Recently, I contributed an article to a website that offers simple tips to digital photographers. While the content is geared to photographers, the tips are also helpful for brides and grooms planning their wedding day timeline.
A wedding is a big event. Planning a beautiful party for 200-300 guests takes a lot of organization, time and work! You want everything to be perfect–and you want to enjoy the day.
There is a lot to consider when deciding on the timing of the wedding day events and how they will all work together so the wedding party and guests have a relaxing, wonderful experience. Being prepared is the best way to make sure your day runs smooth.
In the article, I offer tips like figuring out how much time you really need. This applies well to wedding couples, since knowing the full itinerary factors into the schedule. It makes sense to find out before the wedding day how long your stylist will need to do your hair. Also, the time it takes to travel from one location to the next, such as from the salon to the church or the church to the reception needs to be added to your timeline.
I also suggest checking in with all your wedding professionals. Find out how everyone from the florist to the caterer will fit into your day. The follow questions may help you:
• Ask when hair and make-up appointments are scheduled to be done;
• Find out where the flowers are being delivered and at what time;
• Ask how long the ceremony will last and decide if you’ll do a receiving line, or somehow greet guests formally right after the ceremony;.
• How much time does your photographer need for photographs;
• What time will dinner be served
• When would the DJ or band like to start the dance.
Another idea I suggest in the article is to consider a “first look.” If your time between ceremony and reception is tight, it can be hard to get all the photographs that you want done in that window of time. Allowing a special moment for the bride and groom to see each other for the first time at the beginning of the day can open up the idea of doing photographs before the ceremony.
When you look at all the elements that go into the schedule on the wedding day, you can be prepared. When you see how the photography fits into your schedule, you can make sure you’ll allow enough time for all the photographs you want.
As wedding photographers, we love to think photography is the most important element of a bride and groom’s wedding day. Surely they want fabulous wedding photography, so certainly they will give us all the time in the world to create beautiful images. But it doesn’t really work that way. Weddings are busy. Often you are […]
Click the link to read my whole article over on the Digital Photography School website!
Source: Digital Photography Tips and Tutorials – Digital Photography School
