Wedding Coverage Guide
Step 1: Choose What’s Included
Details
30 minutes before items are needed
detail coverage can conclude prep and/or reception details
Getting Ready
20-60 minutes per partner
First Look(s)
15 minutes per first look
+5 minutes for consecutive first looks in the same location
Travel Time
drive time + 5 minute transition
Ceremony
15 minutes required pre-ceremony for transition, prep, details, and guests
30 minutes for most ceremonies
60 minutes for church ceremonies
Family Formals
30 minutes
best done immediately after your ceremony
Wedding Party
15-45 minutes
Newlywed Session
15-75 minutes
best light is generally right before sunset
can be spread throughout the day (after your first look, after wedding party, reception sunset step-out, etc.)
Cocktail Hour Candids
time varies
Grand Entrance
15 minutes
Dinner and Speeches
60-90 minutes
~60 minutes for intimate-mid guest buffet and family style
~75 minutes for large guest buffet and family style or intimate guest plated meals
~90 minutes for large guest plated meals
First Dance(s)
5 minutes per dance
Open Dancing and Reception Candids
15-30 minutes
5 Minute Extras
cut cake
champagne pop/spray
dog time
gift/letter exchange
fast photo at each table
bouquet toss
wedding party dance-off
Step 2: Decide Order of Events
It’s typical for your ceremony and dinner times to be set before planning the rest of your timeline. With your ceremony and dinner solidified, the next step is to place your remaining events in the following categories:
Before ceremony
Between ceremony and dinner
After dinner
If you have extra time between your ceremony and dinner, it might make sense to do your family formals, wedding party, newlywed photos, grand entrance, cut cake, and your first dance all before eating (filling any additional time with cocktail hour candids). Is time tight after the ceremony? Consider having a first look so you can do your wedding party and couples photos pre-ceremony. Modern weddings come in all shapes and sizes, so organize your wedding to have the flow that feels right to you. It’s ok to eat cake before dinner!
Step 3: Construct Your Timeline
Once you know the order of events, begin assigning start/end times giving priority to what’s most important to you. For example we recommend 15-45 minutes for wedding party photos, but you need to decided if you want basic wedding party images (maybe 15 minutes) or if want to make this a major part of your day (maybe 45 minutes). Experiment until it feels right!
Want inspiration? Check out some example timelines:
Step 4: Finalize Your Timeline
Our planning process begins two months before your big day, and we’ll polish and finalize your timeline together! Does it feel real yet?!?