Timelines
Bride Getting Ready
- 10 Minutes - Bridesmaids in matching attire (eg. robes or PJs)
- 45 Minutes - Detail pictures (dress hanging, bouquet, accessories, all 3 wedding rings, invitation suite, jewelry, etc.)
- 30 Minutes - Bride putting on her dress, veil, shoes, and accessories
- 15 Minutes - Reveal to the bridal party and celebratory pictures with them
- 10 Minutes - First look with mom, dad, or a loved one
- 15 Minutes - Letter reading or gift exchange
60+ minutes
Groom Getting Ready
- 10 Minutes - Detail pictures (tie, shoes, watch, cufflinks, socks, etc.)
- 15 Minutes - Groomsmen hanging out candids, celebrating, getting dressed
- 20 Minutes - Groom's solo pictures putting on his suit and tie, shoes, and accessories
- 5 Minutes - Mom/VIP pinning the boutonniere
- 15 Minutes - Letter reading or gift exchange
45+ minutes
Ceremony
75 minutes
- 45 Minutes - Rite of marriage (no mass)
- 75 Minutes - Rite of marriage within the mass - Most popular
- 90 Minutes - Traditional latin mass wedding
Don't forget:
- 30 Minutes - Out of sight before ceremony
- 10 Minutes - Transition time afterwards for wedding party and/or designated people to clean up items and bring them to your transportation
- 30 Minutes - Receiving Line (optional)
Family Pictures
45 minutes
- 45 Minutes - Immediate family combinations (parents, siblings, grandparents), celebrant, flower girl and ring bearer, godparents, other special relationships.
- +10 Minutes - Wedding party formals at the church (optional)
Bride & Groom Portraits
60+ minutes
Before the ceremony:
- 30-45 Minutes - First Look & portraits after
- 10 Minutes - Pray together (without first look)
- 45-60 Minutes - Newlywed portraits
- 15-20 Minutes - Sunset pictures
Wedding Party Pictures
45 minutes
- 15 Minutes - Full wedding party group
- 15 Minutes - Smaller groupings within the wedding party (eg. Bride with bridesmaids; Groom with groomsmen)
- 15 Minutes - Individuals
Timeline Recommendations
Travel Time
varies
- Getting Ready
- To First Look (if applicable)
- To the Church
- To any locations between Church & Reception
- To the Reception
Cocktails & Reception
2+ Hours
- 15 Minutes - Bustle the dress, go to the bathroom, line up for grand entrance
- 30 Minutes - Reception decor pictures (guest book, centerpieces, seating cards, signs, etc. )
- 15 Minutes - Grand Entrance and blessing of the meal
- 45-60 Minutes - Dinner service
- 15-30 Minutes - Toasts and speeches
- 15 Minutes - First dances
- 30 Minutes - Open dance floor pictures
sample timelines
First Look Timeline
with a 2:00 p.m. Wedding Mass
couple + family pictures before mass
couple + wedding party pictures before mass
all pictures
before mass
Doing a first look adds flexibility to your wedding day timeline, gives you a private moment to see each other before the day begins and allows you to spend more of your wedding day together than apart. Because of the flexibility it offers you, we created three sample timelines to help you see how the day could be arranged depending on if you want to do some or all of your portraits prior to mass
Getting Ready
Travel to First Look
First Look & Couple Portraits
Travel to church
Family Pictures
Out of Sight
Wedding Mass
Travel to next location
Wedding Party pictures
Newlywed portraits
Travel to reception
Cocktail hour & Reception details
Dinner served
Toasts and speeches
First Dances
Open dance floor
Photographers finish
10:45 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
12:45 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:25 p.m.
6:45 p.m.
back to beginning
This timeline focuses on completing all family pictures prior to mass. Often times churches will need you to leave so that confession and evening liturgies can begin. This gives you peace of mind that you won't be rushed out of the church and confidence that you'll walk away from the day with all of your cherished family pictures requests.
Getting Ready
Travel to First Look
First Look & Couple Portraits
Wedding Party Pictures
Travel to Church
Out of Sight
Wedding Mass
Family Pictures
Newlywed Pictures around church
Travel to reception venue
Cocktail hour & Reception details
Dinner served
Toasts and speeches
First Dances & Open dance floor
Photographers finish
10:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
This timeline focuses on completing all wedding party pictures prior to mass. If you have large extended families and pictures with them are a high priority for you, it is often easier on everyone to take pictures with them after the wedding mass concludes. Be sure your church allows you to be in the church long enough for us to complete them!
back to beginning
Getting Ready
Travel to First Look
First Look & Couple Portraits
Wedding Party Pictures
Travel to church
Family Pictures
Out of Sight
Wedding Mass
Travel to reception venue
Cocktail hour & Reception details
Dinner served
Toasts and speeches
First Dances & Open dance floor
Newlywed Sunset Photos
Photographers finish
9:45 a.m.
10:45 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
12:45 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
5:45 p.m.
The benefit of completing all major group pictures before mass begins means that you'll have time to do a receiving line, spend time traveling the city on a party bus with your wedding party, or mingling with guests at cocktail hour. This is also helpful for couples who want a smooth transition from ceremony to reception for their wedding guests and don't want to keep anyone waiting too long before dinner!
back to beginning
Fridays & Evening Timeline
with a 4:00 p.m. wedding mass
In order to spend the most amount of time together as a couple on your wedding day, and to help your guests move quickly from ceremony to dinner, we encourage you to do a first look so that the majority of pictures can be completed prior to the ceremony. The time of year that your wedding takes place can impact how much daylight is available for pictures after the ceremony. Please note that the later the ceremony time, the fewer outdoor pictures we will be able to take before sunset.
Getting Ready
Travel to First Look
First Look & Couple Portraits
Wedding Party Pictures
Travel to church
Family Pictures
Out of Sight
Wedding Mass
Newlywed portraits
Travel to reception
Cocktail hour & Reception details
Dinner served
Toasts and speeches
First Dances & Open Dance Floor
Photographers finish
11:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:15 p.m.
2:45 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:15 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Aisle Reveal Timeline
Getting Ready
Travel to church
Praying together - no peeking ;)
Out of Sight
Wedding Mass
Family Pictures
Travel to next location
Wedding Party Pictures
Newlywed portraits
Travel to reception venue
Cocktail hour & Reception details
Dinner served
Toasts and speeches
First Dances & Open Dance Floor
Sunset Photos
Photographers finish
12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
1:20 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:15 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
with a 2:00 p.m. wedding mass
For couples who want to save the surprise of seeing one another down the aisle, the earlier you can schedule your wedding mass the better! You'll want to plan at 2.5-3 hours following the ceremony to accomplish all portraits with your family, wedding party, and as a couple.
If the sunset is 4:30 p.m. or earlier, we recommend a first look in order to ensure there is enough daylight for outdoor pictures.
Update the ceremony time if needed then adjust travel times based on your ceremony and reception locations
Factor in any constraints given to you by the church or reception venue
Look up the scheduled sunset for your wedding date to make sure all photos can be completed during daylight hours
How to modify the sample timelines
Incorporate any other activities or events for your day (eg. limo transportation for wedding party with stop at a brewery in route to reception)
Determine what kind of experience you want to offer your wedding party, family, and guests
Make a list of what photos are most important to you within each part of the day and ask photographers how they might affect your timeline
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Sample timelines
catholic wedding tips
delegating
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dress fitting
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VEIL OPTIONS
Overview
tips + tricks
feeding vendor team
cocktail hour
cake cutting
special exits
Out of sight time
Traditions
timing & logistics
Nuptial blessing
receiving lines
aisle Reveals
girls getting ready
guys getting ready
choosing location
detail pictures
special first look
letters + gift exchange
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