Planning a PERFECT Wedding Day Timeline !

Planning a PERFECT Wedding Day Timeline

It is ESSENTIAL that my brides get the MOST out of their photographic experience with my services.  Not only are they investing financially, but emotionally as well!  Photographs of their wedding day are the only tangible pieces of the candid emotions, beautiful decor and timeless moments that they have after their wedding day is done.  It is vital that everything they’ve imagined, hoped for and dreamed will be documented!  One of the ways to guarantee all of those things is through customizing the perfect wedding day timeline.

In planning and preparation for the wedding day, I carve out specific time to help my brides decide how they would like their day structured.  Do they want a first look?  Would they like to do a letter exchange?  How would they like the order of events during their reception ?  Knowing and planning these crucial details ahead of time allows for my clients to vocalize what’s important to THEM while also preparing me to document these precious moments in the most efficient and beautiful way.

I learned very quickly when I became a wedding professional is that no wedding day is ever the same.  It’s the most amazing thing!   But, the time it takes for certain things is most usually quite consistent!  I spend a lot of time before the wedding dialoguing with my brides about the details of their day, so that I can do my very best to capture the details and moments that mean the most to them.  I do this through a handful of questionnaires, and – drumroll please- one of the MOST important documents for a wedding day, the wedding day TIMELINE!

Yes, you heard that right, I work with my brides to create a custom wedding day timeline for their BIG DAY!  Now, you’re probably wondering– isn’t that the coordinator or wedding planner’s job?  And if we were face to face, I’d nod my head slightly, shake it back and forth, give you a big ole smile and say, “Yes, but it doesn’t have to be!”

Most of my brides book me because they have a deep appreciation for photography.  They love the genuine joy, candid portraiture and beautiful details that are showcased in my portfolio.  My brides all have one thing in common: they know that they want to leave a legacy, and have the most beautiful documentation of the day in which their legacy began with the man they love most!  When a bride comes to me, expressing her desire for photography to be one of her top priorities, I KNOW that I need to serve her to the BEST of my ability.  One of the ways I do that is through customizing a wedding day timeline that fits her desires, dreams and needs!

There are so many things that I could say about the customization of the wedding day timeline.  This document allows for everyone to be on time, with events clearly scheduled and an understanding for how the day will unfold.  Not only is the timeline important for the Bride, but also, the family, bridal party and even the vendors!  Everyone breathes a sign of relief when things are clearly laid out in an organized and though out way!

Here are some important tips for customizing the PERFECT Wedding Day timeline for your BIG DAY! :

1. Allow pockets of “cushion time” to be sprinkled throughout the timeline!  In all reality, Bridal Party portraits only have to take 10-15 minutes.  BUT I always try and schedule them for 20-25.  Photographing details in the bridal suite usually only take me 60 minutes, but I most always schedule them for 90.  Why?  Because doing this allows for me to have pockets of “cushion time” in case any event takes longer than anticipated.  If the bride’s hair and makeup goes over, it’s okay because I’ve scheduled a little cushion of extra time elsewhere !
2. Put LOCATION addresses of the Getting Ready locations, Ceremony, and reception IN the Timeline !
3. DO a first look!  I struggled with whether or not David and I should do a first look for our wedding.  I wanted that “iconic” image of him seeing me walk down the aisle for the very first time as a bride.  BUT, I’m SO grateful our photographer encouraged us to do a first look instead.   Not only will we get MORE bride + groom portraits, but we also will have time together on our wedding day that we wouldn’t have had without a first look.  David will still cry– TRUST me!  And I’ll still get that iconic image, but we also will have “nerves” before we say “I do” because we’ve had that time together before the ceremony !
4. Use the Timeline as the lock screen on your phone!  This allows for you to simply click a button and have easy access to what comes next!
5. Schedule Bride + Groom portraits around golden hour!  Golden hour is 2 hours before sunset– and TRUST ME, golden hour is the time you’ll want your photo taken!! AH!
6. Insert times that vendors have agreed to ARRIVE and put phone numbers of each vendor by their arrival time.  That way if someone is late, a coordinator has easy access to a vendor’s information.
7. Schedule a “fake exit” !  One of the BEST things I’ve done over the last year is start offering “fake exits” to my couples.  A lot of them want an iconic “leaving” portrait– and I LOVE that!  But, sometimes, time runs out, and I’m scheduled to leave before the actual reception is over.  Instead of forcing my couples to leave their reception early, we schedule a fake exit right before my coverage ends.  That way, my bride and groom can get their iconic portrait and then go right back to the party!

I hope this tips help  !!  Any questions?  Feel free to email me!! xoxo

xoxox

Anna Filly