Wedding Day Timeline Tips and Tricks

Your wedding day is a celebration filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments—and a well-planned timeline is the key to making it all run smoothly! As your photographer, I’ve been part of many wedding days, and I know how important it is to keep things organized while leaving space for joy and spontaneity.

Today, I’m sharing my best tips and tricks for creating a timeline that helps your day flow seamlessly and ensures we have plenty of time to capture all the magic.

Do a First Look

First looks are great because you can get all or most of the photos taken ahead of time. They allow for your day and timeline to be much more relaxed. You will also receive more photos in your final gallery as this gives us the time to get those natural and romantic poses everyone loves! If you are trying to decide if a first look is right for you, check out this post:Should we do a first look?*We do not typically do first looks for Catholic weddings as the ceremony is early in the day and we usually have a large gap of time between the ceremony and reception.

Natural Light

Lighting makes a Huge difference in the look and feel to your photos.

Pro Tip: If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony, consider the lighting. Late afternoon or early evening light is softer and more flattering than midday sun.

Leave Plenty of Buffer Time

Things like travel, bathroom breaks, or unexpected delays can eat into your schedule. Add 10-15 minutes of buffer time between key moments to keep things stress-free and allow for any surprises.

Pro Tip: You’ll feel much more relaxed knowing you have a little extra time to breathe if something runs behind!

Indianapolis Wedding Photography Tips and Tricks

Everyone needs to be dressed and ready 2 hours before the ceremony for pictures

Even if you aren't going to see the groom before the ceremony, we will do bride and bridesmaids pictures followed by groom and groomsmen.

The Little Things: Flat Lay / Detail Photos

The details are the first thing I photograph when I arrive. This includes both rings, invitations, dress, shoes, garter, flowers, jewelry, family heirlooms... There isn't another time during the day for these items to be photographed. Please make sure to have the dress unpacked and hanging in the location you would like it photographed. We do not move the dress to ensure your gown stays pristine and not wrinkled.

Have your stylists come to you

One of the best ways to save time and reduce stress on your wedding day is to have your hair and makeup team come to your getting-ready location. Whether it’s your home, a hotel suite, or the bridal suite at your venue, having your stylist on-site eliminates travel time and allows you to relax in a familiar and comfortable space.

Pro Tip: If you would like photos of the groom getting ready, he will need to be in the same hotel or getting-ready location as you. Otherwise, we will just photograph finishing touches when he arrives at the ceremony venue.

Get a Hotel suite to get ready!

Keep in mind that if your wedding venue's bridal space is dark, cluttered, or in most cases—school rooms—your pictures will suffer due to fluorescent lighting (most will be in black and white). I suggest getting a hotel room to get ready in for the most bright and modern pictures. You will need plenty of room for stylists, your bridesmaids, family, and me :)

** BEST HOTELS DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS FOR GETTING READY***

Omni Severin, The Alexander, JW Marriott, Le Meridian, The Conrad, The Westin

*The Alexander & Omni Severin are wonderful for winter weddings due to the interior photo locations

*The Westin and Hyatt Regency have a beautiful courtyard and is across the street from the state house providing beautiful photo locations

Carmel Area: Iron Works Hotel or Hotel Carmichael

Factor in Travel Time

If your ceremony, reception, or getting-ready locations are in different spots, be sure to include travel time in your timeline. Don’t forget to account for traffic, parking, and loading/unloading.

Pro Tip: Hiring transportation for your wedding party is a great way to keep everyone together and on schedule.

Skip the receiving line after the ceremony

You will have plenty of time to greet and mingle with your guests during the reception. Receiving lines take up a huge amount of time, and guests must wait and watch you mingle with every guest rather than enjoying cocktail hour. This is one of the top complaints of guests who attend weddings.

Plan for Family Photos

Family formals are a must, but they can take longer than expected if we don’t have a plan. Before your wedding day, I’ll help you create a list of family groupings so we can keep things organized and efficient.

Pro Tip: Designate a family member or friend to help gather people for photos and make SURE family members know when and where photos will take place. It speeds up the process and keeps things moving!

Reception Decor:

Doing a first look gives us the time after the ceremony to photograph cocktail hour and the reception decor giving your more complete coverage of the day. The photographer will need to be in the reception room to take pictures 15 minutes before they let guests in the room. Typically we do this during cocktail hour. (If you've done a first look) If not, please tell the catering staff that the room needs to be set up earlier in the day if you would like it photographed.

Give Yourself a Moment to Breathe

Your wedding day will fly by, so schedule time to soak it all in. Whether it’s a quiet moment with your partner after the ceremony or a few minutes to freshen up before the reception, these pauses will help you stay present and enjoy the day.

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Pinterest

We love Pinterest! We should follow each other! Pinterest boards are so fun, but they tend to paint an unrealistic picture of a wedding day for brides, because they patchwork together hundreds of different styles, themes, climates, and light conditions, leaving a collage of great inspiration and beautiful images, but an impossible task for any bride to achieve in a single day. We don't want you to feel that pressure at all, but comfortable that you've got two professionals you can trust not to give you pinned pictures, but a wedding that's uniquely yours. If you have a pose you have been dreaming about since you were a little girl...TELL US! You are more than welcome to tell us a few poses you have been excited about (Dip, spin, forehead kiss, etc) - Just let us know. These are shots we do 90% of the time anyway ;)

We just ask that you don't send shot lists. If we are looking at a list all day recreating someone else's wedding - we won't be capturing the beautiful way your day unfolds. We have shot over 1000 beautiful weddings for happy clients, and we can't wait to photograph your unique love story

Flowers:

Please have your flowers delivered to the hotel where we will be photographing the details. We love having those gorgeous blooms for your ring shots, and photos of your invitation! Ask your florist for loose blooms for us to use in your detail photos.

Indianapolis Wedding Photographer Tips and Tricks

With a thoughtful timeline, your wedding day will feel relaxed, joyful, and unforgettable. As your photographer, I’ll be there to guide you through the day, capture every meaningful moment, and help make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. Let’s create a timeline that brings your dream day to life!

I hope this information helps you navigate the timeline planning. Check out the sample timelines below for an idea of how our typical wedding days flow. Let us know if we can help you in anyway, we love being involved in the planning process with our couples!

Sample Timeline with a firstlook

1:00 Photographer arrives to photograph details and bridal prep

1:40 Robe / PJ pic of bride and bridesmaids

1:45 Bridesmaids and Mother of the bride dressed and photo ready

1:45 Groomsmen finishing touches photos (if at same hotel as bride)

2:00 Bride puts Dress on, Bridal Portraits

2:45 Bride and Groom's First Look - Bridal Party Pictures 4:00 - family portraits -- Immediate family only. Mother, Father, Siblings, Grandparents

4:30 - completely done with photos - bridal party freshens up while guests arrive

Photographers photography empty ceremony space prior to guest arrival

5:30 - ceremony

6:00 Ceremony Ends Cocktail hour begins

6:00 Finish up any remaining photos or go to second photo location for variety - Bride and groom can attend cocktail hour or relax with bridal party

Photographers photograph recpetion details and decor prior to guest access

7:00 Introductions - Bride and groom go straight into first dance \

7:15 Blessing

7:30 - dinner

8:15 cake cutting, Toasts, followed by other special dances

8:30 Open Dancing - Dance floor photos

9pm: Photographer departs

Sample Timeline with no First look (Extended cocktail hour needed)

Only 15 minutes of photos of the bride & groom - reduced number and variety

1:00 Photographer arrives to photograph details and bridal prep

2:00 Groom finishing touches photos (if at same hotel as bride)

2:30 Bride puts on Dress & Bridal Photos

3:00 Bride and Bridesmaids Photos - Bridal portraits

3:50 girls tuck away while guys come out for photos

4:00 Groom and Groomsmen Photos

4:45 Finished with Photo's - Bride and Groom relax, grab a snack and freshen up

Photographer photographs empty cermepny space prior to guest access

5:30 Ceremony

6:00 Ceremony ends -Cocktail hour begins -NO RECEIVING LINE

6:00 Family Formals,

6:30 full wedding Party Pictures,

6:45 Bride and Groom Portraits

7:00Photographer photographs empty reception room prior to guests entering

7:15 Introductions - Straight into first dance and cake cutting

7:20 Dinner is served

8:10 Toasts followed by other special dances

8:30pm: Open dancing

9:00 Photographer departs

*Want to do a petal toss, or confetti toss with the bridal party?? We love these! Just order (Light colored confetti or petals (Ivory & blush photograph best)