Wedding day timeline: a photographer’s guide to planning your day

This is an example for a summer wedding with a 1pm ceremony. Every wedding is different, so treat the times as a guide rather than a rule. The order stays much the same for most UK weddings.

The one thing I’d always do is give everyone a little more time than you think they need. People take longer than you’d expect to get from one place to the next.

These are the timings I see at almost every wedding. They’re the building blocks for your own plan.

What time should your photographer arrive?

I don’t set a specific arrival time. It’s something we chat about at our meeting before the wedding. I usually say two to three hours before the ceremony is plenty. Any earlier and I’d just be stood around waiting!

That’s enough time for the finishing touches of hair and makeup (no one wants the before photos), the details you’ve chosen and all the fun and laughter while you get ready.

When should hair and makeup start?

Hair and makeup timings are something you’ll plan with your hair and makeup artists, as they know how long they need for everyone. I just make sure I’m there for the finishing touches. If anything looks tight, we’ll talk it through at our final meeting. It’s always fine.

Getting ready photos for your other half

If your other half is getting ready nearby, I’ll nip across for 10 to 20 minutes when I’m shooting on my own, usually around 11:30am. That leaves plenty of time to get back for the dress or suit going on.

I ask them to arrive part dressed, then put the last pieces of their outfit on when I get there, so we still get those shots. If you book a second photographer, they’ll be with your other half from start to finish. It’s often funny how you both end up doing the same things at exactly the same time.

In summer, a 1pm ceremony is my favourite. Guests can have an early lunch beforehand and by the time you sit down to eat, everyone is hungry again. It also gives us daylight all day, with the sun setting between 8pm and 9pm.

Go too early in summer and you either have a big gap to fill or very hungry guests waiting for their food. In winter it’s the opposite. I always say as early as possible. I’ve had couples marry at 11am, although 12pm or 1pm is still fine.

How long does a wedding ceremony take?

A typical ceremony takes 20 to 40 minutes, depending on readings and any special moments you add.

Here’s roughly how the main moments move with your ceremony time. They’re based on the same timings as the 1pm example above, so check them against your venue’s own.

12pm ceremony

Great in winter, when every hour of daylight counts. In summer it can leave a big afternoon gap to fill before the evening, so plan something fun in the middle if you want to keep everyone entertained.

2pm ceremony

Is 2pm too late for a wedding? Not at all, it’s a lovely time. Some venues leave a tight gap in the middle for photos though, so things can feel a bit rushed. If that’s the case, I’ll move your portraits to after the food and speeches, which frees up the middle for you to enjoy with everyone.

3pm ceremony

Fine in summer when the light lasts, provided your venue’s timings for food and the evening still work. In winter I’d avoid it. I once had a couple book a 3pm ceremony without realising the sun set at 3:30pm. By the time they’d said their vows it was dark. They’d wanted light and airy photos!

The most common timeline mistake I see is not allowing enough time in the middle of the day. When the gap between your vows and your meal is too short, everything gets rushed and crammed together.

I always say one hour is the absolute minimum, but two hours gives us plenty of time. Most weddings land somewhere in between. Think about the flow:

• 15 minutes of hugs. You walk out and your friends want to say hello and congratulate you.
• 15 minutes of confetti. That’s 30 minutes gone already.
• 20 to 30 minutes of group photos. At this point that’s an hour gone on the basics.
• Your portraits. In winter these happen now. If timings are tight in summer, we can move them to after the meal, so you get more time with your guests.

I’d much rather you spent that time with your family and friends than have me drag you around taking photos all afternoon. It also gives me more time to take the candid shots of everyone enjoying themselves.

How long do group photos take?

Around 20 to 30 minutes. I’ve used the same method for my whole career. We start with the biggest group of people and work down, so your family and friends can head back to the drinks as we go.

Do you need a shot list?

You don’t need to write a huge list. We’ll go through the family groups at our meeting before the wedding and make a note of any extras you want.

On the day, ask your registrar or celebrant to announce that group photos are straight after you walk back up the aisle, so nobody wanders off.

I take your portraits in the gap in the middle of the day. If timings are tight, we can move them to after the speeches and food instead.

How long do couple portraits take?

It takes 15 to 30 minutes. That’s plenty of time for a few relaxed pictures of you both, then you’re straight back with everyone.

Don’t worry about chasing the perfect light. Golden hour gets a lot of hype, but you can get brilliant photos whatever the light is doing. What matters more is that you’re relaxed and having a good time.

It all depends on the weather. I have an app on my phone that tracks it live and sends me alerts. If we need to move things, nothing is set in stone. I’ll have a quick word with your venue or wedding planner and we’ll adjust. No stress on your part, we’ve got you as a team.

In winter, the light can be gone while you’re eating or listening to the speeches. We’ll talk about options at our meeting. Sometimes I tell couples to come and grab me when they’ve finished their pudding, so we can nip out for a few pictures before it gets dark.

I prefer speeches before the meal. If you want to relax and enjoy your food, get them out of the way first. In my experience it’s the order that flows the smoothest.

How long does the wedding breakfast take?

How long it takes varies from wedding to wedding. It depends on how many people you’ve invited and the catering style you’ve booked, so it’s worth asking your venue for their timings.

What time is the first dance?

Evening guests often join from 7pm, although there’s always that one friend who turns up a little earlier. The first dance tends to happen around 8pm to 8:30pm. More often than not you cut your cake and go straight into it.

Why I stay for the party

Here’s the thing. Lots of wedding photographers leave at the first dance. In my eyes, that’s the start of the evening! Leave then and you miss a whole section of the wedding.

I love photographing the party, which is why I have The Big Package to cover your whole wedding with no time limit. It’s perfect for couples who love to party.

When to do sparklers and fireworks

Sparklers and fireworks often happen later on, once it’s dark. Some couples even save them as the finishing piece of the night.

Winter is where I look at the schedule the most, because the timings are tight. The sun can set before 4pm in December, so plan everything around the light.

• Get married as early as you can. 11am to 1pm is ideal.
• Take your portraits in the middle of the day. Straight after the group photos, while there’s still daylight.
• Come and grab me after pudding. If there’s still a bit of light, we can nip outside for a few photos.
• Avoid a late ceremony. Unless you want your photos taken in the dark.

• Add a 10 minute buffer to every timing. Your guests are the one thing nobody can control.
• Allow for the psychological breaks. People will want to chat, hug you and say congratulations. Plan time for it.
• Protect the middle of the day. Aim for one to two hours between your vows and the food.
• Check your sunset time. Especially for a winter wedding, so your ceremony and photos happen in daylight.
• Ask the registrar or celebrant to announce the group photos. It stops guests wandering off before we begin.
• Talk it through with me. I go through every plan at our meeting before the wedding, so you know exactly what happens when.

I ask for your timeline before the wedding, just to see what gaps we’ve got to work with. Then we go through it together at our meeting, from the time I get there to the start of the evening. If anything looks tight, we’ll find a way to make it work.

On the day, you don’t need to watch the clock. If something needs to move, I’ll have a word with your venue or wedding planner. That way you can make the most of every moment with your family and friends.

The point is that you shouldn’t have to think about the schedule at all. That’s my job.

Because I let your wedding happen in front of me, there’s not much that can go wrong. The one thing that brings a real challenge is rain.

I once photographed a wedding in a small tipi in a field during the worst rain storm I’ve ever seen. There were so many guests packed inside that we couldn’t do anything we’d planned. Luckily the couple understood, although I felt so sorry for them.

So I documented their wedding as it happened, with all the candids and the fun of everyone snuggled up in a tipi in the rain. It produced some amazing shots, but it’s a perfect example of a wedding that went completely off timeline.

That’s why I always have a plan B. If rain is on the way, I’ll talk to your venue and we’ll move things inside or keep the groups small. It always works out in the end.