I have photographed well over 100 couples and have found that most weddings generally follow the same timeline: prep, posed portraits, ceremony, and then party. 

To give you a better idea of how photography fits into the day, here’s a sample timeline based on a ceremony at 4:30PM.

Keep in mind that I'll need at least 30 minutes for portraits of you and your partner, 30 minutes for portraits of your wedding party,  and 30 minutes for portraits of your family. Also factor in travel time between locations, if applicable.

I recommend completing portraits before your ceremony so you can enjoy your cocktail hour with your guests. If it's important to wait to see each other, consider planning an earlier ceremony, along with a longer cocktail hour. This will allow enough time to get everything done without feeling rushed.

When choosing locations for portraits, I've found it works best to stay close to the party, ideally on the venue property, and within a short walk of the festivities.
This approach helps you get the most out of your coverage time by reducing travel and ensures a stress-free experience, allowing everyone to get back to the party quickly.

1:00 PM -  photograph prep

1:45 PM - couple portraits

2:30 PM - family portraits

3:00 PM - wedding party portraits

3:30 PM - details

4:30 PM - vows!

5:00 PM - cocktail hour

6:00 PM - reception

8:00 PM - sunset portraits (15 mins)

9:00 PM - Mary departs

If things in this sample timeline do not resonate with you and your partner, you don’t have to do them (: Weddings have zero rules! Think about what you two really want for your celebration and disregard the rest. Some alternative ideas: get ready together, have speeches at the end of cocktail hour, greet your guests before your ceremony.

I am available via E-mail or a scheduled phone call to answer any questions you may have, to help brainstorm or to be a neutral ear to bounce ideas off of while planning.

I can’t wait to party with you!