Your wedding day will fly by—so having a well-planned wedding photography timeline ensures you don’t miss a single moment. Whether you’re planning a destination wedding or a stylish Miami celebration, knowing when and where photos will happen helps you get the best shots without the stress.
At Yes I Do Production, we walk alongside you through the entire planning process, helping you build a timeline that flows beautifully, keeps you relaxed, and maximizes your wedding photography coverage.
Why a Wedding Photography Timeline Matters
The secret to beautiful, stress-free wedding photos? Intentional timing and great light. A carefully thought-out wedding photo schedule makes sure:
• There’s plenty of time for the photos you want
• You get the best natural lighting
• We stay ahead of any delays
• You can fully enjoy your day while we capture the moments that matter
Ideal Wedding Ceremony Times (By Month)
To ensure you have enough daylight after the ceremony for family and couple portraits, we recommend these ceremony start times:
• January: 3:00 PM
• February: 3:30 PM
• March: 4:00 PM
• April: 5:00 PM
• May: 6:00 PM
• June: 6:30 PM
• July: 6:30 PM
• August: 6:00 PM
• September: 5:00 PM
• October: 4:00 PM
• November: 4:00 PM
• December: 3:00 PM
Before scheduling your ceremony, be sure to check the SUNSET TIME (Florida)
How Much Time Do We Need for Wedding Photos?
Here’s how we typically break it down when building your custom timeline:
Getting Ready Photos:
2 — 2.5 hours
This window allows us to photograph your bridal details, makeup/hair touch-ups, and fun moments with your bridal party.
Pro Tip: Adding just a little more time here allows us to take separate portraits of the bride and groom with their family and individual wedding parties. This way, after the ceremony we can focus only on the combined group shots—saving time and keeping things relaxed.
First Look (Optional):
15 — 20 minutes
A short but powerful moment. We love when couples exchange personal vows during the first look—it adds so much emotion to the experience and looks amazing on video.
Pre-Ceremony Portraits (With First Look): 1.5- 2 hours
• Couple portraits
• Wedding party
• Immediate family
This gets most of the formal photos done early, so you can enjoy more of cocktail hour.
Post-Ceremony Portraits
If you choose not to do a first look, you’ll need this time after the ceremony for:
• Full wedding party
• Combined family portraits
• Couple portraits at golden hour
Sample 10-Hour Wedding Photography Timelines
With First Look (Based on a 5:00 PM Ceremony)
12:00 PM — Photographer arrives: details + getting ready
2:00 PM — First look + private vows
2:30 PM — Couple portraits
3:00 PM — Wedding party + family portraits
4:15 PM — Travel/setup time at ceremony
5:00 PM — Ceremony
5:30 PM — Group shots + sunset portraits
6:30 PM — Reception begins
7:00 PM — Dinner, speeches
8:30 PM — First dances, party coverage
10:00 PM — Photography coverage ends
Without First Look (Based on a 4:00 PM Ceremony)
11:30 AM — Photographer arrives: getting ready & individual portraits
2:00 PM — Bride with bridesmaids, Groom with groomsmen (separate)
3:00 PM — Bride with family, Groom with family (separate)
3:30 PM — Travel/setup at ceremony
4:00 PM — Ceremony
5 PM — Combined family, full wedding party, couple portraits
6:00 PM — Cocktail hour ends, reception begins
6:30 PM — Dinner, speeches
8:30 PM — First dances, cake, party coverage
9:30 PM — Photography coverage ends
Sample 8-Hour Wedding Photography Timeline
Without First Look + Extended Cocktail Hour (Recommended!)
If you’re skipping the first look, we recommend extending your cocktail hour to 1.5 hours. This gives us more time after the ceremony for formal portraits without feeling rushed and allows space for more creative shots of the couple.
12:00 PM — Photographer arrives: getting ready + individual portraits
1:45 PM — Bride with bridesmaids / Groom with groomsmen
2:30 PM — Bride with family / Groom with family
3:30 PM — Travel/setup at ceremony
4:00 PM — Ceremony
4:30 PM — 6:00 PM — Extended cocktail hour + all formal portraits:
• Combined family
• Full wedding party
• Bride & groom sunset portraits
6:30 PM — Reception begins
8:00 PM — Speeches, dances, candids
8:30 PM — Photography coverage ends
Why it works:
Extending cocktail hour gives us time to work efficiently and artistically without pressure. It keeps your energy high, allows guests to mingle longer, and ensures your portraits are both polished and relaxed.
We Plan Every Detail With You
At Yes I Do Production, we don’t just show up with a camera—we become your timeline co-pilot. We communicate directly with every couple to create a personalized, detailed wedding photography timeline based on your vision, locations, and ceremony time.
We build in time for travel, lighting conditions, and creative portraits, so you can relax and enjoy your day knowing we’ve got every detail covered.
Planning a traditional wedding?
We highly recommend 10 hours of coverage to give space for all the important moments. But even with 8 hours, thoughtful planning (and a longer cocktail hour) helps us capture everything beautifully.
Ready to create the perfect wedding timeline for photos and film?
Contact us here and let’s plan your day, your way—with no missed moments.
LET’S GET IN TOUCH
Complete our inquiry form and we will get back to you within 24-48 hours. Please include as much information about your upcoming event or photoshoot.
+ 1(302)-727-9203
welcome.yesidoproduction@gmail.com
LET’S MAKE YOUR HISTORY TOGETHER!
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Best Time to Get Married in Florida: A Photographer’s Guide to Perfect Wedding Timing
Title: Why the Bride Getting Ready Is One of the Most Emotional Wedding Day Moments
