Emotional guests reacting during wedding ceremony at UC Berkeley

As a wedding photographer, I know firsthand just how vital it is to have a well thought out timeline for your wedding day. It’s so important to make sure you and all of your vendors are on the same page in order to make sure everything goes smoothly!

If you are working with a wedding planner, they will be able to help you create this timeline, but for those of you doing this on your own, I’m here to help. I’ve found that there are two general structures for a wedding day depending on if you decide to have a first look or not. Now, keep in mind these are very generic and should be adjusted to fit your specific needs! (PS: I have a blog with more specific details on deciding how much coverage you need here!) Let’s dive in.

Wedding Day Timeline (no first look)

This timeline works best when you want to see each other for the first time during the ceremony.

Details / Getting Ready (both sides)
Wedding Party Photos (each side)
Ceremony
Family Portraits
Cocktail Hour
Newlywed Sunset Portraits
Reception Entrance
First Dance
Parent Dances
Dinner
Speeches
Cake Cutting
Open Dancing
Grand Exit

Guests enjoying cocktail hour by the pool during Sacramento wedding reception

Bride and groom holding hands while walking through field during Brazilian Room wedding portraits

Father and daughter sharing first dance at Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort and Spa wedding reception

Bride and groom walking through tunnel of guests during wedding reception celebration

Wedding Day Timeline (with first look)

A first look allows you to take care of many portraits earlier in the day and enjoy more of your cocktail hour.

Details / Getting Ready (both sides)
First Look
Couple’s Portraits
Wedding Party Photos
Family Portraits
Ceremony
Wrap Up Family Portraits (if needed)
Cocktail Hour
Newlywed Sunset Portraits
Reception Entrance
First Dance
Parent Dances
Dinner
Speeches
Cake Cutting
Open Dancing
Grand Exit

Bride and groom sharing first look at Palm Event Center wedding

Factors That Can Affect Your Wedding Day Timeline

Chinese lion dance performance during wedding reception featuring traditional red and gold lions

Hiring Talent

If you are having entertainment like dancers, a surprise performance, hosting a raffle, or doing late night snacks, these will all affect the timeline during your reception.

Outfit Change

This may seem like a quick thing and it could be, but getting out of your wedding attire and into a more fun outfit for the reception will add time to the day. You may also want to include hair and makeup touch ups if needed.

Family Portraits

Do you have a large family? If you have a long list of family combinations, this will definitely add to the timeline.

First Look vs No First Look

There’s no right answer here, but if you do have a first look, you can get started on your couple’s portraits and family photos earlier and get to your cocktail hour earlier.

Off Site Portrait Locations

Do you want to take your portraits off site? If so, you will need to factor in driving time and lighting into your timeline.

Cultural & Special Traditions

Do you want to include some unique traditions in your wedding day? Some couples like to include a money dance, tea ceremony, unity ceremony, loca hora, or other cultural event. If you want to include something special in your day, make sure to add it into the timeline!

Bride and groom participating in traditional money dance during wedding reception

Setting Your Wedding Day Priorities

Every wedding is different based on your priorities! If you aren’t too concerned about portraits, keep them short and enjoy your cocktail hour. If you want sunset photos, we need to time that around the lighting. The timeline will change based on your priorities.

Room Flips: Using the Same Space for Ceremony and Reception

Another thing to consider is if you need to use the same room for your ceremony and reception. We refer to this as a room flip. Guests will be taken to another area for cocktail hour while the planner, venue team, or decor/florist switch the room from ceremony to reception.

Of course, everything is flexible. If you’re not interested in getting ready photos, you can use more time towards couple’s portraits or family portraits. Another thing to keep in mind is that as much as we love a good surprise, it’s important to let your vendor team know about everything going on for the day so that we are aware and can capture it. And lastly, you should always plan on having a little extra time rather than not having enough. No one wants a rushed day!

FAQs

Your timeline shouldn't be a checklist- it should be a roadmap for intentional presence with your guests. While every story is unique, I find that 10 hours is the sweet spot for full-day storytelling. It provides enough breathing room for those quiet morning laughs and ensures we capture that good chaotic energy from the dance floor without you ever having to check the clock or staging an exit.
Logistically? Yes. Emotionally? Hell yeah. A First Look is the ultimate way to get time back on the wedding day. It allows us to knock out portraits and family groupings early so that once the ceremony is over, your only job is to be a guest at your own party. It’s the difference between missing your cocktail hour for photos and actually being there to grab a drink and hug your people.
I reject the idea that you should spend two hours away from your wedding to take couples photos. I prefer to work in bursts- we’ll do 30 minutes of portraits early on when the energy is high, and then sneak away for 20 minutes of golden hour magic at sunset. This keeps the experience fun and unscripted, ensuring you spend 95% of your day with your community, not my lens.