Here are a few sample wedding day timelines based on our recommendations. Every wedding is different so you can shift the times as needed, but we suggest allotting 30 minutes for family portraits, 30 minutes for Bride + Groom portraits, and 10-15 minutes for wedding party. We always suggest allowing for a little wiggle room for each section within the timeline because it’s inevitable that at some point there will be a hiccup :)
→ These timelines are based on 7-8 hours of photography coverage. If you want more getting ready/preparation photos or more reception dancing + grand exit photos, then you might need to book 9-10 hours of coverage with us.
3:00 – Fete Photography arrives / Bridge + Groom (B+G) getting ready candid photos
3:45 – B+G finished getting dressed
4:00 – Private first look followed by a few portraits (B+G only)
4:15 – Family + wedding party should be dressed and onsite by this time
4:30 – Wedding party + family portraits begin
5:15 – B+G get tucked away before guests arrive
6:00 – Ceremony begins
6:25 – Ceremony ends / Cocktail hour begins for guests
*B+G + wedding party + immediate family should hide away from guests*
*Family and wedding party: DO NOT wander off*
6:30 – Family + wedding party portraits we couldn’t do prior to the ceremony
6:45-7:10 – A few more B+G portraits as official newlyweds :)
7:10 – Cocktail hour ends / guests seated
7:15 – Reception Begins / B+G, wedding party announced / B+G First Dance / Dinner
8:30ish – step out for Bride + Groom sunset photos (5-7 minutes)
8:40 – Reception / first dances, toasts, cake cutting, dancing!
10:00 – (if 7 hours of coverage, Fete Photography departs now)
10:55 – Guests line up for Grand Exit (if applicable)
11:00 – That’s all folks! Fete Photography departs
3:00 – Fete Photography arrives / Bridge + Groom (B+G) getting ready candid photos
3:45 – Groom finished getting dressed
3:50 – Groom + groomsmen portraits (plus any family members Groom wants posed photos with)
4:10 – Groom + groomsmen gets tucked away
4:15 – Bride finished getting dressed
4:20 – Bridal + bridesmaids portraits (plus any family members Bride wants posed photos with)
4:45 – Bride gets tucked away before guests arrive
5:30 – Ceremony begins
5:55 – Ceremony ends / Cocktail hour begins for guests
*B+G + wedding party + immediate family should hide away from guests*
*Family and wedding party: DO NOT wander off*
6:00 – Family portraits begin ASAP with B+G
6:30 – Wedding party portraits
6:45 – Bridge + Groom portraits (wedding party can go to cocktail hour)
7:20 – Cocktail hour ends / guests seated
7:30 – Reception Begins / B+G, wedding party announced / B+G First Dance / Dinner
8:30ish – step out for Bride + Groom sunset photos (5-7 minutes)
8:40 – Reception / first dances, toasts, cake cutting, dancing!
10:00 – (if 7 hours of coverage, Fete Photography departs now)
10:55 – Guests line up for Grand Exit (if applicable)
11:00 – That’s all folks! Fete Photography departs
2:00 – Fete Photography arrives / Bridge + Groom (B+G) getting ready candid photos
2:45 – B+G finished getting dressed
3:00 – Private first look followed by a few portraits (B+G only)
3:15 – Family + wedding party should be dressed and onsite by this time
3:30 – Wedding party + family portraits
4:15 – B+G get tucked away before guests arrive
5:00 – Ceremony begins
5:25 – Ceremony ends / Cocktail hour begins for guests
*B+G + wedding party + immediate family should hide away from guests*
*Family and wedding party: DO NOT wander off*
5:30 – Family + wedding party portraits we couldn’t do prior to the ceremony
5:45-6:10 – A few more B+G portraits as official newlyweds :)
6:10 – Cocktail hour ends / guests seated
6:15 – Reception Begins / B+G, wedding party announced / B+G First Dance / Dinner
6:50ish – step out for Bride + Groom sunset photos (5-7 minutes)
7:00 – Reception / first dances, toasts, cake cutting, dancing!
9:00 – (if 7 hours of coverage, Fete Photography departs now)
9:55 – Guests line up for Grand Exit (if applicable)
10:00 – That’s all folks! Fete Photography departs
2:00 – Fete Photography arrives / Bridge + Groom (B+G) getting ready candid photos
2:45 – Groom finished getting dressed
2:50 – Groom + groomsmen portraits (plus any family members Groom wants posed photos with)
3:10 – Groom + groomsmen gets tucked away
3:20 – Bride finished getting dressed
3:30 – Bridal + bridesmaids portraits (plus any family members Bride wants posed photos with)
4:10 – Bride gets tucked away before guests arrive
5:00 – Ceremony begins
5:25 – Ceremony ends / Cocktail hour begins for guests
*B+G + wedding party + immediate family should hide away from guests*
*Family and wedding party: DO NOT wander off*
5:30 – Family portraits begin ASAP with B+G
6:00 – Wedding party portraits
6:15 – Bridge + Groom portraits (30-35 minutes) / sun sets around 6:45ish
6:50 – Cocktail hour ends / guests seated
7:00 – Reception Begins / B+G, wedding party announced / B+G First Dance / Dinner
7:30 – Step out for Bride + Groom ‘blue hour’ photos (5 minutes)
7:45 – Reception / first dances, toasts, cake cutting, dancing!
9:00 – (if 7 hours of coverage, Fete Photography departs now)
9:55 – Guests line up for Grand Exit (if applicable)
10:00 – That’s all folks! Fete Photography departs
1:00 – Fete Photography arrives / Bridge + Groom (B+G) getting ready candid photos
1:45 – B+G finished getting dressed
2:00 – Private first look followed by a few portraits (B+G only)
2:15 – Family + wedding party should be dressed and onsite by this time
2:30 – Wedding party + family portraits
3:15 – B+G get tucked away before guests arrive
4:00 – Ceremony begins
4:25 – Ceremony ends / Cocktail hour begins for guests
*B+G + wedding party + immediate family should hide away from guests*
*Family and wedding party: DO NOT wander off*
4:30 – Family + wedding party portraits we couldn’t do prior to the ceremony
4:45-5:00 – A few more B+G portraits as official newlyweds :)
5:10 – Cocktail hour ends / guests seated
5:15 – Reception Begins / B+G, wedding party announced / B+G First Dance / Dinner
5:25ish – step out for Bride + Groom sunset photos (5-7 minutes)
6:15 – Reception / first dances, toasts, cake cutting, dancing!
8:00 – (if 7 hours of coverage, Fete Photography departs now)
8:55 – Guests line up for Grand Exit (if applicable)
9:00 – That’s all folks! Fete Photography departs
1:00 – Fete Photography arrives / Bridge + Groom (B+G) getting ready candid photos
1:45 – Groom finished getting dressed
1:50 – Groom + groomsmen portraits (plus any family members Groom wants posed photos with)
2:10 – Groom + groomsmen gets tucked away
2:20 – Bride finished getting dressed
2:30 – Bridal + bridesmaids portraits (plus any family members Bride wants posed photos with)
3:10 – Bride gets tucked away before guests arrive
3:30 – Ceremony begins
3:55 – Ceremony ends / Cocktail hour begins for guests
*B+G + wedding party + immediate family should hide away from guests*
*Family and wedding party: DO NOT wander off*
4:00 – Family portraits begin ASAP with B+G
4:30 – Wedding party portraits
4:45 – Bridge + Groom portraits (30-35 minutes) / sun sets around 5:25ish
5:30 – Cocktail hour ends / guests seated
5:35 – Reception Begins / B+G, wedding party announced / B+G First Dance / Dinner
6:15 – Step out for Bride + Groom ‘blue hour’ photos (5 minutes)
6:30 – Reception / first dances, toasts, cake cutting, dancing!
8:00 – (if 7 hours of coverage, Fete Photography departs now)
8:55 – Guests line up for Grand Exit (if applicable)
9:00 – That’s all folks! Fete Photography departs
3:00 – Fete Photography arrives / Bridge + Groom (B+G) getting ready candid photos
3:45 – B+G finished getting dressed
4:00 – Private first look followed by a few portraits (B+G only)
4:15 – Family + wedding party should be dressed and onsite by this time
4:30 – Wedding party + family portraits begin
5:15 – B+G get tucked away before guests arrive
6:00 – Ceremony begins
6:25 – Ceremony ends / Cocktail hour begins for guests
*B+G + wedding party + immediate family should hide away from guests*
*Family and wedding party: DO NOT wander off*
6:30 – Family + wedding party portraits we couldn’t do prior to the ceremony
6:45-7:10 – A few more B+G portraits as official newlyweds :)
7:10 – Cocktail hour ends / guests seated
7:15 – Reception Begins / B+G, wedding party announced / B+G First Dance / Dinner
7:50/8:00ish – step out for Bride + Groom sunset photos (5-7 minutes)
8:40 – Reception / first dances, toasts, cake cutting, dancing!
10:00 – (if 7 hours of coverage, Fete Photography departs now)
10:55 – Guests line up for Grand Exit (if applicable)
11:00 – That’s all folks! Fete Photography departs
3:00 – Fete Photography arrives / Bridge + Groom (B+G) getting ready candid photos
3:45 – Groom finished getting dressed
3:50 – Groom + groomsmen portraits (plus any family members Groom wants posed photos with)
4:10 – Groom + groomsmen gets tucked away
4:15 – Bride finished getting dressed
4:20 – Bridal + bridesmaids portraits (plus any family members Bride wants posed photos with)
4:45 – Bride gets tucked away before guests arrive
5:30 – Ceremony begins
5:55 – Ceremony ends / Cocktail hour begins for guests
*B+G + wedding party + immediate family should hide away from guests*
*Family and wedding party: DO NOT wander off*
6:00 – Family portraits begin ASAP with B+G
6:30 – Wedding party portraits
6:45 – Bridge + Groom portraits (wedding party can go to cocktail hour)
7:20 – Cocktail hour ends / guests seated
7:30 – Reception Begins / B+G, wedding party announced / B+G First Dance / Dinner
7:50/8:00ish – step out for Bride + Groom sunset photos (5-7 minutes)
8:40 – Reception / first dances, toasts, cake cutting, dancing!
10:00 – (if 7 hours of coverage, Fete Photography departs now)
10:55 – Guests line up for Grand Exit (if applicable)
11:00 – That’s all folks! Fete Photography departs