There are two types of timelines that every couple should know about in regards to Wedding Photography. The first one is going to be the Wedding Day of Events Timeline. This particular timeline details your wedding schedule, and I will go more into detail about that in another guide. The Wedding Investment Timeline breaks down the following:
The Best Time to Book A Wedding Photographer
Scheduling A Wedding Consultation
Scheduling Portrait Sessions
The Editing Process
Working behind the scenes in the Wedding Industry for the past 12 years has taught me a few things:
⟐ Murphy's Law really is a thing
⟐ Being over prepared is the bare minimum
⟐ Photographers guide the timeline on the Day of the Wedding
Whether you are working with a Wedding Planner, Event Venue Coordinator, or doing everything yourself, a Wedding Day Timeline is necessary to guide all of the events, including but not limited to: makeup, cake delivery, and reception setup. This list is so detailed that your entire day will have time allotted specifically for each event. For instance, your ceremony might have time carved out exactly for 30 minutes, but your first dances are for only 10.
With time not being created equal, it is still imperative that the transition to each of these are smooth so YOU don't worry. The last thing you want is to stress out about traffic or a groomsmen showing up late on your wedding day. It happens, there's no controlling outside factors 100% of the time, and guess what: THAT IS OKAY.
Trying to rush and complete everything within the confines of time creates tension, but I have found that trusting the universe to work its magic, going with the flow, surrendering to being present and in the moment, focusing on the love and happiness surrounding you, and knowing that no matter what, your wedding day will be beautiful and more than you could have possibly imagined as you celebrate such a wondrous occasion with family and friends! So…how do you make your Wedding Day experience seamless? Read on!
#WeddingTip
Wedding Formals can be accomplished in less than 30 minutes when they are organized. Create a list of all the people you’d like photographed and ensure your photographer has it before your Weddding Day!
In my experience, it is very helpful to navigate a wedding timeline by collaborating with the Wedding Planner/Coordinator, or creating the Photography Timeline myself. Each section of a wedding day was guided by what the media team accomplished; and even then, I was in charge of the transition to each event, as every one of my couples obviously ALWAYS hired a photographer, but did not always hire a videographer.
Unlike videographers that move on quickly once they get their shots, photographers take more time and also take THEIR time to ensure they get the pictures that are necessary to move on to the next thing; this could be adjusting camera settings for lighting changes, posing people for Wedding Formals, arranging a Flatlay, or fluffing out the bride's train on her dress - essentially perfecting the imperfections. If we start to run over time and certain events or people haven’t been photographed as scheduled, there is usually a high probability that depending on the event, time can be made to do it later so that the flow of the wedding day isn’t held up!