Tips for Creating Your Wedding Day Itinerary
As a wedding photographer with over eight years of experience, I've had the privilege of helping countless newlyweds plan their big day. Part of my job involves working alongside the couple to design a personalized itinerary that not only meets their needs but also aligns with the schedule created by the wedding planners to ensure everything runs smoothly.
While every wedding is unique, the structure of the itinerary tends to follow a fairly consistent formula, which mainly varies based on factors such as: the number of hours of photography and videography coverage you've booked, the locations of the events, and whether or not you've decided to do a First Look, among others. Before designing your itinerary, it’s important to answer the previous matters.
Where to Start?
The start times for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are typically quite fixed, so the first thing you'll need to define are these key times. From there, you can organize the rest of the day’s activities. In an ideal scenario, where the couple opts to capture the entire day in photos and video, a typical coverage time is around eight hours. Here’s an idea of how the main events are usually timed:
Ceremony: If it's a symbolic ceremony, it typically lasts about 30 minutes.
Cocktail hour: Around one hour.
Reception: Begins after the cocktail hour and can last several hours.
First Look: To Do or Not to Do?
One of the most important decisions is whether or not to have a First Look (a private first meeting before the ceremony). This choice will determine how your photo time is organized. If you decide to do a First Look, you'll be able to capture portraits before the ceremony, allowing you to enjoy more time with your guests during the cocktail hour and reception. If you choose not to do a First Look, your photo session will take place after the ceremony, during the cocktail hour, meaning you won’t be available to interact with your guests during that time.
You can read more about the advantages of the First Look in my blog post.
Time to Get Ready
Another key aspect of your wedding day itinerary is the time allocated for getting ready. It’s generally recommended to set aside at least one hour for each person, and if possible, I would suggest giving the person with more details about an hour and a half since their preparations tend to be longer. These times should be scheduled before the first meeting (first Look or ceremony).
The Reception: The Heart of the Celebration
The reception is one of the most awaited moments of the day, and it’s typically managed by the wedding coordinator. While the order of events can vary, here are some common activities to include in your reception itinerary:
Grand entrance of the couple.
First dance.
Family dances.
Dinner and cake cutting.
Speeches.
Party.
Bouquet and garter toss.
Additional Considerations
If the venues for your different events are far apart, don’t forget to factor in travel time between locations. This can often be a crucial element in keeping things on schedule.
Your wedding itinerary should be flexible, but having a clear plan can help avoid any surprises on the big day. If you need help designing your perfect wedding schedule, feel free to get in touch!
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