So now that you’ve gotten dressed and all ready for your big day, it’s time to move on to the next step in your wedding day timeline. You are one step closer to walking down the aisle! The details of the next part of your timeline will depend upon whether or not you choose to do a first look. But whether you choose to do a first look with your spouse-to-be or whether you’re waiting until you walk down the aisle, this portion of the day will consist of photos and (hopefully) a little relaxation before you exchange your vows.
If you opt to NOT have a first look…
If you decide to not do a first look, the time prior to the ceremony is typically spent capturing photos with your side of your family and wedding party, and likewise with your fiancé and your fiancé’s family and side of the wedding party. I would recommend beginning these photos around an hour and a half to an hour and forty-five minutes before your ceremony start time. For example, with a 5:00 ceremony start time, this would be a sample schedule:
3:00pm Arrive at the ceremony location, with you and your fiancé in separate rooms, hidden from each other
3:15pm Photos begin with you and your family (typically immediate family, but can be with whomever you’d like)
3:40pm Group and individual photos with you and your side of the wedding party
3:55pm After your photos are done and you are safely tucked away, your fiancé’s photos will start–first with family, then with the other side of the wedding party
4:30pm All pre-ceremony photography ends, leaving you to regroup and freshen up before the ceremony
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If you opt to HAVE a first look…
If you choose to do a first look, you’ll want to allow for a bit more time before the ceremony, because there are a lot more groupings of photos will take place prior to the ceremony (to avoid taking them after the ceremony). A 5:00 ceremony start time will mean a first look schedule would look a little bit like the following:
2:00pm Arrive at the ceremony location, with you and your fiancé in separate rooms, hidden from each other
2:15pm First look photos
2:30pm Couple alone photos
3:15pm Wedding party photos
3:45pm Family photos
4:30pm All pre-ceremony photography ends, leaving you to regroup and freshen up before the ceremony
These are just a couple of suggestions of how you can navigate the time leading up to your wedding. Stay tuned for the next installment of “Timeline Prep Like A Pro”!
