Wedding Day Timeline

10 Steps to Guide You Through The Planning Process

Planning your wedding day can be stressful and overwhelming. You want everything to be perfect and go according to plan. However, if you’re unsure of what your day will look like or feel overwhelmed about how the schedule will work, don’t worry! There are ways to make the day go smoothly.

Firstly, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want your wedding day to look like. Consider the location, theme, and overall vibe you want to create. Once you have a clear idea, you can start forming a schedule for the day. It’s vital to communicate with your photographer and/or videographer beforehand to discuss specific details. This way, they can capture all the important moments and you’ll have beautiful memories to cherish for years to come.

On the day of the wedding, it’s essential to stick to the schedule as much as possible. This will ensure that everything runs smoothly and you have enough time for everything you want to do. Don’t forget to take family photographs and wedding portraits. These will be cherished for years to come, and having a professional photographer to capture them will ensure they look beautiful. Read below to follow the 10 main steps on your big day. The photography schedule usually follows this itinerary:

1. The Groom

We usually start with the groom prep as they’re ready to have their photos taken at any point and to give the bride more time to get ready before we head to the bridal prep.
Therefore the first photos to be taken on the day is the getting ready of the groom and the groomsmen. This includes photos of the groom by himself, with the groomsmen, and the details of the clothing and accessories. This can be a hybrid of natural, candid photos and posed. Allocate approximately half an hour for this shoot.

2. The Bride

Then, I would move to the second location, where the bridal party are getting ready. These photos would include the bride getting her makeup done, candid photos of the bridal party getting ready, and the close up detailed photographs of the jewellery, perfume, and dress. This is typically very natural and candid. TIP: Make sure that the bride is the second or third to last to get her makeup done, not the last as that can cause delays for the rest of the day. This is also so she she is fresh and ready for when the photographer comes. Keep in mind that the makeup artist will usually go overtime and do touch ups. The idea is for the bride to be mostly ready by the time the photographer arrives.

3. The Bridal Party

Once the bridal party are all ready with their hair and makeup done, we will take the group photos. This could be with the bridal party wearing their matching PJs (if they have this as an option), or they could be already dressed in their bridesmaids dresses. Here, we could do a champagne pop, mimosas, group photos both natural and posed, and a first look of the bride in her wedding dress.

Then, the bridal party put on their final outfits and do their finishing touches. We take photos of the finer details, such as a display of jewellery, the perfume you decided on for the day, the vows written on card etc.

TIP: Have your invites, perfume and jewellery there and ready for the photographer to take photos of.

4. The First Look (Optional)

This is a totally optional, customisable experience. Some couples like to do a first look with just the two of them, creating a beautifully intimate moment before their big day. For some, it eases nerves before the big moment. For others it is a way to have a private moment together on a day so big, the focus is entirely on you and your partner. Some brides and grooms prefer to be the first ones to experience this moment. I (Sabrina) personally love capturing these. The love, the passion, the excitement!

Alternatively, to keep the tradition of the couple staying apart before the big moment, you could do a family and/or friends first look. These would be a quick reveal of what the bride looks like, to their select few they choose. If you wish to do a first look at the wedding, plan to arrive at the location or ceremony venue at least half an hour prior to originally planned, to ensure we have the time to capture these.

5. The Ceremony

It’s happening! We’ll be there to pour your drinks, fix your hair and straighten all the bowties, and of course, capturing all the amazingness of your wedding day!

We want to make sure our Team arrives at least 30 mins prior to the start of the ceremony, to set up and be ready for when the ceremony starts. Something to keep in mind when planning your timeline.

And finally, the big moment.

The family and friends gathering, sitting, waiting.

The groomsmen, standing in line.

The flower girls, scattering petals.

The bridesmaids, one by one.

The bride, arm in arm with the one walking her down the aisle.

The groom, eyes unwavering.

Then, come the celebrations! The cheering, the embracing, the tossing of petals as they walk hand in hand as a married couple. Captured, for you to keep forever.

Keep in mind that ceremony times differ between people, their traditions, and their culture. On average, a ceremony will last between 30 minutes to an hour.

TIP: Ask your Celebrant beforehand to step out of the frame for the first kiss.

6. The Congratulations

After the bride and groom sign the offical wedding papers, it is time for celebrations and exchanging well-wishes. 

My favourite part: The newly married couple walking hand in hand down the isle, everyone cheering and throwing rose petals, confetti or blowing soap bubbles 🫧

TIP: Ask your Celebrant to announce to the guests that the confetti is to be thrown up in the air not straight into your face (you may laugh but that is what most people automatically do!). As for the two of you, make sure to have your face up and look around and at each other while you walk. It’s always nice to do a quick stop on the middle for a sneaky kiss or a drop. DO NOT rush down the aisle, walk slow! These are the most beautiful photos so take your time here.

The bride and groom have been officially wed, and now the guests clamour around and mingle.

7. The Family Photos

Now, the family pictures! Whilst all the guests are still around, now is a good chance to get a group photo of everyone present if that is on your wish list. Coordination is key – this is where you’ll want to nominate a select few reliable friends to round up the group – or utilise the MC. 

TIP: Create a list of group/ family photos you want to get, and dedicate the list to friend or team of friends who are responsible for rounding up the people, to help speed up the process. After the ceremony everyone is in high spirits and chatty, so it may be difficult to stick to time schedules without prior organisation.

8. The Bridal Party & Groomsmen Photos

Here is an opportunity to take bridal party photos after the ceremony at the location of the wedding. Ideally we want this to be during golden hour (just before sunset). Usually there are a selection of photos that are a mix of posed and candid photos of:

– The bridesmaids and bride,

– The groomsmen and groom,

– The bride only,

– The groom only,

– The bride and groom,

– The entire party together.

Ensure that the bridal party have their bouquets for the photos, and the groomsmen have their jackets and accessories with them. 

TIP: Keep phones out of pockets during photoshoots! They are often very visible, distracting, and don’t look good in photos. These photos are often taken walking around the venue, in pre-determined locations discussed by myself and the bride and groom.

9. The Couple Photos

And finally, a private moment for the couple to take some photos together in the place where they were married. These photoshoots often produce stunning and intimate photos, which I love so much. Be in the moment, and do your best to forget that I’m there. This can also be a mix of posed and candid photos; both proving to be beautiful portraits to keep forever. This is a chance for the couple to be (almost) alone before the remainder of the festivities – so enjoy the moment!

10. The Reception

Lastly, we arrive at the reception. Here I will remain for several hours, capturing the fun into the night. Here, we get detailed photographs of the details: the table setup, the invitations, the table numbers, the seating chart, the drinks stand, and the cake! Then there is also the first dance, the guests, and the fun.

You have the option to have your MC announce the bridal party upon their arrival, and have a big entrance with dancing and celebrating. One particular touch I love, is when the MC asks the crowd to take the serviette/tea towels from their table and to spin them in the air. It brings such a great vibe and looks great on photo and video.

Most of my clients will do the cake cutting right after their entrance. Then they sit down and dinner will be served shortly after. This is the time when the creative team eats too, ideally we want to eat right at the beginning so that we’re done before the speeches start. This is a good time also because we don’t want to take photos of people eating.

After we have our dinner and take a short break, and everyone else finishes their food, we can start with the first speeches. Capturing the emotions of the speeches are of great importance, to forever hold onto those memories of the precious words spoken. During the speeches, dessert can be served too. Then you can choose to have another break, or do the first dance and with that – open the dance floor to get the party started for the rest of the night.

Obviously the order of the reception is all up to you. Some say that they want to get all formalities out of the way, some want to do a first dance and others don’t, some want to have a big dance party and others want to keep it more relaxed. I’m always here to give you advice and walk you through your options. All that may also depend on what you’d like us to cover, and the length of hours you have booked for.

If you have a full day booked of coverage, and are planning a grand exit: A sparkling exit might be something for you! The sparklers always looks stunning on photo and video, contrasting against the night, and can be a great way to end a magical day.

Final Notes…

Organisation plays a hugely important role in ensuring you receive the photographs and video that you want. Communicate more rather than less; and be specific! Send through any inspiration pictures, any ideas you had in mind, because the day only happens once and it flies by like you wouldn’t believe. Pre-planning how you’d like your photos to look, and who you’d like to be involved is a great way to ensure you love your photos! Most importantly: HAVE FUN! Make sure to take a moment to soak it all up, the day will pass by so quickly so make sure to enjoy every moment of it. Remember it doesn’t have to be perfect and things won’t always go as planned. This is the time to let go of perfection and accept things as they are. Only then we are able to be present and enjoy it to the fullest.

This is one of the biggest day of your lives as a couple, and I am so honoured to be a part of such a momentous occasion.

Photographer: Sama Photo + Film

If you are seeking a photographer or videographer for your event, Sama Photo + Film may be the perfect option for you! We specialise in digital videography and photography, ensuring your memories are captured in the highest quality. One recommendation we have for hosts is to communicate your specific vision and preferences clearly. This way, we can tailor services to meet your individual needs. Additionally, we recommend booking early on to ensure availability for your event.

– Sabrina xx