A good timeline is the difference between a relaxed day and a rushed one — and it shows in your photos. Here is how we build them.
Three rules we never break
- Anchor to sunset. Portraits in the last hour before sunset are the warmest, softest and most flattering of the day. Check your date with our golden hour calculator.
- Pad everything by 10–15%. Hair runs late. Shuttles get lost. Buffers keep the day calm.
- Family photos right after the ceremony. Everyone is in one place and still looks perfect.
First look or not?
A first look is a private moment where you see each other before the ceremony. It lets us do most portraits and wedding party photos early, so you can actually attend your cocktail hour. Skipping it is totally valid — you get that walk-down-the-aisle reveal — but plan for a busier hour after the ceremony.
| First look | No first look | |
|---|---|---|
| Photo time before ceremony | ~1.5–2 hours | ~1 hour |
| Cocktail hour | You get to enjoy it | Mostly portraits |
| Nerves | Usually calmer | Big emotional reveal |
How long family formals really take
Plan about two minutes per grouping. Ten groupings is twenty minutes, plus wrangling. Write a list, assign a loud cousin to round people up, and tell everyone in advance to stay after the ceremony.
Sample timeline: first look, 5:00 pm ceremony
For a September wedding with sunset around 7:30 pm and eight hours of coverage:
- 12:30 Details and getting ready
- 1:45 Getting into the dress and suit
- 2:30 First look
- 2:50 Couple portraits
- 3:30 Wedding party photos
- 4:15 Tuck away, touch-ups
- 5:00 Ceremony
- 5:30 Family formals
- 6:00 Join cocktail hour
- 6:30 Entrance, dinner, toasts
- 7:05 Sunset portraits (15 minutes)
- 7:30 First dance, cake, open dancing
- 8:15 Send-off
Sample timeline: no first look, 4:00 pm ceremony
- 12:00 Details and getting ready
- 1:30 Dress and suit, portraits of each of you separately
- 2:30 Separate wedding party photos
- 3:30 Hide away before guests arrive
- 4:00 Ceremony
- 4:30 Family formals
- 5:00 Full wedding party, then couple portraits
- 6:00 Entrance, dinner, toasts
- 7:00 Sunset portraits
- 7:20 Dances and party
- 8:00 Send-off
Build your own in two minutes
Our free wedding day timeline builder uses your real date and location to find sunset, then lays out a full schedule — and it can pick the best ceremony time for you. Print it, tweak it and send it to your planner.
