Weddings with the Seasons - Fall & Winter sample timeline + tips
Wedding Wednesday
As my fall weddings are picking up I’m finding it more and more that brides are needing timeline help to get the most out of their day! This blog post has me excited to share a sample wedding day timeline for future bride and grooms to go by whether you are deciding to have a first look or not, to be able to get the most out of your photographer and wedding day before your daylight disappears!
Now that daylight savings time has kicked in for the fall and winter season, our days are becoming shorter, and the sun is setting so much earlier! It’s SO important that if you are deciding to plan your wedding in this season, you create a wedding day timeline according to when the sun is setting. Whether you are making this timeline with a wedding planner, or even your photographer ( I LOVE helping make wedding day timelines :) ) I’m going to give you a guide to go by, so you get the MOST out of your daylight!
One of the most important deciding factors in how your timeline for the day is going to be laid out is if you are choosing on having a first look with the groom, or if you are going to keep it traditional and have him see you for the first time coming down the aisle.
Ultimately there is no right or wrong decision here, but I can say from past experiences that those that choose to have a first look during the fall and winter season tend to have a more relaxed, slower paced wedding day opposed to those that opt for the more traditional way…..and here’s why! It is VERY common for people to choose ceremony times anywhere from 3;30-5 PM. With 4 PM being the most chosen in my experience. When you choose to have a 4PM wedding day after daylight savings time, with no first look, and the sun forecasting to set around 5-5:30, that leaves EVERYBODY feeling rushed. Depending on how long your ceremony is, that only leaves about an hour to capture 3 of the most important photo groups on your wedding day which is the full bridal party all together, family formals, and bride and groom photos. The last thing you want on the biggest day of your life is for the bride and groom, or even your closest friends and family that are in your bridal party and family photos left feeling rushed as the sun is setting and you still have so much to do.
Is it possible to have a traditional wedding day with no first look and be able to accomplish it all without feeling rushed? ABSOLUTLEY….BUT you would need to move your ceremony time up an hour to around 3 to give your photographer time to get it all accomplished well, while also giving you the best experience! My goal as your wedding photographer is to make sure you have the smoothest flowing, stress-free day possible by providing you with options and tips for that to be possible!
On the other hand, if you choose to have a first look with each other before the ceremony, that leaves us extra time before the ceremony to capture bride and groom photos, and full bridal party….leaving the only thing you need to worry about after the ceremony is FAMILY, and sunset photos if the weather allows! HOW DREAMY! You get to say “I DO” and enjoy your cocktail hour with all of your favorite people and RELAX!
Whichever route you choose to take on your wedding day, it will be beautiful no matter what! So here is 2 different sample timelines based on whether you would like to have a first look or not, to give you something to go by as your making your own wedding day timeline this season so you can get the most out of your wedding day, and NOT feel rushed!
Sample Timeline for a FIRST LOOK Fall Wedding Day
11:30am: Photographer arrives/Bridal Details are photographed
12:30pm: Bridal Prep and in Dress
1:00pm: Groom Prep + Dressed
1:15pm: First Look
1:30pm: Bride and Groom photos
2:00pm: Full Bridal Party, Bridesmaids and Groomsmen photos
2:30pm: Bride and Groom in hiding waiting for ceremony
4:00pm: Ceremony
4:20pm: Family Formals/Cocktail Hour
5:00pm: Reception Starts
5:15pm: Sunset Bride and Groom Photos (if weather permits)
9:30pm: Sparkler Exit
Sample Timeline for a TRADITIONAL Fall Wedding day
12:00pm: Photographer arrives/Bridal Details are photographed
1:00pm: Bridal Prep and in Dress
1:30pm: Bridesmaids Photos
2:15pm: Groom Prep + Dressed/Groomsmen Photos
2:45pm: Bride and Groom in hiding away from each other waiting for ceremony
3:00pm: Ceremony
All of these 3 groups of photos below are being photographed during cocktail hour!
3:20pm: Full Bridal Party
3:50pm: Family Formals
4:20pm: Bride and Groom Photos (these will be sunset photos because of how early the sun sets)
5-5:15pm:Reception Starts
10:00pm: Sparkler Exit
Thanks for reading
XoXo, Sam