeping down a dramatic staircase, or walking through a beautiful garden. 

My advice is to take your time and make an entrance.  My couples always tell me that their ceremony seemed to pass by so quickly so be present in the moment and don’t let nerves stop you from enjoying it.    

This Photo is Copyright of Andrew Cockerill Photography

How to create a wedding day timeline… the group shots 13.45 – 14.15

Immediately after the ceremony is the perfect time to take the group shots.  My style of wedding photography is more documentary and storytelling, however there are always specific group images you want and this is the time to take them.  Whilst everyone is in one place, entirely sober and still looking their absolute smartest.  This means that I can get through the images quickly and without fuss.  Allowing you more time with each other and with your guests.  

How to create a wedding day timeline… Couple portraits 14.15 – 14.45

Once you’ve had a chance to enjoy congratulatory hugs and a reception drink it is the perfect time to slip away for a mini photoshoot.  With your guests happily catered for with drinks and canapes, the two of you can enjoy a little walk around the beautiful gardens, grounds and interiors with me snapping beautiful portrait images of the two of you.  

After the day, many of my couples say it was their favourite time of the day when they could just step outside of the wedding for a second and just enjoy each other’s company.  I keep the vibe light and laid back so that I can achieve the most natural images.  

How to create a wedding day timeline… Wedding Breakfast 14.45 – 16.30

Nobody wants to be photographed whilst eating so I never photograph whilst food is being served and eaten.  This also gives me a chance to freshen up, and grab a bite to eat myself.  Don’t worry, I stay close so that if there are any special moments like small children looking in awe at the wedding cake, or a grandmother sharing a joke with the groom, I am on hand to capture the moment.  

How to create a wedding day timeline… Speeches 16.30 – 17.15

Now this is a flexible time slot as speeches vary wildly in length.  Running from 10 minutes through to well over an hour.  I capture everything in a storytelling style showing all of the laughter and emotion not just of the speech givers but how the guests are receiving the speeches too.  Some of best candid images come from the speeches, not that you’ll notice me.  I’ll move around the room so unobtrusively you’ll hardly notice I’m there. 

How to create a wedding day timeline… Details and mingling 17.15 – 18.30

There’s that word again ‘details’ and it’s the details that really make a wedding album.  Images of the rings, the venue, the flowers, the cake are important.  After all, so much thought has gone into choosing these things that you will want images to remind you of how amazing it all looked on the day.  

I love this time of day at weddings, with the formalities over, guests can just kick back and relax.  They can explore the venue more and enjoy a sit down for a chat and a drink.  Little ones can let off a bit of steam outside.  At autumn and winter weddings it’s also a great time to get romantic sunset images of the two of you.  

How to create a wedding day timeline… Party Time!

As your evening guests begin to arrive your party can begin.  By this time of the day the timeline is pretty loose.  Yes, there may be specific things I want to capture like the cutting of the cake and the first dance but other than that I will go with the flow. 

I may want to whisk the two of you outside for a couple of minutes to get some sunset or moonlight images, or an image of the two of you under the stars with your venue all beautifully lit behind you.  I won’t keep you away from your guests longer than I need to but getting that perfect last image for your album that closes the story of your wedding day is always worth the effort.

So, those are my 10 things to think about when creating a timeline of your wedding.  If you’re currently thinking about your wedding day timeline, I hope it has been helpful to you.  

If you are still struggling, I can highly recommend using a wedding planner throughout your day. Tanith over at Priodas Fach Gymreig should be your absolute go to!

And if you think I could be the person to capture your wedding with beautiful storytelling images then feel free to get in touch.

I’d love to hear about your wedding plans…