One thing photographers I mentor ask me all the time is how do I get my couples to see each other before the ceremony?  I would say that 95% of my couples do their portraits before the ceremony starts.  This REALLY allows us to have fun with far less pressure than when we are working against the clock & sun trying to get it all done during the cocktail hour.  The secret is to educate your clients.  Well, I guess its not really much of a secret… I actually start this conversation with them from the first meeting when they are thinking about how many hours of photography them might need on the wedding day.

When the subject of the timeline comes up, I explain that the best use of their photographer’s time is to get all portraits finished before the ceremony if possible.  I tell them how this allows us to have extra time after the ceremony to finish up if we miss anything or if anyone is running really late.  I explain that it also allows them to join the cocktail hour if they wish so that they, too, can enjoy the appetizers along with their guests.

The other great benefit to having fewer portraits to shoot after the ceremony is that we then have the opportunity to not only document the cocktail hour, but to get into the empty reception space before the guests go in and put their coats down, etc. and shoot all the details that they’ve spent the last year or so putting together for their big day.  I love shooting the details!

I also explain to my clients that if we do part of their romantic photos before the ceremony and part afterward, we will get the chance to have different light, different emotions and just some variety!  Plus, a lot of times the couple can get very emotional when they first see each other.  Having a first look moment allows them a higher degree of privacy for that emotion.  I recently heard a story about a bride who saw her groom for the first time when she came down the aisle.  She cried so much during the ceremony that she was in need of a complete make-up re-do afterwards and really missed out on the opportunity to get a lot of photographs of herself with her groom alone.  Stuff like that really makes me sad.  I know my couples hire me because they like the kinds of images I can produce.  I feel like its just as much a part of my job to educate them about what is and isn’t possible on a wedding day as it is to produce great images for them.

When making up a schedule, be sure to consider parking and traffic when there are multiple locations.  Especially if there is valet parking only – that involves a good deal of waiting.  I always start with the ceremony time and work backward to get my start time.  A 5pm ceremony means no shooting after 4:30 so I have time to gather equipment and the bride can prepare for the ceremony.  I like to break the groups up into 1/2 hour increments, so the day up to the ceremony would look like this:

2:00  I arrive

2:30 gown goes on

2:45 first look

3:00 bride & groom portraits

3:30  bridal party

4:00  immediate family

4:30  prepare for ceremony

5:oo   ceremony

With the main players (family and bridal party) out of the way, all that’s left to do after the ceremony are the extended family shots, if your couple wants them.

Also, when getting details about number of people in the bridal party and family, don’t forget to ask about delicate situations like divorced or deceased parents.  Having this information ahead of time can save you a lot of grief on the wedding day.