Is this an unreasonable photography timeline?
2pm - final stages of getting ready shots, both boys and girls on the same property 3pm - ceremony, no group shots or congrats afterwards, 3.30pm - straight into family shots (14 people all up, 2 families) the property then a few bridal party shots at same location as family shots, 4.10pm - Bridal party and bride & groom shots off property (5 min drive) 5.30pm - Bridal party re-entrance going into reception, 6.20pm - Sparkler shot 6.30pm - Dinner 8pm - Cake cut and first dance
Question Asked: 27/02/2023
Wedding Date: 9/08/2018
Most Helpful Response
(12) · Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, servicing all of South East Queensland.
Posted: 26/06/2026
Answered by: 6 Experts
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I wouldnt say this is unreasonable. We work to our Couples timeframe and the time of their Reception. We recommend an hour of Bridal prep shots if there is one photographer, and half an hour with one photographer with the guys onsite if they prefer rather then getting ready images. With two photographers you can have an hour with the Bride and an hour with the Groom. I recomend not to do congratulations with the guests if you have an early reception start and you need an hour of Bridal party and Bride and groom shots after the ceremony, this can maek the Bridal shoot short and you late for reception. If your ceremony is earlier in the day and Reception is later e.g a 2 hour window after ceremony, you have time to chat with the Guests.
It's always lovely for a photographer when there is a timeline on the day. From experience I would say there is no way to avoid the congrats moment as your guests will insist and it does make for absolutely beautiful images. Twenty minutes is plenty and will make the older guests especially happy. It also gives the couple a chance to take in the ceremony and breathe for a second. I do like to allow a little more time for getting ready shots when possible. It is a good opportunity to get comfortable with having your photo taken and sort of forget the photographer is there. Plus to really highlight the effort you have put in to hair and makeup and dress and all the little details that it's easy to miss once the excitement starts.
(15) · Sydney, Hunter Valley, Southern Highlands, Newcastle, and more.
Posted: 28/02/2023
Hey,
You've done a great job planning out the timeline already. Here is what I'd recommend and remember to allow wiggle room in between so you can take a moment and reflect, and enjoy your day too :)
12:30 pm - Boys prep
1:30 pm - Girls Prep
2:30 pm - The photograph arrives at the ceremony
3:00 pm - Ceremony
3:30 pm - 3:50 - Family Photos
10 min - Breathing room
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Wedding Party Photos
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm - Bride + Groom only photos (30 - 45 mins is ok as well depending how many locations you'd want to be covered)
Wishing you an incredible wedding experience :)
Sheri x
I wouldn't say it is unreasonable, as photos can go very quick if the photographer has an assistant that can help out. But I would add like 15 min to each time slot - there's a lot going on at a wedding and I know you say that you don't want to do the "congrats" after the ceremony, but there's alsway that one person that wants to hug and say congrats. The only concern I would have is the 2pm photoshoot - I would allow another 30min or so just to be sure you have everything covered since it is two seperate photoshoots. I hope this makes sense.
The preparation time is ok but a little short. I'd recommend 20-30mins each for boys & girls, and then allow a good 15-20mins before the ceremony starts (to capture guest shots, the set up etc). So 1.30pm start time will be much better - just means less rush = better photos.
Straight after the ceremony I'd allow some time for mingling & congrats from guests etc. It's a nice time to capture some candid photos vs going straight into formal / family photos.
Will it be dark for a sparkler photo at 6.30pm? Ok if it is a winter wedding...
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I need to check sunset times for the relevant period to give accurate advice on that sparkler shot, since the question was asked in late February but the timeline reads like it could be planned for any season.
Honestly, this isn't unreasonable at all. You've actually planned it better than most couples we see, and having both of you getting ready on the same property is a real time saver. The one thing I'd gently push back on is the buffer. Weddings drift. People wander off, a button pops, Nan wants a hug, and suddenly you're ten minutes behind before you've even reached the ceremony. Where you can, I'd add five to ten minutes of breathing room between blocks rather than stretching any single block out. It keeps the day relaxed and stops a small delay early on from snowballing into your reception.
On the no congrats line after the ceremony: I understand the instinct, but in practice your guests will swarm you the moment you're married whether it's on the run sheet or not. Rather than fighting it, give it ten or fifteen minutes and let us shoot it as candids. Those hugs and happy tears are some of the most genuine photos of the whole day, and it buys you both a moment to actually feel married before the formals start. Fourteen people across two families is very manageable in your 3.30 slot if you give us a tight family shot list in advance, that's the single biggest thing that keeps group photos quick.
The sparkler shot is where timing really matters, and it depends entirely on your season. In Brisbane the shortest day of the year sits around the winter solstice on 21 June, with roughly ten and a half hours of daylight, while the longest day around the summer solstice on 22 December stretches to nearly fourteen hours. The latest sunset of the year here is around 6:49pm in mid January, and after sunset civil twilight only lasts roughly thirty minutes before the sky really darkens. So a 6.20pm sparkler shot is gorgeous in winter when it's properly dark, but in mid summer the sky will still be too bright for the sparklers to glow. If you're a summer wedding, I'd shift the sparklers later to closer to 7.30 or after first dance, and just lock the exact time once you know your date.
One last practical note from our side: that 4.10pm drive off property for bride and groom shots is the right call, the change of scene gives you variety and a quiet ten minutes alone together, which you'll be grateful for. Just confirm the drive is genuinely five minutes with parking, because a tight turnaround into your 5.30 re-entrance leaves no margin. And because we edit everything ourselves in house, the way we light and time these golden hour and sparkler moments is exactly how they'll look when they come back to you, so getting the timeline right on the day is what makes the final gallery sing.