HOW TO SCHEDULE
YOUR WEDDING

So you’re planning your wedding and wondering where to start. The timeline is one of the most important things to be thorough about because missing an aspect of the day in the timeline will make the day feel rushed and go by quicker than it already will. My hope for you is that when you get to the end of this guide, you’ll have a rough draft of your wedding timeline without much effort on your part and be set up to be fully present at your wedding. Here we go!

Do you want a first look? 

A first look is when you see each other for the first time before the ceremony, not down the aisle. If you choose to do this, it means after you get on your wedding dress and tux you get to have a private moment with your very-soon-to-be spouse before everything starts. Also, if you don’t want to do your personal vows publicly, you can do them privately here. Another perk of doing this would mean you get to do portraits with your significant other and the wedding party before the ceremony, leaving a shorter amount of time in between the ceremony and reception.

It’s best to plan this about two hours before the ceremony. Also, if you want a location closer to where you’re getting ready this also mean there’s less driving back and forth. And then when the ceremony has come and gone, most of what’s left is partaaying! 🥳


Although if you’ve dreamed of seeing each other for the first time down the aisle, let’s do that! There’s no right or wrong way to do your wedding, just your way. (:

These are the two basic timeline structures of a typical wedding:

(copy the one that applies to you)

First Look

Groom Getting Ready

Bride Getting Ready

First Look + Couple Photos

Wedding Party

Ceremony

Family Photos

Reception

No First Look

Groom Getting Ready

Bride Getting Ready

Ceremony

Family Photos

Wedding Party

Couple Photos

Reception

Now that you’ve got the structure of the day, let’s figure out the timing. 

Do you have a certain start or end time for anything?

This could be determined by the time you have access to the ceremony and/or reception space, the time you’d like to have dinner, or a particular time of day for photos. For example, if you’re having a winter wedding and the sunsets at 4pm, but you want golden hour photos the timeline needs to be planned around this. Now that you have some time restrictions, let’s work backwards from that. Put that time on the schedule first.

Now add the following time allotments:

Groom Getting Ready (30-45 minutes)

Bride Getting Ready (1-1.5 hours)

(First Look +) Couple Photos (45 minutes)

Wedding Party (45 minutes)

Ceremony (15-45 minutes)

Family Photos (30 minutes)

Reception (more detail on this below)

Lastly, let’s schedule in some buffer time.

Lastly, let’s schedule in some buffer time. This is helpful so the day doesn’t feel rushed or if something unexpected happens, it doesn’t throw the rest of the schedule off too dramatically. 

So when should you add in this buffer time? Whenever there is a location change. And I’d recommend about 10-15 minutes. Although if it’s something like you’ve rented a place for your wedding party to get ready and people have to pack their belongings, more time might be better. Or just giving them a heads up to be packing as they go. 

Speaking of location changes, make sure to add in how long it’ll take to get from one place to another and plan for the amount of traffic for the day and time.

And just like that you’ve got your rough draft of your timeline! If you have any questions please be sure to bring it up in our next meeting. I will help you finalize your schedule specific to your wedding day details, especially if you’ve added a second photographer or videographer to your wedding package.