A Photographer’s SIMPLE Guide to Creating the Perfect Wedding Day Timeline + Examples
by Tali Joy. April 2024
As a seasoned wedding photographer I have created HUNDREDS of wedding day timelines and I don’t think I’ve ever had one that looked exactly the same. A wedding day is unique to EACH bride and groom and should be filled with moments they are looking forward to! That’s why I recommend creating a timeline so you, as the photographer, can have a smooth and easy day capturing their photos.
First, let’s establish the point of creating a wedding day timeline. The reason behind it is to get on the same page as your couple. You, the photographer, are communicating that you are capturing every detail and moment that the couple wants and the couple is now able to see their wedding day, a day that they have been planning for a while, come to life.
Here are my top THREE tips to creating the perfect wedding day timeline:
1. Get to know your couple!
I see this time and time again where photographers create a “one-size-fits-all” wedding timeline and don’t actually tailor the timeline TO their bride and groom! While that can be great for a beginner wedding photographer, there is still something missing. If you want to ELEVATE your client experience, you need to get to know your couple. First, learn what your bride and groom are each excited about most. This can help you customize their timeline in a way that works for your couple and gives them a day to look forward to! Does the bride have a very close relationship to their family? If so, spend more time taking family photos after the ceremony. Does your couple want to attend cocktail hour? Suggest doing a first look before they say “I do” so they can mingle!
Sometimes, I don’t jump right into formalities right after the ceremony! For example, during my client calls I ask my couples if they want 5-10 minutes by themselves so they can revel in the moment of being newly married before rushing off into photos!
Understand that each couple will cherish certain parts of the day over others. This is why I always ask the question, “what are you looking forward to most?” in my timeline questionnaire. This question can reveal parts of the day where you can intentionally take more photos! To show you what I mean, I had a couple who could not WAIT to cut their cake together and now I know to take plenty of photos of that time for them to be able to look back on. Or another couple suggested that they really loved candid photos and so when delivering their final gallery I made sure to include more than I normally would of the candid moments I captured throughout the day!
Getting to know your couple on an intimate level can enhance their client experience and make them appreciate you (and your work) more!
2. Add wiggle room!
This tip is CRUCIAL to creating a great timeline. There will always be something that pops up randomly in the wedding day that may delay a few things. Hair and makeup may run late, the groom can’t put on his boutonniere, or maybe a family member is at cocktail hour when they should be in the family photos.
Listen to me on this one, especially if there is need for travel time in between venue locations ADD. EXTRA. TIME. I always add an extra five minutes, sometimes more, to account for them time packing up my car after the ceremony or the unexpected traffic I might encounter. The last thing you want to do is show up late to the venue where your bride and groom are just standing around aimlessly trying to find you. Adding extra wiggle room in some areas may also allow you to take a few extra photos and get your creativity flowing during bride and groom portraits! Even if you didn’t need the extra time you added, there is never anything wrong with having more time to ‘play’ than being stressed with little time you have left!
3. Send a Questionnaire!
Since starting my business four years ago, creating a questionnaire for my couples to fill out has UPGRADED my client experience and my own workflow. Around three-two months out from the wedding day I like to send my couples a list of questions to help me understand what they are expecting throughout the day. These questions range from asking for the addresses of each location, a hard stop time of hair and make-up, if they are having a first look, what family portraits are they wanting to receive (with each family members name), what kind of dinner are they having, are they wanting a send off, etc. The answers they provide can help me create the perfect timeline surrounding the big moments and little ones that they will cherish forever.
Want to upgrade your own client experience with your couples and give them an amazing custom timeline that makes them feel seen, valued, and heard? As well as a stress free day for you and them while also making sure you are able to capture all of the things that are the most important to them on their special day!!
Download my FREE guide to gain access to a pdf and editable google doc of ALL the questions that I send to my couples AND and exclusive video tutorial that peeks inside my process of how I turn their answers into a functional wedding day timeline!
Need some examples? Here are a few generic timelines that I have used in the past as a starting point to create the perfect timeline for my couples!
Overall, a timeline will help you and your couple stay on the same page and stay on track during the craziness of the wedding day. You will know exactly where you need to be and what is expected of you, and your clients will thank you for a smooth day of capturing all of their favorite moments.
Enjoy! You got this!
