weddings are like snowflakes
That's right - no two are the same - so we can't make a one-size-fits-all timeline! But, after roughly 200 weddings, we've seen a lot!
We're often asked, "How do you shoot weddings with photo & video with just the two of you?" So, we wanted to show you a sample photo & video timeline with 1 photographer and 1 videographer. Keep in mind, you can always upgrade to have 2 photographers and videographers, if you'd like! But, before Mark joined the team, Rachel shot most of her weddings solo, and she is a highly skilled professional photographer who carefully help you plan and execute the day! Plus, Mark also doubles as an assistant photographer - for example, getting lots guest photos before the ceremony and throughout the night, and switching from photo to video at other times - sometimes doing both at the same time! He's incredible!
We'll tell you much more about it all during a consultation, but for now, here's a place to start! First you'll see a condensed version of the timeline, then we expand it to include much more detail, to really give you a sense of this particular day. Remember, for your day - we'll do it your way!
wedding timeline
12:30 | Venue Shots & Bridal Details
1:30 | Bridal Party Fun
2:00 | Groom Details & Prep, Portraits (while Bridesmaids get Dressed)
2:30 | Bride Getting Dressed, Portraits
3:30 | Couple's First Look, Portraits
4:30 | Pre-Ceremony
5:00 | Ceremony
5:30 | Extended Family Portraits, Couple Joins Cocktail Hour
6:30 | Guests are Seated, Reception Grand Entrance
6:45 | Dinner
7:30 | Couple's Sneak-Away Sunset Session
7:45 | Speeches
8:15 | First Dances
8:30 | Cake-Cutting, Open Dancing
9:30 | Bouquet & Garter Tosses, More Dancing
10:15 | Grand "Exit"
10:30 | Coverage Ends, Party Continues or After-Party Begins
12:30 | Venue Shots & Bridal Details
I (Rachel) photograph the venue on my way to the Bridal suite and Mark lifts up the drone for the ceremony site / venue drone video shots. When we arrive at the Bridal Suite, ideally, there is already a clean space near the largest window with the wedding dress hanging, out of the bag, and all the Bride's details are gathered together nearby (bouquet, the rings, shoes, veil, jewelry, garter, invitations, vows, perfume, something old/new/borrowed/blue, etc.) so we can set up and capture the Bridal flat lay. All of the Bridesmaids' bouquets are nearby so we can set them up in a way to complement the scene, and the Bridesmaids and Flower Girl dresses are also hanging where we can capture them beautifully. The Bride is the last one to have her hair / make-up done, and she is just having her finishing touches done so we capture some of that in between setting up the details and making sure the window area is the ideal scene for photos & video. The Bride and Bridesmaids are already wearing their matching robes and slippers (and the Moms too, if they are joining the fun). The Bridesmaids start prepping the champagne and glasses for the Bridal party fun, and the Bride has gifts she has prepared to give to her gals. The bed is also clean and ready for the gift-giving & fun to come next.
1:30 | Bridal Party Fun
The Bride and Bridesmaids hang out on the bed together in their robes while the Bride presents them with gifts to open. They are all so excited for the Bride - it's her special day! They are all so happy to be there with her, and these gifts are so sweet! There are tears, hugs and laughs on the bed - it's like a slumber party! After the gift-giving session, they all grab their glasses and go outside for a champagne pop! The Bride shakes the bottle a little before she opens it for a fun spray! They all laugh together, and the Bride pours everyone champagne; they cheers, drink, hug, and smile together before putting their glasses down for a few more fun posed photos in their robes, capturing any names on the backs of their robes, and getting close-ups of all those amazing hairstyles!
2:00 | Groom Details & Prep, Portraits (while bridesmaids get dressed)
Mark and I head over to the Groom's Suite nearby while the Bridesmaids, Moms, & Flower Girls all get into their dresses (and the Bride can take a moment to breathe, touch-up, go to the bathroom, finish her drink, eat a snack, practice her vows - and anything else she wants to do to prepare for go-time while the other ladies get dressed!). The Groomsmen are already all dressed and ready to go, with their boutonnières on and everything! The Groom is nearly ready, too, but he has all of his details out, ready for us to photograph, and there is a space near the largest window that is clean and free of clutter for the Groom's details and getting-ready shots! We capture his boutonnière, belt, shoes, tie, pocket handkerchief, watch, cologne, flask, shades, cufflinks, the rings, vows - anything cool or special he has - for the Groom's flat lay! Then, Dad and the Best Man, and each of his Groomsmen, hand something to the Groom, or help him put it on! Except the boutonnière - we're saving that one for Mom! We capture Mom's first look at her son as she comes in and tearfully hugs her baby boy - all grown up and getting married! Then she puts on his boutonnière. The Groom sure is looking handsome! We go outside to take some portraits - but Groomsmen - bring those drinks! After some portraits of the Groom solo, with his parents, add any siblings, and then the whole Groomsmen gang (together and individually) - including the Ring Bearer - hey, let's have a cheers! You guys ready to get this party started? Heck yeah! Let's have some fun! Your bro's getting married!!!
2:30 | Bride Getting Dressed, Portraits
The guys head back inside to take off their jackets and hang out just a bit longer - finishing those drinks, eating snacks, playing games - and Mark and I head back on over to the Bride. The Bridesmaids, Bride's Mom and Flower Girls are all ready. Mark waits outside for the first part of Mom and Maid of Honor helping the Bride into her dress, then comes in to capture Mom and MOH doing the back of the dress. Mom helps the Bride with her jewelry, and MOH helps with her garter and shoes. MOH puts in her veil while Mom dries off and hands the bouquet to her beautiful daughter. Oh, it's so emotional! Her baby girl! Just look at her! The Bride sees herself in the mirror for the first time and can't contain her excitement! The rest of the Bridesmaids and Flower Girls come in for their first look - and she is SO beautiful! They can't hold back the tears! (Yep, we're gonna need more touch-ups!) They surround the Bride and fan out her train so we can all see it in it's full glory, as the Bride admires herself in the mirror - and she deserves to feel like a queen! This is the day she's been waiting for! It's finally here! And guess who else wants to see her? Dad comes in for his first look at his baby girl, and they embrace warmly. Ahhh... what a special day! Time for a few portraits of the Bride in all her beauty, then with Mom and Dad, add any siblings, then all the Bridesmaids (together and individually) - including the Flower Girls. It's all happening so fast! But she is ready to see the love of her life - now is the most special part of the day!
3:30 | Couple's First Look, Portraits
We prepare the Groom with a lapel mic to capture audio and get him into position for the first look with his Bride. We prepare her to walk up behind him . . . when we say go, she walks up slowly . . . and puts her hands over his eyes! Guess who?! He turns around, and ugh! She's GORGEOUS! He embraces her, tells her how beautiful she is, they look at each other, wipe each other's tears, and fully take this moment in! (Love, love, love.) They've also chosen to read their vows to one another here in this moment, privately! Afterwards, we take off the Groom's mic, and we guide them in some more loving moments as we capture them loving one another (remember the engagement session? This will be like that!). When ready, we invite the Wedding Party in for some more fun - it's the whole gang now! We do a cheers, a fun walk, and ask if anyone has any Wedding Party photo ideas from Pinterest or previous weddings that they want to do (they often do - so we like to get the whole Wedding Party involved, so it's fun for everyone)! Then it's time for the quintessential family portraits - the couple has brought their list of must-haves for the mantle above the fireplace, or the hallway photo wall, and all those family members are there, to save time after the ceremony. We get those done, then it's time for everyone to touch-up one more time, go to the bathroom, and get ready to line up for the ceremony!
4:30 | Pre-Ceremony
Mark and I go to the ceremony site so we can set up the ceremony video cameras, the external audio mic, the lapel mic on the officiant, and test the audio. Then Mark captures photos of guests as they arrive while I get any detail shots I wasn't able to get earlier when we arrived (if it wasn't all set up - and it usually isn't yet earlier in the day - but that's okay - I'll get it now!).
5:00 | Ceremony
The Ceremony!! This is it!! The Couple is doing a sand-pouring ceremony to symbolize unity. The Groom kisses his Bride so passionately - then kisses her again - best Ceremony kiss ever! They are announced as Bride and Groom with hands raised in the air, and when they walk back down the aisle, the guests all blow bubbles! Then he twirls her half-way down and dips her for a kiss for their exit, with bubbles all around! Amazing!!!!
5:30 | extended family Portraits, couple joins Cocktail Hour
We capture the first few amazing moments of the Couple after they've walked back down the aisle, along with the Wedding Party coming to greet them. Now it's time for Cocktail Hour and Portraits! We take the Couple and Wedding Party back to the ceremony site for a few portraits and some video there where it all took place. The Bride's Mom and Groom's Mom each gather the people on the Couple's family photo list and make sure they don't disappear to Cocktail Hour just yet. While Mark breaks down the video and sound equipment and takes it to the reception area, I help the Couple get through the extended family photo list so the Couple can then join Cocktail Hour! Mark and I both capture them being announced and entering Cocktail Hour, the guests cheering, and everyone hanging out, hugging, laughing, and starting to get their party on!
6:30 | guests are seated, Reception Grand Entrance
The DJ announces for the guests to take their seats, then for the Wedding Party to make their entrances, and each couple does something fun on the dance floor! Then it's time for the new Mr. and Mrs! Woooooo!
6:45 | Dinner
At the start of the reception, the Couple has chosen a loved one to give a blessing of the meal, then it's time to eat! We eat while the Couple eats, so we don't miss a thing!
7:30 | Couple's sneak-away Sunset Session
The Couple sneaks away for one last session - the Golden Hour Sneak-Away! It's just before sunset, with the most beautiful lighting of the day. We capture this intimate moment where the Couple gets a chance to breathe and just be together amid the whirlwind - with GORGEOUS light!
7:45 | speeches
It's time for those memorable, emotional speeches!
8:15 | First Dances
The DJ announces that it's time for the Couple's first dance! Then it's the Bride with her Dad, and the Groom with his Mom. Then a Wedding Party dance! Then a couple's countdown dance, and the couple that has been in a relationship the longest say some words of wisdom for the Newlyweds! The DJ opens the dance floor - it's PARTY time!
8:30 | Cake-Cutting, Open Dancing
It's time to cut the cake! The guests have placed their donations for the Honeymoon Fund in two containers - one for the Bride, and one for the Groom - and whichever has the most money, that person gets cake in the face! (Of course . . . it's the Groom!)
9:30 | Bouquet & Garter Tosses, More Dancing
It's time for the bouquet and garter tosses! The Bride does one fake-out toss before the official toss, just for fun! The Groom does a sexy dance up to the Bride in the chair on the dance floor before he throws the dress over his head to grab that garter with his teeth! Way too much fun! He actually throws a dinner napkin that he had hidden in his pocket first, just to fake-out the guys! Then time for the real thing - pull it back, stretch, and release!
10:15 | Grand "Exit"
It's time to line-up for the staged sparkler send-off! Our Couple has opted to stage their "exit" earlier in the night while plenty of guests are still at the Wedding, and, this way they can have this awesome moment captured by their photo-video team without needing to pay us to stay yet another hour or two! It's just practical!
10:30 | Coverage Ends, Party Continues or After-Party Begins
After an awesome sparkler "exit" where the Couple went down a few different times to get epic dip-kisses, twirls and running through sparkler shots, while the guests are putting out their sparklers and getting back to the party, we capture a last motion-blur sparkler photo with the Couple - and that's a wrap!
book a consultation
Let us give you even more detail about how we shoot the day, what equipment we bring, and how we can tell your entire love story better than having two separate photo & video teams! It's an amazing, intimate experience!