Wedding Timelines|Toronto Wedding Photography

When planning your wedding, it can be difficult to know how much time to allow for each important element of your day. So, we thought we would share our perspective on a typical photography timeline with eight hours of coverage, for both a First Look and a Traditional Wedding. For more about First Look photos, see our blog post: To First Look or Not to First Look.

The photography timelines that follow are based on a conventional wedding celebration; you can insert additional special events planned for your day and adjust accordingly. There is also an assumption that the ceremony + reception are at the same location, which means less time is required for travel.  In both cases the eight hours of coverage begins at 1pm and ends at 9pm, each with a different ceremony start time.

We know that every wedding celebration is unique and as such, we collaborate with all of our couples (and wedding professionals) to customize a timeline that works specifically for them.  However, using these simple timelines as a starting point may help you begin to plan your wedding day and determine if you require extended photography coverage to capture all of your special moments.

I. First Look Wedding
1:00pm – Photographers arrive for bride prep, groom prep, details and important mementos
1:30pm – Groom gets dressed; photos with groom’s party and/or parents
1:45pm – Bride gets dressed; photos with bride’s party and/or parents
1:50pm – Groom departs for First Look (depending on travel time)
2:00pm – Bride departs for First Look (depending on travel time)
2:30pm – First Look photos + bride and groom photos
3:30pm – Bridal party photos
4:00pm – Bride and groom + bridal party photos end
4:15pm – Photographers photograph ceremony décor + details
5:00pm – Ceremony
5:30pm – End of Ceremony
5:30pm – Cocktail hour begins
5:40pm – Family photos (time based on 8-10 groups; time depends on # and size of groups)
6:15pm – Photographers photograph reception décor + details
6:30pm – Guests invited to enter reception and find their seats
6:40pm – Grand Entrance
6:50pm – First Dance
7:00pm – Welcome Remarks
7:10pm – Dinner + toasts
8:15pm – Cake cutting
8:30pm – Dancing
9:00pm – Photography coverage ends

II. Traditional Wedding
1:00pm – Photographers arrive for bride prep, groom prep, details and important mementos
1:30pm – Groom gets dressed; photos with groom’s party and/or parents
1:45pm – Bride gets dressed; photos with bride’s party and/or parents
2:00pm – Groom + party depart for ceremony (depending on travel time)
2:15pm – Photographers photograph ceremony décor + details
2:30pm – Bride + party depart for ceremony (depending on travel time)
3:00pm – Ceremony
3:30pm – End of Ceremony
3:40pm – Family photos (time based on 8-10 groups; time depends on # and size of groups)
4:15pm – Bridal party photos
4:45pm – Bride and groom photos
5:30pm – Cocktail hour begins
5:45pm – Bride and groom photos end
6:00pm – Photographers photograph reception décor + details
6:30pm – Guests invited to enter reception and find their seats
6:40pm – Grand Entrance
6:50pm – First Dance
7:00pm – Welcome Remarks
7:10pm – Dinner + toasts
8:15pm – Cake cutting
8:30pm – Dancing
9:00pm – Photography coverage ends

Happy wedding planning!

~Sheryl and Kevin