When I first begin chatting with prospective couples, they often ask about the wedding day timeline first. What will each number of hours cover? Where do I go first and what do I capture?

Let’s Chat About My Wedding Day Timeline

(as your hired photographer!)

Every wedding photographer structures their day a little bit differently. There is no right or wrong way to photograph a wedding day! As a Boston wedding and elopement photographer, I take a very personal and relaxed approach. I only take on 6-7 weddings per year which allows me to get to know each couple personally.

By the end of the planning process, I like to know everything about the couple– what’s most important to them, why they’ve chosen specific details, and what their families are like. I know if they value candids or specific portraits and whether they are party animals or quiet observers.

The “Getting Ready” Hour

With full length packages like my 6 and 8 hour options, I tend to begin my day with the bride. In order to structure my day to capture the most important moments, I like to join the bride and her family/friends about an hour before departure. There I am able to capture ring and invitation details, final hair and makeup touches, and the dress.

While some couples might feel as though the “getting ready” portion of the day is unimportant, I urge them to reconsider. There is anticipation, excitement, and special family and friend moments that are quieter and more special before a huge life milestone.

While I am with the bride, my second shooter is with the groom capturing all the same moments.

The Ceremony

There are some couples that opt to see one another before the ceremony in a special “first look” so that they can get the majority of the portraits out of the way prior to their ceremony. Other couples prefer to remain traditional and catch their first glimpse of their spouse-to-be at the end of the aisle. Whatever is important to YOU is how I tailor my wedding day timeline. This couple preferred to go the traditional route so we hopped straight to the ceremony.

Some of my couples get married in churches, others outdoors. Some have 5 minute elopements in a city setting and others a low-key Boston City Hall service. Whatever your style, consider me excited. Ceremonies are some of my favorite moments of your day!

The Portrait Portion of Your Wedding Day Timeline

The portrait portion of your wedding day timeline varies widely. I know I keep saying over and over that everything varies but it really does! Everyone’s wedding is unique to their love, their venue, and their families. Traditionally post-ceremony, we would head to the venue and select a spot to begin family, couples, and bridal portraits.

Weddings that sport large bridal parties and longer lists of family formal combinations will have less time for varied backgrounds. My focus is to first ensure we get all the combinations on the list checked off before moving on to creative images with my couple. Lots of couples are foregoing bridal parties for a more relaxed feel which either leaves lots of time for images or extra time for mingling at cocktail hour.

Your Reception Hours

Your reception hours will find me capturing the details you put so much work into, photographing dances, speeches, cake cuttings and the party on the dance floor. This portion of the event is purely documentary for me as I take it all in with little (and mostly zero) direction. That is, until I steal you away for a few moments at sunset!

About 30 minutes of dance floor time is all I need to capture some great dancing moments and then I am out of your way and you’re free to dance the night away.

Let’s Custom Design Your Day!

Are you getting married in 2020 or 2021? I’d love to hear about your plans and what is important to you and your partner!

XOXO- Lyndsay