Timelines…UGH! They are tough. You never know what you should be doing, what your photographer should be there for, or how in the world you’re going to fit all of this into one day. That is one thing we love helping our brides with, setting up your timelines so it suits your needs as well as gives us the perfect amount of time to capture those important moments throughout the day. We want to help you create the perfect timeline and taking these tips into account will really help!

 

#1: Getting Ready

How many photos do you really want of you getting your hair finished?  How early should your photographer arrive on your big day? Your prep time can take anywhere from 1-3 hours the morning of your wedding. Between getting your hair done and getting your make up done, one can only take so many photos of that. One thing we suggest is making sure that you, the bride or groom, go second to last in the getting ready line up. Your photographer can arrive later on in the process and still catch those few moments of your stylists applying the finishing touches. A lot of times, the getting ready process is a little slower than you anticipate so be aware that your photographer may step out to photograph some of your detail shots such as your dress, shoes, jewelry, and so on. It is a great idea to have those things readily available so your photographer and get those taken care of without having to bother you to get them yourself! It also allows us to save time once you are fully ready so you can get that dress on! This is how we know the day has begun, you’re surrounded by your best girlfriends preparing to go see the love of your life.

 

#2: The First Look

A lot of couples have been deciding to do a “first look”. What is the first look? The first look allows you and your fiance to see each other in a private moment before you walk down the aisle. These are great for couples who decide to have a ceremony later in the afternoon/evening. A first look also works great when you have your ceremony and reception in the same location. It allows us as photographers to capture that private moment between the two of you without anyone else around. It gives you time alone before being bombarded with guests after you’ve had your first kiss. This also gives us more time to finish any necessary photos before the ceremony begins such as your bridal party shots and your individual portraits. It also allows you to mingle with your guests shortly after the ceremony is finished rather than going out for 1-2 hours of photos.

 

#3: Two Photographers

I wasn’t going to include this in here but I thought it may help you make the decision whether or not you need to have two photographers for your wedding day. Having two photographers is a huge time saver! Especially if you and your love are getting ready in two different locations. It allows one of us to be at each location, not missing a moment! We can catch the guys taking a shot before they head off to the ceremony location, or capture the girls crying their eyes out at how beautiful their best friend looks. Another great perk for having two photographers, we can do the individual group shots at the same time before the ceremony without having to cross paths. If you really don’t want to see your hubby or wife prior to the ceremony, we will be sure that it doesn’t happen! It also will give you more of those candid moments throughout the day while still getting some of those posed moments that you’ll want and need from all different angles. There are other perks of having two photographers, don’t hesitate to ask!

 

#4: Late Afternoon Ceremonies

This is becoming more of a norm for a lot of our wedding couples. Your ceremonies are starting between 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm. Your guests don’t have to arrive quite as early and they can start with their cocktail hour immediately after the ceremony while they wait for the grand entrance of the couple. Even without the first look, later ceremonies are still a great option! As photographers, we will get as much done before the ceremony begins and that would include your individual group photos. Meaning the bride with her gals or the groom with his men. We will also try and get a few family photos finished during this time for those that have arrived early, especially the bride and groom with their parents individually. If you’re looking to save time after the ceremony, we can suggest not doing a receiving line. This will allow you to finish up whatever photos are needed with not as much of a time crunch. You can speak to all of your guests during dinner.

 

#5: The Reception

Your grand entrance is a moment all of your guests await. They get through your bridal party and then get to your names to announce, everyone is there cheering for you. They all can’t wait to see you as one couple and get to dance the night away with you. There are a few things you can do to make the most of your reception. A lot of guests tend to get tired and bored after dinner so you want to make sure you keep your events moving right away otherwise you’ll be tossing that bouquet to no one at the end of the evening. One thing we suggest is doing your first dance or your cake cutting prior to dinner. This will help you knock that event out of the way and not have to worry about getting to it after dinner. Once your dinner is served and your out mingling with the guests, give yourself a little bit of time to relax and then bust a move right into the daddy-daughter or mother son dances. Once your official dances are finished, we usually tell our couples to open the dance floor up for a few songs and then make your way into the bouquet and garter tosses or any other interactive events that you’ll have. Some couples have been enjoying playing the shoe game at this time and it allows your guests to get to know you a little more than they already do. Once your events are finished, enjoy your time with your guests and maybe do the Cha Cha Slide…by this time, we might be doing it with you 😉

 

These are just a few tips to keep in mind when thinking about setting up the perfect timeline for your date. Brick Street Studio loves customizing timelines and adding in any other special moments that you may want for your big day. We will be there helping you every step of the way!

Thanks for reading <3

-KB