Hey friend! Planning your wedding day is a thrilling journey filled with excitement and anticipation! BUT…. I 100% get that with that it can be a touch overwhelming too. As a wedding photographer, I know firsthand the importance of a well-planned timeline. It helps ensure that your day runs smoothly and stress-free, allowing you to soak up every moment without worry.

I’ve compiled some tips, in no particular order, to help structure your wedding day timeline and make the most of your special day!

“If you fail to plan, You plan to fail”

1. Plan Enough Time For Getting Ready.

Give yourself plenty of time in the morning to get gussied up. Have the hair and make up team show up earlier than you think and don’t leave the bride till the end. This way you have time for touch ups after everyone is done. Bonus tip: I always suggest 5-10 min buffer time on all travel. You never know when traffic will hit and it just gives you a little extra time to get to where you need to be.

2. First Look.

Now I could go off here, But I actually wrote a whole blog post about First Looks, you can read it here. So I’ll get straight to the point on this one. Basically, a first look is when the couple sees each other for the first time before the ceremony. It’s a really special moment that can be had and captured between the 2 of you to not only calm the nerves but it also maximizes your time greatly, allowing for more time with your guests and with each other because you can basically head straight from your ceremony and enjoy cocktail hour with your guests.

3. Keep It Simple.

As your wedding day is already a whirlwind of excitement, consider keeping your wedding day simple by minimizing the number of locations you’ll be at. This can help save time on travel and ensure everyone stays on schedule. So when you are venue hunting, Think about the locations for: Getting ready (Both of you), First look, Ceremony, Family Portraits, Reception.

4. Prioritize Photos.

Ok sure, call me a little biased here. But your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event! And at the end of the day, all you are left with are each other, the rings and your photos. You dont want to rely soley on your own memories to remember the day… Hell, I can hardly remember what I ate for breakfast yesterday. So, to ensure that you have stunning photos to cherish for years to come, It’s important to prioritize time for photos to make sure that we capture all of the important moments.

5. Stick To The Schedule.

Once we’ve established your wedding day timeline, let’s make sure to stick to it as closely as possible. This will help ensure that everything runs smoothly and everyone knows what to expect. I usually print 2 paper copies of your timeline, I will be in my fanny pack that I will be wearing all day, and the other is back up if it gets missed place or I have a second photographer thats with me. This way I always know what it is that we have next and I can keep an eye on the time for us!

Listen, Wedding planning can get overwhelming at times. But please don’t feel like you are alone or that you have to do it all yourself. Your vendors (Like me 😊) We are here to help. This is our jam, and the easier we can make this for you the better your day will be ❤️

-M