Planning your wedding day schedule can feel like solving a complex puzzle. Between ceremonies, cocktail hours, first dances, and cake cutting, there’s a lot to coordinate. Creating a thoughtful photography timeline ensures those once-in-a-lifetime moments get captured beautifully—without adding stress to your celebration. Here’s how we help our couples build the perfect photography schedule for their big day.
Start With the Non-Negotiables
Every wedding timeline should begin with the ceremony time. This fixed point helps determine everything else. First, we identify your absolute must-haves—ceremony start time, whether you want a “first look,” when family portraits will happen, and any venue curfews. These anchors create the framework for your entire photography schedule.
Many couples don’t realize how significantly these decisions impact the flow of the day. For instance, choosing a sunset ceremony might create gorgeous lighting—but it could eliminate the possibility of daylight family portraits afterward. We help you think through these tradeoffs early to avoid disappointment later.
The Getting Ready Phase: More Important Than You Think
We’ve found that many couples underestimate how much time is needed for getting-ready photos. But these intimate moments often produce some of the most emotional and meaningful images from your wedding day.
We recommend planning for at least 2 hours of photography coverage during this phase. That gives us time to capture detail shots (your dress, accessories, invitations), candid moments with your wedding party, and those quiet moments of reflection before the ceremony. The gentle nervousness, the laughter, the tears when a parent sees you in your wedding attire—these fleeting emotions deserve proper documentation.
If you and your partner are getting ready in different locations, we’ll help you decide whether a second photographer is needed to capture both perspectives. After all, your wedding story begins long before you walk down the aisle.
The First Look Decision
Deciding whether to see each other before the ceremony is both a logistical and emotional choice.
A pre-ceremony first look creates a private, intimate moment between the two of you—away from dozens of watching eyes. It also allows us to front-load formal photos so you can enjoy more of your cocktail hour. Many couples tell us it also helps calm their nerves before the ceremony.
If you choose to save the first look for the ceremony, you’ll experience that powerful, traditional moment as you walk down the aisle. Just keep in mind that this usually requires more photo time afterward, and we may need to extend the cocktail hour to accommodate portraits.
There’s no right or wrong—just what feels most meaningful to you. Our job is to create a timeline that supports your vision.
Golden Hour Magic
The most flattering natural light happens during golden hour—that magical time shortly before sunset when the light is warm, soft, and dimensional. As photographers, we absolutely love this light because it transforms ordinary settings into extraordinary backdrops.
We’ll check the sunset time for your wedding date and location, then reserve 20–30 minutes during this window for couple’s portraits. A great time for this is often during dinner service—when your guests are eating and unlikely to miss you. It also gives you a precious moment of quiet connection amid the whirlwind of the day.
Reception Milestones
Rather than leaving key reception events to chance, we recommend intentionally scheduling your first dance, parent dances, toasts, and cake cutting so we can capture them beautifully.
Some couples prefer to get these traditions done early so they can party freely afterward, while others space them out to maintain energy throughout the night. Either approach works—we’ll just want to know the plan in advance so we can work seamlessly with your DJ, venue coordinator, and other vendors.
The Buffer Time Secret
The most common timeline mistake? Not building in buffer time.
Wedding days rarely run exactly on schedule. Hair and makeup often go long, a family member might wander before portraits, or traffic between venues takes longer than expected. Adding small buffers throughout the day helps prevent these hiccups from turning into bigger issues.
Trust us—you’ll never regret giving yourselves a little extra breathing room. It helps keep the day relaxed and joyful rather than rushed and stressed.
Communicate Early and Often
Once your timeline is set, we’ll help you share it with your wedding party, family members needed for portraits, and any vendors involved. When everyone knows the plan, everything flows more smoothly.
And once the day arrives—try to relax and enjoy it. Minor timeline shifts are totally normal. In fact, some of the most beautiful photographs come from unplanned, spontaneous moments.
Why Plan with Taylor Kemp Photography?
Since 2011, we’ve been helping couples plan thoughtful, stress-free timelines that lead to meaningful, heartfelt wedding photos. Our style is laid-back, candid, and unobtrusive—so you can be fully present while we quietly capture the real story of your day.
We avoid trendy filters and gimmicks in favor of earthy, timeless editing that will still look beautiful decades from now. And we tailor your photo timeline to suit your day, your light, and your vibe—nothing cookie-cutter.
Ready to start planning your photography timeline? Reach out to us at Taylor Kemp Photography. We’ll walk you through every step and make sure your memories are preserved with care, creativity, and ease.
Because your wedding day will pass in a blur—but your photos will tell the story for the rest of your lives.
