The Wedding Day | Recommended Timeline

Planning out the flow of your wedding day can be a headache, but if you want your big day to be as stress-free as possible, it has to be done. In my years photographing weddings, I have seen many, many weddings, and I can say with confidence what works and what doesn't. Read on to see a sample timeline that will give you some good guidelines to keep your wedding day running smoothly. Adjust as needed to accommodate your unique circumstances...

SAMPLE TIMELINE 
*Start by finding out what time sunset will be on the day of the wedding and plan accordingly. Portraits of the bride and groom should be timed to coincide with sunset, starting about 30 minutes prior to the sun setting.

3 p.m. - Getting ready photos - This is where I photograph your dress, set up flatlays with your wedding details (boutonniere, invitation, rings, etc.), and get photos of you being buttoned up with all your girls around you!

4 p.m. - Ceremony coverage - Most last about 30 minutes, but then your guests will want to come say hi after and congratulate you quickly, so we schedule a full hour to allow you to actually enjoy your day instead of rushing into photos.

5 p.m. - Family photos and bridals - If you've scheduled pre-wedding bridals with me, we only need a little time to make sure we get a few more nice portraits of just the two of you on your wedding day. Half of this time will be spent on photos of each side of the family with you and your new spouse.

6:30 p.m. -  Dinner - Make sure you have some time to eat without interruption for at least 15-30 minutes. (Pssst...if your photographer has been working more than 4 hours, we always appreciate being able to steal away for 5 minutes to eat quickly.)

7-10 p.m. - Toasts, Dancing, Cake cutting, etc. till the exit - This part of the day can go however you want. As your photographer, I will make sure to capture all your special events, from your grand entrance to the bouquet toss, garter toss, cake cutting, and more. Of course, there will also be lots of candids of everyone having a good time at your party! 

Flying Gull Photography offers a variety of wedding photography packages, including 4-hour, 6-hour, or 8-hour coverage. Of course, packages can be customized to include any number of hours you want.

4 hours is perfect if your focus is wedding ceremony and portrait coverage. 6 hours will allow you to add on more complete coverage, including the reception. If you want to make sure not a moment of your special day is missed, 8 hours will have you feeling relaxed and confident that every guest, every embrace, and every detail is recorded.  

*A final tip! Designating one person to be your emcee/coordinator/announcer will help make sure you stay on schedule and let everyone know what's going on and what's happening next. Select a close friend or family member with a friendly personality and a take-charge voice.