October Brides: What's Your Day-of Timeline?

You can check google for your specific wedding day for the sunset time. You will want to take photos 2-3 hours before.

The "golden hour" is 1 hour before sunset but if your ceremony is outside you will want that 1 hour for the ceremony so you have some daylight.

My photographer wants 3-4 hours for portraits with the bridal party and parents. We have a large bridal party of 14.

You will also have time to get some couple photos after the ceremony during cocktail hour. Your photographer should also stay during your reception until the cake is cut. After that if it is just dancing the photographer can take some candid shots and be on his way. I would suggest minimum 8 hours for your photographer.

I would also plan for your DJ to get to the venue 1 hour before the ceremony, especially if he is providing music and mics for the ceremony. Also you don't want him dragging all his stuff in and setting up in the middle of your vows.

Hi there Bridgette

This is a great idea to take your photos before your ceremony. Smart thinking

Have you spoken with your photographer about the best time to take photos, and how long portraits will take? It would be important to speak with him/her and incorporate the feedback when building out your timeline.

Once you have this information, I always find it best to start at the end and work your way back when building out the days timeline.

And all our couple photos. Since we are at a botanical gardens there is a lot of opportunity for locations changes.

Here is my TENTATIVE timeline (because I'm not getting married for over a year, things can change. But several of my vendors had asked for a timeline, so I made this one.) You could use something like this and cut out time you can't use.

3:00-3:30 Ceremony

3:30-4:45 Cocktails/Photos

4:45-4:55 Introductions/Husband & Wife Entrance

4:55-5:00 Husband & Wife First Dance

5:00 Dinner Starts being served

5:30-5:45 Toasts

5:45-6:00 Eating

6:00-6:10 Grandparent dances

6:15-7:00 Dancing

7:00-7:15 Cake/Dessert (donuts, ice cream, coffee)

7:15-9:00 Dancing

9:00ish Send off