Wedding Day Timeline
Want to know what a typical wedding day timeline looks like? Here’s the rundown of how to plan your wedding day timing from a Grand Rapids wedding photographer‘s point of view so that you’re not feeling rushed but get to enjoy each and every moment.
For ease, we’re going to work with a 6pm typical start time for the reception and go from there, but if yours starts at 5pm, just adjust everything to an hour early. Don’t have travel time? You can adjust that too.
First Look Wedding
1:30pm – Photographer Arrives for Getting Ready Pictures
2:30pm – Everyone Dressed for Pre-Ceremony Photos
3:30pm – Leave for First Look
— 15 mins travel time —
3:45pm – 4:45pm – Bride and Groom First Look / Bridal Party Photos
4:45pm – Family Photos (typically at venue)
5:30pm – Ceremony
6pm – 7pm – Cocktail Hour
7pm – 7:15pm – Guests Seated in Dining Area
7:15pm – 8:15pm – Introductions / First Dance / Parent Dances / Toasts / First Course
8:15pm – 8:45pm – Dancing / Ceremonial Photography Coverage Ends
8:45pm – 9:30pm – Dinner
9:30pm – 10pm – Dancing
10pm – Cake Cutting / Bouquet + Garter / Viennese Hour Begins / Extended Photography Coverage Ends
11pm – Reception Ends
12pm – But Not Really
Traditional Ceremony First
12:30pm – Photographer Arrives for Getting Ready Pictures
1:30pm – Everyone Dressed for Pre-Ceremony Photos
2:30pm – Leave for Ceremony
3pm – Ceremony
4pm – Family Photos (typically at ceremony location)
— 15 mins travel time —
4:30pm – 5:30pm – Bride and Groom / Bridal Party Photos
— 30 mins travel time —
6pm – 7pm – Cocktail Hour
7pm – 7:15pm – Guests Seated in Dining Area
7:15pm – 8:15pm – Introductions / First Dance / Parent Dances / Toasts / First Course
8:15pm – 8:45pm – Dancing / Ceremonial Photography Coverage Ends
8:45pm – 9:30pm – Dinner
9:30pm – 10pm – Dancing
10pm – Cake Cutting / Bouquet + Garter / Viennese Hour Begins / Extended Photography Coverage Ends
11pm – Reception Ends
Your Wedding Day Timeline Is Different
There are so many moving parts that each wedding day timeline looks a little different. Personally, we like to make a custom wedding day timeline for each of our brides before the wedding day. We meet 6-8 weeks before your wedding day to go over your details to make sure we get all the details. Getting all the wedding day pictures you have dreamed about and making sure there is time for everything in between in our priority.
Looking to hire a wedding photographer in Michigan?
While you and your fiancé have many things to juggle for your wedding day, rest assured that your engagement and wedding day photos will be one of the most treasured possessions in your lives. Booking the same photographer for both sets of photos will not only make your life easier, but will result in better photos. Click here to learn why!
If you are interested in booking a wedding photographer in Grand Rapids Michigan for both your engagement photos and wedding day photos, we are happy to help!
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