Your Wedding Timeline
Each couple’s timeline is different. It might seem like yours is continually evolving and changing. Everyone keeps asking about it! Your hair and makeup artists will want to know when they need to start. Your florist will want to know when they need to have the bouquets ready to go, and your family will start asking when they should plan on arriving. Here is a little glimpse into a wedding day with a first look and a 6 pm ceremony time frame (a pretty standard time for a vineyard wedding here in Central Virginia).
WITH A FIRST LOOK
Details and Wedding Day Preparations
Most couples love images of their details. Many of you have spent months selecting
the perfect shoes and apparel, and it’s an essential part of the story of the day.
I budget at least forty-five minutes for this part of the day. While shooting details, I also document these relaxed, fun moments with
your friends and family. I usually ask your families and friends to be dressed by this time, ensuring that everyone will look lovely in
those images. Select those who will help you with each step in advance so they can take part in creating beautiful memories with you.
First Look and Couple Portraits
For most couples, the best place for your first look is someplace as private and as secluded as possible. Seek out pretty lighting where you can enjoy being alone together for the first time on your wedding day!
After your first look, we flow into your early couple portraits. As we create these portraits, the wedding party can start making their way to us for the wedding party and family portraits.
Wedding Party and Family Portraits
One way to make sure we stay on schedule for
portraits with your wedding party is to have someone put the boutonnieres on BEFORE they arrive for images. A parent or attendant should take responsibility for florals, so we aren’t searching for them when we need them.
Completing family portraits before the ceremony is a massive relief and lets you go directly to your cocktail hour after your ceremony! I recommend asking meaningful family members and guests of honor to ensure that no one feels left out.
Pre-Ceremony
After the wedding party, family portraits, and couple portraits are complete, you will likely be ready for some quiet, undocumented moments. Take this time to freshen up and have a quick snack or glass of water. We will use this time to document your ceremony and take portraits of your guests as they arrive.
If the reception is in the same location of the ceremony, I can also use this time to shoot the
reception decor untouched. If the ceremony and reception are in different places, I recommend having a cocktail hour outside of
the main reception area if possible.
WITH A FIRST LOOK
Ceremony
It’s time to get married - possibly again! Cherish these moments. Soak up the love from your friends and family as you walk down the aisle. Take your time to hug your parents and breath deeply in all the joy around you.
Cocktail Hour & Reception
It is celebration time! By this part of the day, my timeline flows with you. Usually, you will plan these with your event planner, DJ or band,
but I am here to help you if you need me!!
Sunset Portraits
Post-ceremony portraits are my favorite part of summer weddings! About 45 minutes before the sun sets, we will do a sweet and more casual set of romantic images in the dreamy early evening light.
Exit
If you’re interested in having your exit photographed, there are several options for this. You can either add additional coverage or plan a faux exit with just your wedding party and friends and family. We have had great success with this, no one is disheveled, and the
the party never stops.
