The realistic wedding photography timeline
As a Chicago wedding photographer devoted to documenting your day with timeless elegance and authentic moments, I know how important a well-planned wedding timeline is. It’s the difference between being a spectator at your wedding and simply enjoying the serenity of each moment you planned. A thoughtful wedding photography timeline ensures you stay present, stress-free, and able to truly savor each moment while giving us space to capture every joyful, unscripted scene.
Whether you’ve booked 6, 8, or 10 hours of wedding photography coverage, here’s a helpful breakdown from a photographer’s point of view to guide you in creating the perfect wedding photography timeline for your day
6-Hour Wedding Day
A six-hour package is ideal for intimate weddings or couples who want the highlights documented.
Sample 6-hour timeline:
- 12:30 PM — Photographer Coverage Begins
- 12:45 PM — Final getting-ready details (dress, accessories, final touches)
- 1:00 PM — First Look & romantic couple portraits
- 1:45 PM — Wedding party & immediate family portraits
- 2:30 PM — Couple is hidden/ guests arrive
- 3:00 PM — Ceremony
- 3:30 PM — Extended Family/Friend formals & post-ceremony hugs
- 4:00 PM — Cocktail hour & guest candids
- 5:00 PM — Reception coverage: grand entrance, dinner, toasts
- 6:00 PM — First dance, parent dances, open dance floor
- 6:30 PM — Photographer coverage ends
Chicago Tip: 6 hours works beautifully for single-location weddings with minimal to no travel. Should you have multiple locations (i.e ceremony and reception are at different venues), you will need to factor in longer travel times or add additional hours.
8-Hour Wedding Day
My most popular coverage — perfect for full-day storytelling, from those sweet getting-ready moments to your first dance.
Sample 8-hour timeline:
- 1:00 PM — Getting Ready: Hair & Makeup, Details
- 1:45 PM — First Look & couple portraits
- 2:30 PM — Wedding party & family portraits
- 3:30 PM — Couple is hidden / Guests arrive / travel
- 4:00 PM — Ceremony
- 4:30 PM — Extended Family/Friend formals & post-ceremony hugs
- 5:00 PM — Cocktail hour & detail shots of your décor
- 6:00 PM — Guests called to be seated
- 6:30 PM — Reception: grand entrance, toasts, cake cutting
- 7:00 PM — Reception: Dinner
- 8:00 PM — First dances & parent dances
- 8:30 PM — Dance floor opens & late-night fun
- 9:00 PM — Photographer coverage ends
10-Hour Wedding Day
For couples wanting absolutely every exquisite detail of their celebration preserved — especially if you have multiple venues or a larger guest list — ten hours gives you peace of mind and freedom to breathe.
Sample 10-hour timeline:
- 10:00 AM — Getting ready coverage for both partners
- 11:00 AM — First Look & romantic portraits
- 12:00 PM — Wedding party & immediate family photos
- 1:00 PM — Travel / Couple is hidden / Guests arrive
- 2:00 PM — Ceremony
- 3:00 PM — Extended Family formals
- 4:00 PM — Cocktail hour
- 5:00 PM — Guests called to be seated
- 5:30 PM — Reception: Grand entrance, cake cutting, toasts
- 6:00 PM — Dinner
- 7:00 PM —First dances, parent dances, bouquet/garter toss
- 7:30 PM — Dance floor opens/ Sunset or evening portraits
- 9:00 PM — Late-night party/Faux Grand Exit
- 10:00 PM — Photographer coverage ends
Final Thoughts on Your Wedding Timeline
Your wedding is a one-of-a-kind experience, and no two timelines are ever identical. That’s why I take a collaborative approach, helping couples adapt these sample timelines into something that genuinely reflects what matters most. Whether you’re prioritizing an intimate first look, an elaborate grand entrance, or sunset portraits, every wedding timeline should serve your personal style and vision.
Quick tip: Regardless of the start times the concept is the same. Work your way backward from the parts of your wedding that have the least amount of wiggle room (i.e, dinner, ceremony, etc) because of staffing or building restrictions.
If you’re planning a multicultural celebration, multiple religious ceremonies, or blending meaningful family traditions, it’s wise to build in extra time. Traditional ceremonies (like Catholic masses or South Asian baraats) can run longer, and incorporating these elements deserves proper respect in your timeline. Communicating openly with your vendors, your wedding planner, photographer, videographer, and entertainment team, ensures everyone is on the same page and working together to honor these customs beautifully.
RECAP:
✨ Build in buffer time to keep things relaxed and account for the unexpected
✨ Communicate what’s important with your wedding planner, photographer/videographer, and DJ
✨ Think about where you’d like to prioritize your time with your photographer to make the most of those special moments.
✨ Finally, trust your team. This will help you stay on track so you can stay present and soak up every second
If you’re dreaming of authentic, elegant wedding photography in Chicago and beyond, I’d love to help you craft a photography timeline that lets you celebrate fully, while I capture the artful, joyful story of your day. Contact me to check my availability
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