Here at Starr Photo & Video, we offer 4 different package sizes based on the number of hours our team will be at your event. Below are a few timeline examples to help you get an idea of how much photo and video coverage you should book for your wedding. You can also customize these timelines and the packages to fit your needs.
Planning Your Wedding Timeline:
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning your timeline.
Transitions
As you write out your timeline, don't forget about transitions. It's very unlikely that everything will happen back to back to back so make sure there is time to move everyone to different rooms, serve the food, rearrange furniture, or even just have some moments to talk. Create some padding in your schedule.
If your ceremony and reception are at different locations you'll need to plan travel time as well as 10 minutes to get everyone situated at the new location.
First Looks
First-look photos can make for really sweet emotional photos. If you want to do a first look on your wedding day. You'll probably want to plan to do this at least an hour before the ceremony.
If that doesn't seem like it would work we highly recommend booking a separate session that you can do a few days before the wedding. That way you can get the first look photos and some great couple portraits, without the nerves before the ceremony.
Bride and Groom Photos
As you're planning your timeline, don't forget to add time for just the two of you! These are the photos and videos you will cherish, share on your social media, and hang up around your house. Schedule at least 30 minutes where you and your fiancé are alone with the photographer and/or videographer. You'll get the best photos if you plan this time within 2 hours of sunset and take the photos outside.
Group Photos
We love family photos and know they are important to many couples. Gathering everyone tends to be the most challenging part of the day for the photographer and videographer, so having a game plan is important. It's best to work from the largest groups to the smallest. This is what we typically recommend:
Everyone, big group picture
Bride's side (everyone who came)
Groom's side (everyone who came)
Guests with young kids
Immediate family of the Bride (just siblings, just parents, just grandparents)
Immediate family of the Groom (just siblings, just parents, just grandparents)
Friends
The bridal party (everyone, just bridesmaids, just groomsmen)
Just the wedding couple
The Send Off
Sparkler send-offs are super fun and can make for a great bookend to your wedding album or video.
If you want to have that captured, but don't want to keep the photographer and videographer there while everyone is dancing and partying, you could do a fake send-off. That way you can send the photographer and videographer home and keep the party going as long as you want.
If you haven't booked with us yet or if you have booked with us already please reach out to us. We are happy to answer any timeline questions and want to help you plan your special day.
Four-Hour Sample Timeline
4:00 Photographer & Videographer arrive - Detail & Venue Shots
4:30 Ceremony
5:15 Family, Bridal Party, Bride & Groom Photos
6:00 Reception / Dinner
6:30 Speeches
7:00 First Dance
7:15 Cake Cutting
7:30 Bouquet/Garter Toss
7:45 Dance
8:00 Photographer & Videographer leave
Six-Hour Sample Timeline
2:00 Photographer & Videographer arrive - Detail & Venue Shots
2:15 Getting Ready Bride
3:00 Getting Ready Groom
3:20 First Look with Groom
3:50 First Look with Dad
4:30 Ceremony
5:00 Family Photos
5:20 Bridal Party
5:40 Bride & Groom Portraits
6:20 Fake Sendoff before the reception (with bridal party & close family)
6:30 Reception
6:45 Speeches, Cake Cutting, Bouquet Toss, First Dance
7:30 Dancing
8:00 Photographer & Videographer leave
Eight-Hour Sample Timeline
1:00 Photographer & Videographer arrive - Detail & Venue Shots
1:30 Getting Ready Groom
2:00 Getting Ready Bride
3:15 First Look with Dad
4:00 Ceremony
4:30 Social Hour for Guests
4:30 Family Photos & Bridal Party
5:30 Bride & Groom Portraits
6:00 Grand Entrance into Reception
6:05 First Dance (Bride & Groom)
6:15 Dinner & Speeches
7:15 Cake cutting, Bouquet Toss, Garter Toss
7:45 Additional First Dances
8:10 Dancing
9:15 Sparkler Send-off
9:30 Photographer & Videographer leave
Ten-Hour Sample Timeline
12:00 Photographer & Videographer arrive - Detail & Venue Shots 12:30 Getting Ready Bride 2:00 Getting Ready Groom 3:00 First Look with Groom & Father 4:00 Bridal Party Photos 4:30 Transition to Ceremony 5:30 Ceremony 6:00 Family Photos 6:30 Reception - First Dances 6:45 Dinner (Photographer and Videographer take a break) 7:15 Speeches 8:00 Cake Cutting 8:15 Bouquet Toss & Garter Toss 8:45 Dancing 10:15 Sparkler Send-off 10:30 Photographer & Videographer leave
