Wedding Day Photography Timing

Hi there! Jaime here! Back to share more wedding tips and tricks to give you the day of your dreams. Or at minimum, make you feel a bit more organized. On an almost daily basis, #draynation clients email us asking questions about their Wedding Day Photography Timing! Common questions we hear are:

1. When will you (Steve) arrive?
2. Why do you need so much time before the ceremony for photos?
3. When should my hair and makeup be done?
4. If I want to do a first look, how should I plan my day?
5. When should the bridesmaids/groomsmen be ready?
6. How much time will family formals take?
7. How much time will bridal party + bride and groom portraits take?

Oftentimes, wedding planners will help couples plan out their days, but they also include other vendors in the process. When couples do not have a planner, ENTER US. Haha! Kidding, but one area we feel very proficient in is your wedding day photography timing.

Typically, a wedding photography collection will include a certain number of hours. A good photographer and/or planner will help you utilize the hours in the best way. The worst thing would be having your photographer be rushed because you tried to fit in too much. OR having them show up way too soon with nothing really going on for them to photograph. So here is our best insight and advice on your wedding day photography timing, you asked, Steve answers!

Q: When should/will your wedding photographer arrive?

Steve: Definitely the #1 question and a very important one! This totally depends on a few things:

• Are you planning on doing a first look?
• How long will it take to get to your ceremony?

I typically arrive about an hour and a half (90 minutes) before you put on your dress. I spend time taking detail photos of your dress, shoes, jewelry, vow books — all the special things you have for your wedding and then captures candid photos of you and your bridal party as you get your hair and makeup done and get dressed.

Why do you need so much time before the ceremony for photos?

These detail photos of your gown, accessories, stationery, rings and flowers take time to properly style and execute. These photos are fun to do, but they also showcase such a significant part of your day. Like the things you spent intentional time and money on to make your day feel complete and meaningful to you.

I also love to take a few minutes when you are dressed to take bridal portraits of just you! These are always stunning and show the excitement and anticipation as you prepare to say ‘I do.’

When should my hair and makeup be done?

The goal is for your hair and makeup to be done about 15 minutes before you put on your dress! I take phots of this process and these are always among my favorites! They show you laughing, smiling and looking oh-so-glamorous as you finish off your bridal party look.

When should the bridesmaids/groomsmen be ready?

Good question!

Bridesmaids: Everyone should be ready when you are, preferably a few minutes before your dress goes on. This way, your bridesmaids can be helping you into your dress and shoes without worrying about finishing getting ready. And we want to show off the ladies in their dresses as much as we can too!

Groomsmen: The fellas are relatively easy and low key! My second photographer arrives at their room for about 30 minutes and take photos of them relaxing and having fun! Typically, the guys are fully dressed, but they have not put on their suit jackets. This is something the photographer will get photos of, and is really all the ‘getting ready’ photos the groom normally wants! Often, the groom will open his gift from the bride and read the touching card she may have written him. It’s definitely a moment worth capturing!

If I want to do a first look, how should I plan my day?

If you’re planning a first look with parents or spouse to be, it takes about 30 minutes to complete. (We’ll discuss this option on your timeline phone call about two weeks before your big day!) We also discuss the ceremony location and how long it takes to get there. Be sure to build that time in to the photography wedding day timing!

How much time will family formals take?

This is a doozy! Family formals can take up a significant amount of time. Mainly: the list of photos you want to take! For some reason, many couples add a HUGE list of family formals they want at the church.

I love when couples do immediate family only at the church, and use the reception to do the rest.

This allows you to finish formals more quickly and STILL get important family groupings in when time is less restrained at the reception! Normally, family formals take 30-45 minutes. It’s very helpful if a family member/planner can call out the groupings and get the next group together while I take photos of the group at hand. This free’s up my second photographer to head to the reception to take those oh-so-necessary detail photos of the space before guests arrive!

How much time will bridal party + bride and groom portraits take?

In a perfect world, we would have at least an hour to take portraits, not including any travel time to photo locations! I always suggest picking 1-2 locations and doing bridal party FIRST, then sending them to the limo to relax while we make photo magic with just the bride and the groom! I don’t need a ton of time for the bridal party — 10-15 minutes TOPS and then we get to have fun, just the three of us.

I’m sure there is LOTS more information we could add to this topic, but this certainly covers the basics! But you tell us, what other questions to you have about your wedding day photography timing?

Bye for now!