One of the questions I get asked all the time is:
“How much time do we actually need for photos?”
And usually this question comes up while couples are trying to put their wedding timeline together and suddenly realise that there are A LOT of things to fit into one day.
Getting ready. Ceremony. Family photos. Couple photos. Drinks. Dinner. Speeches. Cake. Dancing.
And somewhere in there you are also supposed to actually enjoy your wedding. 😂
So let me start by saying this:
''Your wedding day does not need to run like a military operation''
A good timeline is simply there to give you enough breathing room so you’re not spending the whole day looking at the clock.
And the reassuring news is, you don’t have to manage it all yourself. If you have a wedding planner or coordinator, they can be a massive help throughout the day. They’ll usually be working behind the scenes with the venue, suppliers, the ceremony team, and me to make sure everything is moving along without you having to worry about it. That’s precisely how it should be.
You should be enjoying your wedding!
I love the getting-ready part of a wedding day. It’s usually when the excitement starts to feel very real. You’ve got your closest people around you, music playing, someone looking for a missing earring, someone else asking where the bouquets are…
Basically, organised chaos.
And somewhere in the middle of all that, you’re getting married.
When we’re planning your photography timeline, I always like to have a little bit of extra time here; in fact, I usually start 4 hours before the ceremony at the groom's. Spend an hour there, then drive to the bride. And it’s not because I want you to pose for photos for an hour.
Quite the opposite.
Having extra time means I can photograph everything naturally without rushing you.
Your dress is hanging up. Your details. Mum is helping you. Your bridesmaids are seeing you ready. Dad is trying very hard not to cry.
Those little moments.
I also strongly recommend planning to have your hair and makeup finished a little earlier than you think you’ll need, especially before the photographer and videographer arrive at your place. Because if there is one thing weddings are very good at……it’s running late. 😂
If everything goes perfectly, amazing. You have time to relax.
If something takes an extra 15 minutes, no panic.
Give Yourself Time Before Leaving
This is something I think makes such a difference.
Try not to have the timeline say:
12:45 – finish hair and makeup
12:46 – put dress on
12:48 – leave for church
Okay, slight exaggeration.
But you get what I mean.
I love having a little bit of time once you’re completely ready. You can take a breath, have a drink, and look at yourself properly, and we can take a few lovely portraits before you leave.
It also means you won’t be running out of the house while someone is still trying to button the back of your dress. Not quite the calm bridal entrance we were going for.
When planning your timeline, think about travel time too. And then add a little bit.
Especially if you’re getting married in Malta because…you know, traffic. I don’t think I need to explain that one. 😂
It’s also good to know roughly how long your ceremony will be. Church weddings can vary quite a bit, so it’s always worth asking your priest or celebrant what to expect.
Your wedding planner can also be really helpful here, especially with keeping an eye on timings, making sure suppliers know where they need to be and helping things run smoothly before and after the ceremony. That means you don’t need to be worrying about what is happening next.
You can just be present.
This is one part of the day that couples sometimes forget to include in their timeline. You walk out of the ceremony…and suddenly everyone wants to hug you.
Which is exactly how it should be. Your grandparents want a kiss. Your friends want to congratulate you. Your aunt wants to tell you how beautiful you look. Someone will probably already have a drink waiting for you. Enjoy it.
Those moments are part of your wedding. Your wedding planner or coordinator can also help keep things moving naturally here, especially if transport, family photos or the reception are happening straight afterwards. But that doesn’t mean everyone needs to be rushed.
I always prefer to leave a little bit of breathing room after the ceremony rather than immediately saying:
“Right, everyone, stop hugging them; we need to take photos!”
Couple Photos and Family Photos.
Sometimes family photos are done after the ceremony or else once we arrive at the reception.
Yes, about the Family Photos :)
The part of the wedding day when the one person we need mysteriously disappears. 😂 Honestly, though, these photographs are important, and they don’t have to take forever. The best thing you can do is decide before the wedding which family combinations you really want and write them on a list. Weddings are busy days, and we don't want to forget anyone. Parents, siblings, grandparents and your closest family members are usually a good starting point. If we keep the list organised and fairly simple, we can get them done quickly, and then everyone can get back to celebrating. This is another moment where your wedding planner can be really helpful. They can help gather family members, keep people nearby and make sure we’re not searching for Uncle John while he’s already made his way to the bar. Teamwork makes this part much easier.
How Long Do You Need for Couple Photos?
This is probably the question I get asked the most.
And the answer is: Not as long as you probably think.
I would rather not take you away from your wedding for an hour. Your guests are there because they want to celebrate with you. You’ve spent months planning this day. You should actually get to experience it. For most weddings, 20 to 30 minutes is plenty for your couple portraits.
We go somewhere nice, go for a walk, have a laugh, and take some beautiful photographs.
Nothing too complicated. Nothing that makes you feel like you’ve suddenly started modelling for Vogue.
And then you go back to your people.
And then there's Golden Hour…If the timing works, I LOVE stealing my couples away for another few photographs later in the day. Especially around sunset.The light is softer, warmer and just beautiful. But again, this doesn’t mean disappearing for another massive photoshoot. Sometimes ten minutes is enough.
And actually, this little break can end up being one of the nicest parts of the day.
You’ve spent hours surrounded by people, talking, hugging, celebrating and being pulled in every direction.
Then suddenly it’s just the two of you.
For ten minutes.
You get to look at each other and think…
Oh. We’re actually married.
And then I’ll probably ruin the romantic moment by telling you to stand two steps to the left because the light is better there.
Sorry. 😂
At the reception, your planner or venue coordinator can be really useful here too. They can help us work around dinner, speeches, cake cutting and everything else happening so we can choose a good moment to step away without disrupting the flow of the evening.
Please Leave Some Breathing Room.
If there’s one thing I want you to take from this blog, it’s this point: Don’t make your wedding timeline too tight.
Don’t make your wedding timeline too tight.
Things happen. Hair takes longer. Traffic happens. Someone can’t find their shoes. The best man has disappeared. Your auntie has decided that right now is the perfect time for a 15-minute conversation. It’s all part of it. A bit of extra time between things means the process doesn't become stressful. And remember, you are not the person who needs to fix every delay.
Your wedding planner, coordinator, venue team and suppliers are all there to help. We communicate with each other, adjust things when we need to, and keep the day moving.
Sometimes the timeline changes. That’s okay. We adapt. That’s weddings.
Yes, your photographs are important. Of course I believe that; I’m your photographer! But your wedding is not a photoshoot.
I don’t want you spending half your day wondering where I want you to stand next. I want you laughing with your friends. Hugging your parents. Drinking the champagne. Crying during the speeches. Dancing terribly.
Living the day.
My job is to capture all of that. And your planner’s job, together with the rest of your wedding team, is to help everything flow so that you don’t have to think about every little detail.
A good timeline simply gives all of us enough space to do our jobs properly without the schedule taking over your wedding.
And if you’re one of my couples and you have absolutely no idea whether your timeline makes sense…send it to me. Seriously! This is something I help my couples with all the time. Your planner will usually have a really good overview of the whole day, and I can help specifically with the photography side , how much time we need, when the light will be best, and where we can make things feel less rushed.
We can work together and make sure that when your wedding day arrives, you can forget about the schedule as much as possible…
…and just enjoy being married.
