A wedding day timeline for photographers

Before the ceremony

• Getting ready for each side — and where.
• Details: rings, invitations, attire.
• A first look or family moments, if planned.
• Travel time between venues, plus a buffer.

Ceremony and family photos

Agree the family groupings in advance and ask one relative to gather people. A written list turns forty-five chaotic minutes into twenty calm ones.

Portraits

Plan couple portraits for the softest light of the day, often the hour before sunset, and keep fifteen minutes in reserve.

Reception

• Entrances, speeches, first dance and cake cutting at agreed times.
• Meal breaks for the team on long days.
• An agreed end time — and the rate if it runs late.

Multi-day weddings

For weddings with pre-events — a Mehndi, Sangeet, rehearsal dinner or reception on another day — give each event its own timeline, start and end time and location, and put every one in the contract.