A question I get asked about a lot when it comes to planning a wedding is about the time keeping of the day. This can be a hard question to answer, as no two weddings are the same. However, i will do my best to answer this as best as possible for you all, and hopefully it will help you all with the planning of the morning of your day.
What your photographer should be doing
When you reach out to a wedding photographer, the planning for them has already started. They are already checking to make sure they have your date free, they are already on google looking at your location and getting ideas to make your day extra special. This is just the tip on the iceberg of what a photographer will be doing, but what I'm going to do is break down the timings of the day as I get a lot of questions about time management for the morning of a wedding. So let's get started!
Let's break this down a little more.
Researching The Location
If possible, visit the wedding venue ahead of time so you know exactly where you will be taking your images. This always saves a little time on the big day, and it's even better if your photographer can come with you. A good photographer will try and do a pre shoot so they can try and get a feel for what the lighting may be like come the day of your wedding. Make sure to have two or three locations where you can go for your images so you can leed people directly to these spots and not waste time wandering around. This can make the difference between being away for an hour with your photographer, and being away for half an hour.
Know the wedding schedule
With your photographer, they will be responsible for capturing all the important wedding moments from your big day, this can range from the bride and groom morning preparations to the all important first kiss and first dance. So if you can get a detailed copy of the wedding schedule and get this to your photographer this can help make sure that any important shots wont get missed.
One question you may get asked by your photographer is to confirm things like, dates, and times, finding out where the bride will be getting ready, weather there will be parking close by, dinner times, the list really does go on and on. Having some sort of idea on times will help make the day run much smoother.
Here is what a typical wedding day break down may look like.
Couples Prep
First Look
Ceremony
Bridal Party Photos
Family Formal Wedding Photos
Couples Formal Portraits
Meal
Reception
Each wedding is different and times can vary, but here I have tried to give you some sort of idea on time scales.
All together you should set aside about 2-2.5 hours for your hair & makeup.
Typically bridal prep can vary depending on different reasons, such as:
the size of your bridal party
the complexity of the hairstyles and makeup for each person
travel time between where you get ready and where the ceremony will be held.
how many makeup artists are with you for the morning
All of these can contribute to the timing for getting ready, which is why it is really important to plan well in advance.
The photographer would typically arrive anywhere between 30-40 minutes after your hair and makeup artist arrive. This is so everyone can set up and position the bride in the correct lighting ready for when the photographer gets there. In this time, it also gives the wedding party the chance to wake up and have something to eat, without a photographer being there with a camera in their face.
Details and general candids: 30 minutes
Bridesmaids together in robes: 5-10 minutes
Bride getting dressed and finishing touches: 20 minutes (wait to put on earrings, jewelry, and shoes until after you’re dressed)
The doing up of the dress 5-10 minutes
First look with dad/parents: 5-15 minutes (this can be faster if it happens and coordinated in the same room. If you have to find another place it will take longer as you will have to move all the participants and tidy the environment.
No two weddings are ever the same, and these times should be used as a guideline only. But remember, have fun, that's the most important thing to take away from all this. Times should only be a guide, and every part of the planning, and the day, should be enjoyable. Please don't get me wrong, planning can be hard, but it's only as hard as you make it.
If you should have any questions about anything that's been spoken about in this blog, please do reach out to me. I love it when people ask me questions about my blogs, and if anything I have shared with you all has helped at all, then the blog was a success.
Thanks for reading.
Website: www.jordanwadephotography.co.uk
Mobile: 07539363382
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