A black and white nautical wedding ceremony takes place on the deck of a boat on a sunny afternoon.
Timeline planning


You’re getting Married!


You’ve been planning for months, selected a wonderful team of vendors, found the perfect dress, and finally it’s time to put it all together. Time. When do we do all of this stuff? First looks? First Dance? Don’t worry, I’m going to shed some light on all of it for you.

A couple stands in a room with a piano exchanging wedding vows during an intimate indoor wedding ceremony.

first Look?


The first choice to make is if you’ll be doing a first look, there are a lot of pros to doing one, if you’re comfortable seeing each other before the ceremony. Even if you choose not to see each other, some couples still like to share a private moment for prayer, private vows, or a quick squeeze of their partners hand to calm their nerves. I’ll include two sample timelines, one with and one without a first look in the next section.

A detailed wedding day timeline overlaid on a rustic white wedding cake decorated with dripping icing and pink flowers.
Elegant wedding day timeline with blue florals and table decor showing schedule from hair and makeup through sparkler exit.

Getting ready



I will usually arrive (depending on your specific timeline) just as hair and makeup is being finished up. The first thing I’ll do is photograph the wedding details.

Elegant diamond engagement ring with halo design rests on white and pink fabric backdrop.

What to bring

Please have all of your details set aside for me in one spot, a shoebox works well for this. I’ll need things like invitations, jewelry, vow books, accessories, flowers, rings, and of course your shoes and dress.


Wedding invitation details with purple flowers, tiny glass case, and delicate white floral accents on wooden surface.

The little things

This is also a great time for little touches to accent the details you’ve chosen. Things like a decorative ring box, custom hanger for your dress, or bits of ribbon add some flair to your photos, and really look nice in an album.

Ceremony


It’s best to plan your ceremony to start roughly 2 and a half hours before sunset, which leaves time to do formals immediately after, and then your wedding portraits when the light is best. This time will also have the sun a bit lower in the sky, so that the light isn’t as harsh, and the temperature will have started to drop a bit from the heat of the day.

An outdoor wedding ceremony takes place on a wooden deck surrounded by lush greenery and rustic decorations.

Formal portraits

 

Immediately after the ceremony, we’ll start formals. Generally, these are done at the head of the aisle. The name of the game with formals is efficiency. About a month ahead of the wedding, I’ll ask for a list of formal portraits that are desired. Be Specific! The more complete the list is, the sooner I can get everyone to cocktail hour.

Additionally, it’s helpful to have someone, generally a sibling or wedding party member handy who knows most people on the list, so that they can help have people standing by for their turn. If any family members have difficulty standing for long periods of time, make sure to put their photos at the beginning of the list, so that they can be done first.

Wedding party poses against white wall in church with bridesmaids in burgundy dresses and groomsmen in gray suits.
A black and white photography of people gathered in a dimly lit indoor venue during a social event.

recpeption

Party timeeeee. Receptions generally have 5 parts; the grand entrance, first dance(s), dinner, events/games, open dancing. Your DJ will help keep everything running on time, here’s a few tips…

Couple dances joyfully in an elegant ballroom with ornate staircase and warm lighting during their wedding celebration.

Grand Entrance


Have some fun! This is a great time for your wedding party, and yourselves to show off your best (cheesiest) dance moves. For the best photos, get to the center of the room, in front of your gathered wedding party before you bust them out.

A couple shares their first dance at a rustic wedding reception venue with exposed beams and decorative lighting fixtures.

First Dance


Some couples feel nervous doing their first dance in front of all of their guests, there’s no need to go for an entire song, you can cut the dance down to around 90 seconds and still have some great photos to share.

Wedding guests dance together at an elegant indoor reception venue with light blue and white decor.

events


During dinner, it’s best to feed your key vendors (photo, video, DJ, coordinator) immediately after the newlyweds get their food, this ensures that they’re ready to go as soon as dinner is completed. For events, there are lots of fun options, a personal favorite of mine is the shoe game.

Dance the night away


Pro tip to fill the dance floor up after your events are completed, have the DJ get all of your guests gathered on the floor for a large group photo. As soon as the photo is done, start the music. Make sure to spend time dancing with your partner! It’s easy to get pulled in separate directions and before you know it, the reception is over. Ill come by later in the evening to offer a night time portrait session, I keep these super short (5-10 mins)  and they often end up being some of the best photos of the day.  

People in formal wear celebrate and dance together at a wedding reception in an indoor venue.
A black and white wedding celebration photo showing guests tossing streamers toward the center of the dance floor.

The Getaway


There’s a ton of options for your exit, sparklers are a classic, but there are lots of great exits that are often overlooked. Some of my favorites are bubbles, glow wands, cellphone flashlights, and paper streamers. Whatever you choose, make sure to go through at a reasonable pace, for bonus points, stop halfway and have one more kiss before hopping in the getaway car.

A couple embraces on an empty dance floor in an industrial-style venue with exposed brick and wooden chairs.

one last thing…


After everyone leaves, you can sneak back inside for a private last dance…you can even kick me out if you want and enjoy your last moments of your wedding night.