What time should we be ready?
It is out goal to document your wedding as it unfolds authentically. Most of our couples choose to have us begin at tail end of their hair or makeup appointment. Following a few shots of hair/makeup, perhaps we’ll grab a quick shot of the girls in their robes (or similar) and get the bride into the dress. Our arrival time is recommended to be approximately 3 hours prior to the ceremony if you will be seeing one another pre-ceremony for a first look and portraits. If you will not do a first look and all portraits will be taken post-ceremony, it is recommend we arrive 2 hours prior to the ceremony. If drive time is needed from a salon to the venue, please be sure to account for this by adding the time needed for transportation, to the start time. Please see a more detailed outline of the options below.
If there will be a first look.
Couples who prefer to accomplish all portraits prior to the ceremony should schedule their hair and makeup appointments to allow them to be dressed and ready for portraits no later than 2-2.5 hours prior to the ceremony. If drive-time is needed from a salon to the venue, please be sure to account for this by adding the time needed for transportation, to the start time. The following images will be taken pre-ceremony:
- Preparation/getting ready photos.
- First look.
- Bridal portraits.
- Groom portraits.
- Bride with bridesmaids.
- Groom with groomsmen.
- Entire wedding party.
- Bride and Groom.
- Details of the ceremony/reception.
*all family photos will be taken post-ceremony. Please be sure to communicate well to all family members that are needed for photos.
*The time needed to complete post-ceremony pictures when the couple has chosen a first look is approximately 10-20 minutes. Please consider this when finalizing your timeline.
Wedding by Jessica Lee at The Treasury on the Plaza in St Augustine Florida
If you prefer to do portraits post ceremony.
Couples who prefer to wait until after the ceremony for the portraits with the couple need to schedule their hair and makeup appointments to allow them to be dressed and ready for portraits no later than 1-1.5 hours prior to the ceremony. If drive-time is needed from a salon to the venue, please be sure to account for this by adding the time needed for transportation, to the start time. The following images will be taken pre-ceremony:
- Preparation/getting ready.
- Bridal portraits.
- Groom portraits.
- Bride with bridesmaids.
- Groom with groomsmen.
- Details of the ceremony/reception.
Post ceremony the following images will be taken:
- Entire wedding party.
- Bride and Groom.
- Family Photos.
*The time needed to complete post ceremony pictures when there is no first look is approximately 45-60 minutes. Please consider this when finalizing your timeline.
Wedding by Jessica Lee at The Treasury on the Plaza in St Augustine Florida
wedding at walkers landing amelia island
Other important information.
Please let your event designer/florist know when and where you’ll need your bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages delivered. For couples doing a first look, this is 2.5 hours prior to the ceremony and for traditional couples it is 1.5 hours prior.
Please have your dress hanging, shoes, jewelry and other special details you would like photographed out and ready.
Please provide us with a timeline for your day and complete out family formal/wedding questionnaire, which will be automatically emailed to you 60 days before your wedding.
As always, please contact us with any questions/concerns!
Sample Photography Schedules.
If the couple will see each other before the ceremony (also known as a first look):
MEN GETTING READY SCHEDULE
3:15-3:45 Support photographer will photograph men getting ready
3:45-3:50 Support photographer takes groom portrait near window
3:50-3:55 Gift/Love note exchange (if applicable)
3:55-4:00 Support photographer takes groom to first look location
LADIES GETTING READY SCHEDULE
2:30: Bride, bridesmaids, mothers have hair and makeup completely done and ready at this time
2:30 Photography start time, please ask bouquet to be delivered at the photography start time
2:30-2:40: Shot of girls in Robes (if applicable)
2:40 Bridesmaids and whoever is helping you into your attire needs to get dressed at this time. Whoever is helping you into your attire needs to be photo ready and able to help you into your gown by x time
2:30-3:00: Photographs of the details and attire such as rings, invitations, dress, shoes, etc. Please make these items available if you wish them to be photographed.
3:00-3:30: Bride gets into her dress.
3:30-3:35 Love note exchange (if applicable)
3:35-3:45 Bridal Portraits near window
3:45-3:55 Family first look of bride (if applicable)
3:55-4:00 Bridesmaid reveal, if not, remove and adjust time
PRE CEREMONY PORTRAITS (COUPLE AND WEDDING PARTY)
4:00-4:10: First look.
4:15-4:30 Head photographer photographs bridesmaids
4:15-4:30 Support photographer photographs groomsmen
4:30-4:45 Entire wedding party photos
4:45-5:30: Bride and groom portraits (may need more time if traveling for photo locations)
CEREMONY & POST- CEREMONY PHOTO SCHEDULE
5:30-6:00: Couple takes a break before the ceremony.
5:30-6:00: Photographers photograph reception decor if available and prep for ceremony
6:00-6:30: Ceremony.
6:30-6:50: Family photos. Please make sure all family is notified and aware they’re needed. We will do ALL family groupings during this time.
6:50-7:20: Couple joins cocktail hour if desired or additional couples portraits if needed
7:20 Room reveal
7:30: Reception begins!
10:30pm last dance, reception concludes
10:30-11:00 Guests say goodbye, gather their belongings and assemble outside for the send-off!
If the couple will keep tradition and wait to do photos post-ceremony:
MEN PRE-CEREMONY SCHEDULE
4:00-4:30: Support photographer will photograph men getting ready
4:30-4:35 Groom portrait near window
4:35-4:40 Love note exchange (if applicable)
4:40-5:00 Support photographer will photograph groomsmen portraits at this time
LADIES PRE-CEREMONY SCHEDULE
3:30pm Bride, bridesmaids, mothers have hair and makeup completely done and ready at this time
3:30: Please ask bouquet to be delivered at the photography start time
3:30 Photography start time
3:30-3:40: Shot of girls in Robes by second photographer (if applicable)
3:30-4:00:Photograph the details and attire such as rings, invitations, dress, shoes, etc. Please make these items available if you wish them to be photographed.
3:40 Bridesmaids and whoever is helping you into your attire needs to get dressed at this time. Whoever is helping you into your attire needs to be photo ready and able to help you into your gown by x time
4:10-4:15 Love note exchange (if applicable)
4:15-4:45: Bride gets into her dress.
4:45-4:50 Window bridal portraits
4:50-5:00 Family first look (if applicable)
5:00-5:10: Bridal portraits outdoors
5:10-5:30 Bride + Bridesmaids
5:30-6:00: Couple takes a break before the ceremony.
CEREMONY & POST- CEREMONY PHOTO SCHEDULE
5:30-6:00: Photographer will photograph reception decor if available to photograph and prepare for the ceremony
6:00-6:30: Ceremony.
6:30-6:50: Family photos. Please make sure all families are notified and aware they’re needed. We will do ALL family groupings during this time.
6:50-7:00: Photos of the entire wedding party.
7:00-7:30: Photos of the couple.
7:35: Reception begins!
10:30 Final dance, reception ends
10:30-11:00 Guests say goodbye, gather their things and assemble for send off.
Things to consider.
- Remember to add time for transportation if you’re getting ready location is separate from your ceremony site OR if your ceremony location is different from your reception.
- The standard family photos (immediate family and grandparents) take about 20 minutes to complete. If you would like to include extended family, we will likely need additional time.
- Being timely will help keep the two of you stress free and ensure our time allocated for photos will not be compromised. It is important to communicate well with your hair/makeup artists as well as your family and wedding party. Be sure to help them understand what is expected of them!