Wedding day Timeline

You can still get some of the photos done before the ceremony, even without the first look, such as photos with you and your bridesmaids and the groom with his groomsmen. Some family pictures as well can be done beforehand (you with parents/siblings, etc.). This way you have less photos to take during cocktail hour.

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I was thinking about doing all the photos that I can without having the groom see me! Thanks!

I agree with Hannah. I would do some photos beforehand otherwise it could take forever to do photos after. I would recommend any photos of you with your bridesmaids and your husband with his groomsmen could be taken in advance. Or each of you with your family and then during cocktail hour you could take full bridal party, additional family photos, and photos of you and your spouse. My brother did none beforehand and their cocktail hour went over time which pushed back dinner and the rest of the timeline. Him and his wife were also pulled from their reception to get individual photos of them because even if going over time during cocktail hour they still didn't have enough time for pictures of just the bride and groom.

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I am hoping not to have to push back my reception too much if at all! I don't want to keep my guest waiting, but I want to make sure that I get great pictures, plus I think I want to try to sneak out to get some sunset photos

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I think if you do some beforehand and then the rest during cocktail hour you should be fine. I also think sunset photos are really pretty and often only take 10-15 minutes whereas my brother and his wife missed a significant portion of their reception because they didn't have time to get photos of just the two of them.

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Thanks for the advice!

Take every possible photo that you can without the groom before the ceremony (you alone, groom alone, you with your bridesmaids, groom with his groomsmen, you and your parents, groom with his parents, etc.) Then have a very detailed shot-list of all photos that you will need to squeeze into cocktail hour. Create a plan with your photographer with a mini-timeline of how to fit the photos you want into cocktail hour (I'd set aside no more than 45 minutes total for photos). You'll want to designate the remaining 15 minutes for using the restroom, touching up your hair and makeup, and having your dress bustled. The key is planning a detailed timeline and sticking to it!

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Thank you! This really helps. My goal is to meet with my photographer and give him a list of photos that I want done and see what his game plan is!

Most photos usually happen during cocktail hour if your not doing a first look. Stress with your photographer you don’t need a million and one pictures so your not pushing it past the hour. I would love to take part in out cocktail hour and realize that won’t happen but when the hour mark is up picture taking is OVER!

We are doing the same! We will try to get all of the pictures we can before the wedding starts - family already there, bridal party, groom and his party etc.

That way we will just have to do our pictures and the huge wedding party together!

View Quoted Comment Thank you for the advice! I really appreciate it!

View Quoted Comment I love the idea of a first look, but I want the videographer to capture the first look when I walk down the aisle