Sample Wedding Timeline
Sample Wedding Timeline
Here is a sample timeline to give you an idea of what typically happens on a wedding day.
Naturally, every wedding is different, so travel times, events and ceremony lengths may vary.
8 hours coverage generally covers most weddings from when you are getting ready, ceremony, location photos, into speeches, cake cutting, first dance and some dancing.
If you are looking at 6 hours coverage, you may need to drop some preparation or reception coverage.
Sample Timeline
Sample timeline of a typical 8-hour wedding day coverage.
Winter weddings may need to move the times an hour early due to sunset times.
If you are both getting ready in the same location, Adam can move back and forth between you both. Factor in travel time if you getting ready at separate locations or need to travel.
1.00pm – PARTNER 1 PREP
Photography package begins. Adam will generally start with the boys or the person who will arrive at the ceremony first.
2.00pm – PARTNER 2 PREP
Adam will generally finish with the Bride or the person who will be arriving at the ceremony last.
3.00pm – ADAM LEAVES PREP FOR CEREMONY
Adam will need to leave before you to get set up for the ceremony, capture set-up details and your guests arriving.
3.30pm – CEREMONY
Wedding ceremony begins
4.00pm – POST CEREMONY
Hugs & kisses from everyone and then Family photos.
4.30pm – COCKTAIL HOUR
Have a drink and a good chat with your wedding guests before we do location photos.
5.00pm – WEDDING PHOTOS
We do wedding photos with you and your wedding party.
6.00pm – RECEPTION BEGINS
Your wedding guests will enter the room you will enter around 6.15pm.
6.30 -9pm – DINNER & FORMALITIES
Summer weddings, we sneak out for 10-15mins at sunset so we get the very best light of the day. Put this in your schedule so that there are no speeches planned at that time.
Finishing at 9 pm will allow Adam to capture speeches, cake cutting, first dance and some dancing before he leaves.
9pm – COVERAGE FINISHES
Adam will go home, download and back up all your photos and then send you a preview in the next day or two (depending if Adam has a weddings booked).
Quick Note on ‘First Looks’ and doing all your photos before the ceremony.
There has been a trend lately with couple wanting to do a ‘First Look’ and all their photos before the ceremony so that they can spend the cocktail hour with guests. It sounds nice in theory, but the reality in Australia is much different. This idea has been promoted on social media from people in the USA and Europe where the light is completely different to that of Australia.
The light is Australia is so much harsher and stronger than in the northern hemisphere. You see it every year when tourists visit Australia and get burnt like a red lobster. In Summer, Australia sits 5 million kilometres closer to the sun than in the USA and Europe. We have a thinner ozone layer, a much higher UV index and clearer skies when compared.
So please don’t do all your photos in the middle of the day when the light is the harshest and most unflattering. The timeline above includes time for you to mingle with your guests.