Last Updated: September 30, 2024

Not sure where to begin when planning your wedding coverage? Let me help, with some sample wedding coverage timelines, a sample shot list & some tips!


First, if you aren't sure what time your Ceremony should be, or what time to schedule your hair & make-up to be finished, here are some tips:

  1. Your Ceremony should be no later than 2 hours before sunset (for a 30-minute-or-less Ceremony) to have plenty of light after the Ceremony for portraits.
  2. Your hair & make-up should be finished no later than 4 hours before the Ceremony with 8-10 hours of coverage, or no later than 2 hours before the Ceremony with 6 hours of coverage, to allow time for pre-Ceremony photos.

Here is a chart for reference, based on 8-10 hours of coverage:


HMU DONE | Ceremony | SUNSET

10:30 am | 2:00 pm | 4-4:30 pm

10:30 am | 2:30 pm | 4:30-5 pm

11:00 am | 3:00 pm | 5-5:30 pm

11:30 am | 3:30 pm | 5:30-6 pm

12:00 pm | 4:00 pm | 6-6:30 pm

12:30 pm | 4:30 pm | 6:30-7 pm

1:00 pm | 5:00 pm | 7-7:30 pm

1:30 pm | 5:30 pm | 7:30-8 pm

2:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 8-8:30 pm


Regarding when to start your wedding coverage, here are some tips:

  • 10 Hours of Coverage with a Couple's 1st Look: Start coverage 5 hours before the Ceremony
  • 8 Hours of Coverage with a Couple's 1st Look: Start coverage 4 hours before the Ceremony
  • 6 Hours of Coverage with No Couple's 1st Look: Start coverage 2 hours before the Ceremony


Additional Timeline Tips:

  1. Tell your HMUA that your hair & make-up needs to be finished 30 minutes before you really need it finished - to give yourself buffer time - because hair & make-up usually runs late!
  2. If we're capturing your details before your getting ready photos, have all of your details together, out of their packages, and in one box - and have your wedding dress already hanging on a nice hanger, out of the bag. This will give us more time to capture images, if we don't have to spend time finding and gathering your details!
  3. Keep your getting ready rooms clean and free of clutter, to save time. We won't start shooting until the room is clean!


The timelines below are based on a 5:00 pm Ceremony, with sunset between 7-7:30 pm, and all hair & make-up finished by 1:00 pm.

10-Hour Wedding Timeline


12:00 - 01:00 | Bride's Final Hair & Make-up, Details

01:00 - 01:30 | Bridal Candids in Robes/Pjs

01:30 - 02:30 | Bride Getting Dressed

01:30 - 02:30 | Groom Photos

02:30 - 03:00 | Couple's 1st Looks & Portraits

03:00 - 03:30 | Wedding Party Portraits

03:30 - 04:00 | Immediate Family Portraits

04:00 - 04:30 | RR Co. Team Captures Area Details

04:30 - 05:00 | Guests Arriving / Touch-Up, Line-Up

05:00 - 05:30 | Ceremony

05:30 - 06:30 | Portraits / Cocktail Hour

06:30 - 06:35 | Reception Introductions

06:35 - 06:40 | Couple's Welcome / Thank You Speech

06:40 - 07:00 | Couple's Golden Hour Sneak-Away

07:00 - 07:30 | Couple & Coverage Team Eat

07:30 - 08:00 | Toast Speeches

08:00 - 08:10 | 1st Dances

08:10 - 08:15 | Cake-Cutting

08:15 - 09:30 | Open Dancing

09:30 - 09:45 | Bouquet/Garter Tosses

09:45 - 10:00 | More Dancing, Coverage Ends

8-Hour Wedding Timeline


01:00 - 01:30 | Bridal Details, Candids in Robes/Pjs

01:30 - 02:30 | Bride Getting Dressed

01:30 - 02:30 | Groom Photos

02:30 - 03:00 | Couple's 1st Looks & Portraits

03:00 - 03:30 | Wedding Party Portraits

03:30 - 04:00 | Immediate Family Portraits

04:00 - 04:30 | RR Co. Team Captures Area Details

04:30 - 05:00 | Guests Arriving / Touch-Up, Line-Up

05:00 - 05:30 | Ceremony

05:30 - 06:30 | Portraits / Cocktail Hour

06:30 - 06:35 | Reception Introductions

06:35 - 06:40 | Couple's Welcome / Thank You Speech

06:40 - 07:00 | Couple's Golden Hour Sneak-Away

07:00 - 07:30 | Couple & Coverage Team Eat

07:30 - 08:00 | Toast Speeches

08:00 - 08:10 | 1st Dances

08:10 - 08:15 | Cake-Cutting

08:15 - 08:45 | Open Dancing

08:45 - 09:00 | Bouquet/Garter Tosses, Coverage Ends

6-Hour Wedding Timeline


03:00 - 03:30 | Bridal Details, Candids in Robes/Pjs

03:30 - 04:30 | Bride Getting Dressed

03:30 - 04:30 | Groom Photos

04:30 - 05:00 | Guests Arriving / Touch-Up, Line-Up

05:00 - 05:30 | Ceremony

05:30 - 06:30 | Portraits / Cocktail Hour

06:30 - 06:35 | Reception Introductions

06:35 - 06:40 | Couple's Welcome / Thank You Speech

06:40 - 07:00 | Couple's Golden Hour Sneak-Away

07:00 - 07:30 | Couple & Coverage Team Eat

07:30 - 08:00 | Toast Speeches

08:00 - 08:10 | 1st Dances

08:10 - 08:15 | Cake-Cutting

08:15 - 08:45 | Open Dancing

08:45 - 09:00 | Bouquet/Garter Tosses, Coverage Ends

Sample Shot List


We love inviting our clients to provide us with a list of must-have shots for their wedding day - and we'll send a checklist form that you can use to provide us with your list easily! We'll work hard to capture every shot on your list, as long as time allows!


You are also welcome to share a wedding Pinterest board with me at: https://www.pinterest.com/rachelreynoldsco (add me as a collaborator!)


Note: If you have a lot of images in your board, please organize it into sections, such as: Bridal Prep, Groom Prep, Couple's Portraits, Wedding Party, etc. for quick reference on the wedding day. :)

Shot List


Bridal Prep

DETAILS

  1. Bride's Hair Finishing Touches
  2. Bride's Make-up Finishing Touches
  3. Bridal Details Flat Lay
  4. Bouquet
  5. Veil
  6. Rings
  7. Vows
  8. Shoes
  9. Earrings
  10. Necklace
  11. Bracelet
  12. Garter
  13. Perfume
  14. Each Page of Vows (for keepsake)
  15. Stationery / Invitation Suite
  16. Bride's Dress Hanging

CANDIDS in ROBES / PJs

  1. Bride with each Bridesmaid (Candid)
  2. Bride & Bridesmaids (Candid)
  3. Bride Popping / Pouring Champagne
  4. Cheers
  5. Bride Giving Gifts
  6. Laughing on the Bed
  7. Candid Moment with Bride & MOB
  8. Candid Moment with Bride & MOG

"GETTING DRESSED"

  1. Bride with Dress Hanging
  2. Bride puts on MOB's corsage (right hand)
  3. MOB doing back of Bride's Dress
  4. Putting on Details (with MOB / MOH):
  5. Earrings
  6. Necklace
  7. Bracelet
  8. Perfume
  9. Garter
  10. Shoes
  11. Veil
  12. Bouquet
  13. Portrait of Bride & MOH
  14. Portrait of Bride & MOB
  15. Bride's 1st Look with Bridesmaids
  16. Bridesmaids fanning out Train/Veil
  17. Bridal Solo Portraits
  18. 1st Look with Bride & FOB
  19. Portrait of Bride & FOB
  20. Portrait of Bride & Parents


Groom Prep

DETAILS

  1. Groom Details Flat Lay
  2. Watch
  3. Tie
  4. Boutonniere
  5. Belt
  6. Vows
  7. Ring
  8. Flask
  9. Cufflinks
  10. Cologne
  11. Shoes
  12. Pocket Square
  13. Each Page of Vows (for keepsake)
  14. Groom's Jacket Hanging

"GETTING DRESSED"

  1. Putting on Details (with FOG / BM):
  2. Shoes
  3. Watch
  4. Cufflinks
  5. Tie
  6. Jacket
  7. Pocket Square
  8. Portrait of Groom & BM
  9. Portrait of Groom & FOG
  10. 1st Look with Groom & MOG
  11. Groom puts on MOG's corsage
  12. MOG puts on Groom's boutonniere
  13. Portrait of Groom & MOG
  14. Portrait of Groom & FOB
  15. Portrait of Groom & Parents
  16. Groom Solo Portraits

CANDID GROOM & GROOMSMEN

  1. Groom Giving Gifts
  2. Groom Pouring Drinks
  3. Cheers
  4. Groom with Each Groomsman (Candid)
  5. Groom with Groomsmen Together (Candid)


Couple's 1st Looks & Portraits

  1. Couple's 1st Looks
  2. Private Vows
  3. Couple's Portraits
  4. Bridal Solo Portraits
  5. Groom Solo Portraits


Outdoor Wedding Party Portraits

  1. Bride with each Bridesmaid (Formal)
  2. Bride with Bridesmaids (Formal & Candid)
  3. Groom with each Groomsman (Formal)
  4. Groom with Groomsmen (Formal & Candid)
  5. Groom with Bridesmaids (Candid)
  6. Bride with Groomsmen (Candid)
  7. Couple with Full Wedding Party (Formal & Candid)
  8. Couple with Ring Bearer(s) & Flower Girl(s) (Formal)


Immediate Family Portraits

  1. Bride with Sibling(s)
  2. Couple with Bride's Family
  3. Couple with Bride’s Parents
  4. Couple with Groom's Parents
  5. Couple with Groom's Family
  6. Groom with Sibling(s)
  7. Any other Immediate Family Portrait combos


Ceremony

  1. All Standard Shots
  2. Unity Ceremony
  3. Guests throw flower petals during Couple's exit
  4. Couple does "dip kiss" halfway back down the aisle during exit
  5. Signing of the Marriage License


Formal Portraits after Ceremony

  1. Couple with Officiant
  2. Couple at Arch
  3. Couple with Family: See Below


AFTER-CEREMONY PORTRAITS TIPS

Family portraits can be one of the most stressful parts of the wedding day - but they don't have to be! Below are some tips to help the after-ceremony family portraits time of the day run more smoothly so you can more quickly continue with celebrating!


  1. Definitely create a family portraits list before the big day! This will help you stay in control of your wedding day timeline and help you not to forget some of your most important photographs.
  2. On your list, include both the main relationship to you as a couple and your family members' names, which will help us to get people's attention.
  3. Give each portrait 3 to 5 minutes for us to set up and capture.
  4. When making your list, count up the portraits and make sure you have enough time in your timeline for them. Combine and condense where you can. (No more than 5 to 9 family portraits here is ideal.)
  5. Before the wedding day, ask your officiant to announce for all family to stay at the ceremony site instead of leaving to cocktail hour, once the ceremony is over. This will help you not lose your family to cocktail hour.
  6. Enlist someone from your wedding party or family to be a "family portraits coordinator". Before the wedding day, give them a copy of the list and ask them to make sure your family members are present and to get the family members ready for the next portrait as I'm capturing the portrait before it. This will help the portraits take less time and is another way not to lose your family members to cocktail hour.


Family Portraits

  1. Couple with Jones side of the Family: Stacy, John, Nora, Samantha, Katy, Mark, Ralph, Lisa, Jennifer, Steve
  2. Couple with Johnson side of the Family: (Names...)
  3. Etc...


Other Details

  1. Venue
  2. Exteriors
  3. Signs
  4. Ceremony Area
  5. Welcome Sign
  6. Full Area Wide Shot
  7. Close-ups of Florals / Decor
  8. Program
  9. Favors
  10. Gift Table
  11. Guest Book
  12. Signs
  13. Photographs
  14. "Heaven Guests"
  15. Cocktail Hour Area
  16. Bar
  17. Signature Drinks
  18. Engraved Napkins
  19. Signs
  20. Games
  21. Reception Area
  22. Seating Chart Sign
  23. Full Dining Area Wide Shot
  24. Guest Table
  25. Full Table
  26. Place Setting
  27. Centerpieces
  28. Menu
  29. Favors
  30. Gift Table
  31. Full Table
  32. Cards / Gifts
  33. Guest Book Page with Signature
  34. Sweetheart Table
  35. Full Table
  36. Close-ups of Details
  37. Engraved / Special Champagne Glasses
  38. Cake Table
  39. Full Table
  40. Cake
  41. Engraved Cutting Ware
  42. Desserts
  43. Photo Booth


Guests

  1. Arriving at Ceremony Site
  2. Signing Guest Book
  3. Waiting for Ceremony to Begin
  4. Emotional Reactions during Ceremony (especially Parents / Grandparents)
  5. Getting Drinks at Cocktail Hour
  6. Talking / Laughing at Cocktail Hour
  7. Playing Games at Cocktail Hour
  8. Candid Portraits at Cocktail Hour (smiling for camera - as many as groups possible)
  9. Applauding Reception Entrances
  10. Portrait of Guests at each Table during Dinner
  11. Emotional Reactions during Toast Speeches
  12. Toasting after each Toast Speech
  13. Applauding each Toast Speech
  14. Emotional Reactions during 1st Dances
  15. Applauding each 1st Dance
  16. Emotional Reactions during Cake-Cutting
  17. Applauding Cake-Cutting
  18. Dancing on the Dance Floor
  19. At the Photo Booth

Contact Me


I know it's a lot to plan! Please feel free to reach out to me any time. Your photos & videos will last forever - and I want to help make them amazing for you!


So warmly,


Rachel Reynolds, Lead Photographer

Text: 760-468-0398

Email: info@rachelreynoldsco.com