Your Wedding Day Guide
By ABBOTT PHOTO AND FILM
You’re getting married! Yay!
Only two things are going to remain after your wedding day: your marriage (duh) and your memories. That’s where we come in. As your photographer, we want to help you capture all the special moments that you’ll want to relive for the rest of your lives!
Our guide exists to help accomplish this goal. By planning ahead (and thinking creatively), we can make sure your photos are everything you’re dreaming of!
Understanding Your Wedding Day Timeline
Planning your wedding day timeline is crucial. We typically arrive about four hours before the ceremony to capture all the details (this really depends on the package you have booked with us).
While planning, consider the lighting for your family photos, wedding party shots, and couple portraits. Ideally, you’ll choose a ceremony time that gives enough time for sunlit pictures following the ceremony, but if you’re dreaming of a sunset ceremony, we’ll make it work!
A few months before your wedding, we'll send you a timeline questionnaire to gather all the details. The more thorough we can plan beforehand, the more relaxed and present you can be on your big day!
You’ll find a sample timeline attached below. By no means is this prescriptive, but it can help get you thinking about what you do (or don’t) want to include and how much time to allot for each event.
Flatlay Details
To create beautiful flat lay shots (as seamlessly as possible), please have the following items ready in a labeled box:
This will help us capture your images quickly without wasting precious wedding day time locating missing items!
Bride Details:
Invitation suite, rings (both sides), ring box, shoes, bouquets, extra floral cuts, perfume, jewelry, and any other special items you want to be photographed.
Groom Details:
Shoes, cufflinks, tie, and any other special items.
Prepping the Getting Ready Space
Your getting-ready space can affect your entire bridal party's mood! If you’re in a cramped, poorly lit space, everyone is going to feel a little stressed (and your pictures will reflect it).
While the space available may depend largely on your venue, do your best to choose a clean, spacious, and well-lit location. Ideally, getting ready near a window will help us capture those glowing, special photos (and not the yellow-tinged public bathroom overhead lighted ones)!
When choosing what to wear, we know it can be tempting to throw on what’s comfiest, but you’re not going to love looking back at the special time of you and your bridesmaids gathered together on the eve of your marriage… in your faded, stained sweatpants.
It’s a great idea to choose cute, matching pj sets for your bridal party or an easy, flowing gown. Not only will this help set the tone of the morning, but it looks great in photos!
Notes
for Family Photos
Family photos usually come right after the ceremony (so it’s a great idea to warn family to stick around).
Please prepare a list of must-have family photos. This ensures we capture all the important people in your life without missing anyone or scrambling to remember them all day-of. You can search online for sample lists, or brainstorm your own! Please share names in your list, as it avoids any awkward family dynamics (and people are a lot faster to respond to their names when I call them than when I ask for the bride’s second uncle!)
for Wedding Party
After family photos, we will take photos with your full wedding party (bridesmaids and groomsmen). *If you choose to do a first look, we may take these before the ceremony.
for Couple Photos
One of our favorite parts! This is the time set aside (usually about 30-45 minutes) to get all those dreamy shots that will be framed in your house for decades to come. If possible, we will also whisk away to take sunset photos (depending on the timeline of your wedding day).
for Ceremony
We typically like to arrive 45 minutes to an hour before the ceremony to capture the details of the venue before guests arrive, and to prepare to capture the moment, from the flower girl prancing down the aisle to the victorious exit.
*You may want to consider an unplugged ceremony. While guests have the best intentions, your Great Aunt’s attempt to capture the shot (bless her!) can end up ruining an otherwise picture-perfect moment.
Reception
During the reception, we’ll capture all the key moments.
GRAND ENTRANCE
These are such fun, candid shots! However, depending on your venue, lighting can be tricky. We always recommend string lights where possible, but if needed please remember to tell your DJ to turn off any colored, strobed, or otherwise distracting lights during your entrance*. Trust us, you don’t want a neon hue to ruin the moment.
*This also goes for your first dance, parent dances, speeches, cake cutting, and any other photo-worthy moments.
DINNER
Generally, photos are unnecessary during the meal. This makes it a great time for your vendors (including us!) to eat! All vendors work hard throughout your wedding day and need a chance to reenergize for the rest of the evening. Please remember to assign us a seat at or near the reception, so we’re ready and prepared the moment the party moves on!
PARTY
Who doesn’t love this part? The photos captured during the dancing always reflect the personality of the families and friends present, and become memories you’ll cherish!
EXIT
We love a sparkler exit, but not every venue allows this- so check with yours! If you need help brainstorming other exit ideas that will make for beautiful photos, don’t hesitate to ask!
Let's Remember
Make it your own
Remember, this is your day! These are guides and suggestions, not rules. If you have ideas, thoughts, concerns, or questions, bring them all to our pre-wedding meeting or call.
What to expect next
If you haven’t yet received them, be on the lookout for your…
- Text or email to schedule and plan your engagement session.
- Wedding Timeline Questionnaire: Sent about 10 weeks before your wedding to draft your wedding schedule.
- Details Questionnaire: Sent 6 weeks before your wedding to finalize details (like the family shot list).
Sample Wedding Schedule
Here’s an example of how your wedding day might look:
- 12:30 pm - Flat Lay Photos & Dress Shot
- 1:15 pm - Robe Photos With Bridesmaids
- 1:30 pm - Groom + Groomsmen Getting Ready Photos
- 1:45 pm - Bridal Session
- 2:15 pm - First Look with Groom + Bride & Portraits
- 2:45 pm - Wedding Party Portraits
- 3:15 pm - Immediate Family Portraits
- 3:45 pm - Hide for Guests/Photo Details
- 4:30 pm - Ceremony
5:00 pm - Extended Family Photos/Optional Bride and Groom Photos
5:30 pm - Join Cocktail Hour
6:00 pm - Grand Entrance/Couples First Dance/Welcome Toast and Prayer
6:15 pm - Dinner
6:40 pm - Toasts
7:10 pm - Cake Cutting
7:15 pm - Sunset Photos
7:45 pm - First Dances/Bouquet Toss/Garter Toss
8:00 pm - Open Dance Floor
8:30 pm - 👋 Photo & Video Wrap Up
With these tips, your wedding day (and the photos that capture it) will be everything you’re dreaming of!