“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
Garry Winogrand
Wedding day schedule
There's no doubting that wedding planning is overwhelming and stressful. But we're here to help! With a decade of experience and many weddings under my belt, I'm always happy to help provide some real-life guidance through the full process of planning your wedding.
There are many variables with weddings, which we will touch on below, that will help give you a clearer picture of what to expect. If you're still feeling stuck, feel free to reach out, and we can help give you some one-on-one guidance to help make the process as smooth as possible
The best way to work out a timeline that works for you is by working back from the sunset end time.
Oh, how easy they have it! While the boys might get ready a little faster, there are still key details we don’t want to miss. Groom prep doesn't have to be 'boring', we can make this as fun as possible. Let's face it, when are you and the boys gonna look this shmick and get photos again?
Shots of suits, shoes, rings, cufflinks, and other accessories help set the scene for the day. Once the details are captured, we’ll photograph the boys getting ready, with some final candid moments to follow.
Pro tip: Have a few drinks and possibly cigars on hand for this part, as it really makes for some relaxed, fun shots of them hanging out. You know what ever makes the boys feel like themselves.
After the boys are done, we’ll move on to the girls’ preparations. Typically, starting with the boys works best since hair and makeup tend to take longer and finish closer to the ceremony.
Groom Prep
Recommended time frame: 45-60 minutes
Now it’s time with the girls, and we’re diving into all those exquisite details. We’ll begin by capturing the final touches of hair and makeup, showcasing everyone in full glam.
While we wait for everyone to be completely ready, we’ll photograph the little details that make the day so special! The dress, shoes, rings, perfume, jewellery, flowers, and more.
Once the details are captured, we’ll move on to some beautiful shots of the girls together. Planning any fun robe or PJ photos? Getting little ones ready? Maybe a little boudoir? This is the perfect moment to pop a bottle of bubbly and capture a few joyful cheers.
Next, we’ll photograph the bride as she’s zipped or buttoned into her gown, followed by the final, intimate shots to complete the getting-ready story.
Pro tip: if your parents or bridesmaids haven’t seen you in your dress yet, consider a “first look” with them here; it’s the perfect moment to capture some truly unforgettable candid moments.
Bridal Prep
Recommended time frame: 60-120 minutes (1-2hours)
Most ceremonies tend to follow a timeline of around 30–60 minutes, including guest arrival. Though yours may run longer if you’re including cultural or religious traditions or shorter if you aren't doing any personalised parts.
This special moment captures everything from walking down the aisle and exchanging your vows, first kiss, to signing the registry and taking your first steps back as a married couple.
Ceremonies can take so many forms, so our top tip is to choose a celebrant who truly resonates with you and understands your values as a couple. Some couples love a grand, heartfelt storytelling approach, while others prefer a more understated celebration. Ensuring your celebrant knows you well allows your ceremony to feel personal, meaningful, and beautifully reflective of your love story.
Ceremony
Recommended timeframe: 30-60 minutes (this includes guest arrival)
Once the ceremony has ended, we always recommend a little breathing room for you to embrace your guests, exchange hugs and kisses, and soak up the joy before moving into formal portraits.
After those first greetings, we’ll gather everyone for a beautiful group photo, followed by family portraits. To make sure no VIP guests slip away before their moment in front of the camera, we’ll announce family photos right away. Every family dynamic is unique, which is why we ask our couples to prepare a list of photo combinations in advance.
Here’s a little insider tip: if you’re planning a larger wedding, set aside some extra time to greet your guests after portraits finish. It helps everything flow seamlessly and ensures those family photos are filled with genuine smiles.
Family Portraits
Recommended timeframe: 10-20 minutes (this includes a small break to recieve hugs)
Building in a dedicated cocktail hour after the ceremony is one of the most valuable parts of your wedding timeline. Beyond being a beautiful tradition, it gives you the gift of slowing down.
Mingle with your guests, they came all this way to see YOU!! anddddd maybe the drinks and food, but mainly you.
This pocket of time allows you to breathe, refresh, and truly take in the magic of the moment. You’ll have the chance to mingle with your guests, exchange warm hugs and congratulations, raise a glass, do a champagne tower and finally enjoy a few canapés. Something couples often forget to do in the whirlwind of the day. It’s these moments of connection, laughter, and ease that often become some of the most cherished memories.
This break also creates balance in your schedule. Instead of rushing straight from “I do” into portraits, you’re able to ease into the flow of the day with intention. Should the weather be unpredictable, this flexibility becomes even more important. If the skies bring rain, we can seamlessly move your portraits forward during cocktail hour to ensure they’re captured beautifully before the light fades.
Having this built-in buffer ensures nothing feels hurried, every moment is savoured, and your portraits are bathed in the best possible light.
Cocktail hour & Canapés
Recommended timeframe: 60-75 minutes
Now comes one of the most joyful parts of the day .... Portraits !!!
Every wedding is unique, and the timing for these photos can vary depending on factors like your bridal party size, the season, and whether you’ll be staying on-site or travelling to another location.
As a guide, if your photos are being taken at your venue, setting aside around 60-90 minutes is ideal. This gives us plenty of time to capture a mix of stunning portraits with you and your partner, as well as the fun, candid moments with your bridal party.
If you’re venturing off-site, it’s worth allowing some extra time, what might look like a quick five-minute drive can easily stretch once you factor in gathering the bridal party, coordinating cars, and making sure food and drinks come along for the ride.
The season also plays a big role, as light changes dramatically throughout the year—winter weddings often bring a 5pm sunset, while summer offers the golden glow closer to 7 pm or even later in NSW, VIC & SA.
If you’re ever unsure how much time to allocate, just reach out and I can assess the time based on the time of year
Bridal Party & Couples Portraits
Recommended timeframe: 60-90minutes
Reception timelines vary slightly depending on your venue, but on average, they flow between 4–6 hours.
Within this time, you’ll move seamlessly through dinner, heartfelt speeches, the cutting of the cake, your first dance, and of course, an unforgettable dance floor filled with energy.
As part of the evening, we love slipping away with our couples for a few minutes after dinner to capture cinematic night portraits just a 10-minute window for some truly magical frames and , if you’re envisioning a signature champagne spray moments, all you’ll need are two bottles of budget bubbly. They say a brut is the better kind to spray with (save the good champagne for your bridal party’s glasses!).
Reception
Recommended timeframe: 60-90minutes