THE PERFECT NEW ZEALAND 10 HOUR WEDDING DAY PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE
Hello! We’re Agnes and Tali, two wedding and elopement photographers who have seen it all. Have you ever wondered how to ensure every moment of your wedding day goes smoothly? The key is good timing.
From our experience, we can tell you that a well-thought-out timeline makes all the difference. It keeps everything running smoothly, even when things don’t go as planned.
But here’s the important part: those eight hours are more than just a schedule; they’re about capturing your unique story. After being part of many weddings, we’ve learned that effective planning during these hours is crucial for telling the story of your day.
We want to help you create a timeline that flows seamlessly from start to finish. Whether you’re planning your wedding or seeking tips from fellow photographers, this guide is for you.
A SAMPLE 10-HOUR WEDDING DAY PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE (WITHOUT A FIRST-LOOK)
For a 9:00 pm Sunset
12:15 Photographer arrives at Groom’s
1:00 Photographer arrives at Bride’s
3pm: Ceremony begins
3:30: Congratulations
3:45: Group/family/bridal photos
Canapes & drinks are served
4:10: Canape basket ready
4:25: Champagne towers
4:30: Wedding photos
5:55: Guests move into reception
6:00: Reception, mains are served
7:00: Speeches
7:20: Cake cutting
7:30: Dessert served
8:00: Sunset photos
8:45: Dance floor opens
9:20: Night photos
10:00 Send Off
A Few Tips
1. Give Yourself Time to Enjoy the Day:
Make sure to set aside ample time throughout your wedding day to relax and enjoy the moment. Rushing to get photos can elevate your stress levels, which ultimately affects the quality of the pictures. The stress shows in your body language which ultimately shows in your photos and videos. It’s essential to take a breather and truly experience your wedding rather than feeling hurried.
2. Evaluate What Means the Most to You
Its important to evaluate what’s important to you. If spending time with your loved ones is important to you, then we would recommend allocating 30-45 minutes to spend time with your guests. These people have most likely traveled from all over the world and its one of the only times you will have everyone together. However, if your goal is just to capture gorgeous photos, consider adding them after your cocktail hour and before your reception. We love doing sunset and night photos too! Those usually take 5-10 minutes.
3. Your Timeline Matters For Us Too!
It’s important to respect all of your vendors and their time. We 100% recommend serving your photographers, videographers and content creator at the same time as you! Quite a few caterers say that they will serve all vendors after the guests so you may have to request it.
– Arrange accommodations that are close together to reduce unnecessary transportation time.
– Inform your photographer/videographer about any key guests you want captured, such as a long-distance friend or a beloved family member. This helps us focus on what matters most to you.
– Ensure your catering team serves your photographers, videographers and content
creator at the same time as the bridal party! This will help us stay engaged and ready to capture important moments throughout the day. Many caterers typically serve vendors after the guests, so it’s important to specifically request this
4. If you’d like to do a first look, add 30 minutes in before your ceremony
If you’d like to have a first look before the ceremony, consider adding an extra 30 minutes to your schedule. This allows you to take your time and enjoy the moment together without feeling rushed, even if you run behind. Remember, the goal on your wedding day is to savor every moment without stress.
5. Don’t make your Group List too long.
We feel that aiming for a maximum of 12 group photos is ideal. Beyond that, it tends to take too much time, and everyone, including you, will likely become fatigued with the process. For your timeline, allocate about 3 minutes for each group photo on your list. This will help you estimate how much time you must set aside for that portion of the day.
6. Inquire With Your Caterer About How Long Dinner Service Will Take.
This will help you determine how much time to allocate in your timeline for events such as speeches, cutting the cake, and taking sunset photos.
7. Keep in Mind When Sunset is.
Be sure to check the sunset time for your wedding day! Simply search for “sunset time, {Wedding City} {Wedding Date}” on Google. If possible, use the sunset time as the starting point for your timeline. Keep in mind that for church weddings, this might not be feasible.
If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony with a first look, aim to schedule your ceremony to start 30 to 60 minutes before sunset. This timing will provide optimal lighting conditions during your ceremony, known as the golden hour, ensuring that your ceremony photos turn out beautifully!
