Timeline Help, Recommended Vendors + Advice from a Seasoned Pro
How to Build Your Timeline
Step 1:
What time is sunset?
Go to sunrisesunset.com to find out exactly what time sunset is, then start to build your timeline around that [especially if you know you want sunset photos!]
Step 2:
How long will everything take?
Find out how long each portion of your day is supposed to last and write it down [you’ll likely need to ask each vendor what their estimate is for each event]. Then add a 15-30 minute bumper between events in case things don’t go as planned.
Step 3:
Will there be any traveling between locations?
If you’re planning on driving between the ceremony site and the reception, or if you want to go off-site for wedding party photos, make sure to look up how long it takes on a bad day to get to each location.
Step 4:
Start a rough draft & build it around the time the sun sets.
[Stay with me here, I promise there’s a method to this madness!]
The sun sets at 8pm, so start sunset photos at 7:30pm. First dances need to start by 7pm then, which means dinner needs to be served at 5:15pm. If dinner starts at 5:15 and you want 2 hours for family/wedding party/couples portraits after the ceremony, and your ceremony is estimated to be 30 minutes, that means your ceremony should start at 2:45pm.
*Special note!*
If you’re getting married when the sun starts to set earlier in the day [like around 4:30pm], your family portraits, wedding party portraits, and couples portraits time slot will take slightly longer. You’ll need an additional 15 minutes for the couples portraits section as we’ll be doing your 1st set of portraits and sunset photos back to back.
Step 5:
Start finalizing your timeline.
Verify with each vendor how long they think x, y, z will last and confirm that your timeline is accurate.
Typical Length of Events
Getting ready [depends on wedding party size] - 1 to 5 hours
First Looks - 5 to 10 minutes each
Ceremony [depends on religious affiliation] - 15 minutes to 1.5 hours
Receiving Line [depends on number of guests] - 15 to 30 minutes
Family, Wedding Party, 1st set of couples portraits - 1.5 to 2 hours
Grand March - 3 to 5 minutes
Cake Cutting - 2 to 5 minutes
Dinner - Around 1.5 hours
Speeches - 10 to 15 minutes
Sunset Photos - 15 to 20 minutes
First Dances - Around 10 minutes
Nighttime Photos - 15 to 20 minutes
Vendors I Trust
Over the years, I’ve worked with countless wonderful vendors. I want the two of you to have some of the best in the industry, so here’s a list of vendors I know will treat you right! Click the buttons below each category to go straight to their websites and find out more info.
VIDEOGRAPHERS
DJS + UPLIGHTS
DECORATIONS, RENTALS + PHOTO BOOTHS
CATERING
Dessert
MUA + Hair
WEDDING PLANNERS + COORDINATORS
OFFICIANTS
Wedding day Dog Attendant
Painter
Pre-Wedding Recommendations
I don’t get anything special for recommending these things to my clients, but from my own experience with them, I know they work wonders! Look into these if you feel like you could benefit from any of them.
Skincare - Get acne free skin before the big day!
Curology - www.curology.com
Proactiv - www.proactiv.com
Hair - If soft and silky is your goal, check these out
Coco + Eve Hair Masque - www.cocoandeve.com
Viori Shampoo and Conditioner - www.viori.com
Undereye Bags - Dark circles and sunken in under eyes, begone!
The Ordinary Caffeine Serum - www.theordinary.com
Spray Tans - Just say no
Pretty please with a cherry on top, do not get a spray tan. While it looks good in person, the camera really picks up all that orange-like color. So please, please, please….don’t get a spray tan!