If you’re new around here, we love a wedding timeline with first looks… and it seems like you do, too.
After photographing many weddings around Sioux Falls, we’ve found that 10 hours is the minimum most couples should have for their wedding day, especially for first looks. To have candid photos, you NEED candid time. So, in this post, you’ll be able to look at one of our favorite timelines we’ve ever done so that you can start planning your own.
We’re always willing to shift the day around to prioritize what parts of our couples want to be captured, but this example is more of a front-loaded day, allowing pre-ceremony moments to be felt rather than just checked off a list. Timelines are not a one-size-fits-all type of deal, and we make a concerted effort to work with each of our clients to create a timeline that best fits their day.
Keep reading to check out our sample wedding timeline with a first look! We even included a few tips at the end as you plan your own timeline.
Sample First Look Wedding Timeline
11:30 | Arrive to Venue
No wedding timeline should start without arriving at the venue first, duh! The first 30 minutes of the day are for arriving at the wedding venue, which, in this case, was Monick Yards, one of our favorite Sioux Falls wedding venues. This is also when we started taking detailed photos.
12:00 | Gameday/Arrival Photos
About 30 minutes later, it’s time for gameday/arrival photos with the boys. This includes fun pictures of them arriving at the venue and getting ready to celebrate.
12:15 | Getting Ready Vibes
Shortly after gameday/arrival photos with the boys, it’s time to get some getting-ready photos with the girlies. These are always a lot of fun, with everyone laying out their outfits, hanging out, and beginning hair and makeup. A lot of great detail photos can also be taken just from this!
12:30 | Bride HMUA Done + Girls in Dresses
Since we’re already with the girls, we get some photos once the bride’s hair and makeup are done and everyone is in their outfits for the day.
12:45 | Bridesmaid First Looks, Portraits, Bride in Dress
Then we shift to about 30 minutes of a mix of different photos. During this time, we can photograph the final touches, the bride in her wedding dress, portraits of the bride, first looks with the bridesmaid, and some photos of the bride and Dad.
1:20 | Groom Final Touches
Next, about 10 minutes are spent on the groom’s final touches, which includes getting set for the first look!
1:30 | First Look + Couple Portraits
Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for, time for an hour spent on the first look and couples portraits! There are many ways to get creative with a first look, and we’re always down to help chat through some different ideas to find what feels best for you.
2:30 | Bridal Party
Once the first look and couple portraits are complete, we switch to bridal party photos for about 30 minutes.
3:00 | Family Photos
Family photos are often the ones that everyone tends to be the most stressed about, but if we come up with a game plan for who should be in what photo (e.g., the whole family, then one with just siblings, then one with kids, etc.), it’s really a breeze.
3:30 | Hard Stop | Head Back to Monick + Hangout
For this particular wedding, we had a hard stop for family photos at 3:30. Then, we headed back to Monick Yards and hung out until the ceremony.
4:30 | Ceremony
Ceremony time begins at 4:30! This lasted for about 30 minutes, and of course, our couple exchanged vows and went about their day while we photographed all the best moments for them.
5:00 | Ceremony Ends
The ceremony ended at 5 p.m., and it was time for dismissal. We took extended family photos immediately following right in the ceremony space. Then, it was time to photograph a bridal party toast and the signing of the marriage license!
5:45 | Introduction of Couple
Around 45 minutes later, it’s time for the couple’s introduction and the first dance, which are always really fun to photograph as everyone slowly gets into celebration mode.
6:00 | Welcome Toast
Dinner service begins at 6 p.m., and the welcome toast commences.
7:00 | Speeches
At 7:00, speeches begin along with any special dances as the dance floor opens. This is also when everyone starts mingling, and we take photos as everything unfolds.
8:30 | Sunset Portraits (10-15 minutes)
Sunset portraits are always breathtaking; on this day, they were timed to be around 8:30 p.m. for the best backdrops. We tossed the bouquet right as the couple came back from sunset – which is a great way to bring attention back to the dance floor.
11:00 | Send Off!
This couple knew they would have a lively party all night; and added extra hours onto their collection to ensure we could be there for all the excitement and a true sparkler exit. We packed up and headed home shortly after.
Tips for Your Wedding Timeline
So, now that you know what an example timeline could look like, let’s explore a few tips that we have up our sleeves that will help you plan your timeline effectively.
Try an exit from your ceremony
If you’re interested in taking an exit photo, but anticipate a lower key reception, we’d love to recommend that you do an exit from your ceremony instead. Bubbles and flower petals are both beautiful options.
Front-Load the day
As you saw in this example, it can be beneficial to front-load the day. This could mean shifting the day around to prioritize what’s truly most important to you and your partner. Keep that in mind when planning out your timeline.
While the above example can be used, it may not have included what matters most to you as a couple.
Breathing room is a good thing
Having breathing room throughout your timeline is a good thing. Don’t forget that you may also want to take a few breaks throughout the day! It’s always better to have a lot of extra time than to feel rushed from one thing to the next, especially on your wedding day.
Add the second photographer
While we do everything we can to maintain that ‘surround sound’ coverage with one photographer, and one videographer, there is truth in the fact that adding a second shooter adds depth to the gallery. This day was FULL of intentional details and small moments. We were able to fully capture and get creative with the day thanks to the second shooter that this couple added!
Timelines are Not One Size Fits All
Lastly, remember that timelines are not one size fits all. We mentioned this briefly initially, but your timeline is all about you. Do you want 30 minutes dedicated to couples portraits involving your furry friends because you adopted a dog together? That can happen. Do you need 30 minutes to get photos of a planned dance your wedding party is putting on? There’s space for that, too.
The two of you get to make all of the decisions!
Now You’ve Planned Your Wedding Timeline with First Look!
We hope this post has helped you plan your first look wedding timeline. No matter what your timeline looks like, we know that you’ll have a great day if it’s centered around what matters most to the two of you.
Are you interested in learning more about our new signature wedding day offering? Click here to learn more.
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