Planning a wedding is a daunting task, especially if you’ve never done it before. You may have the perfect image in your mind of what your day will look like, but when it comes to logistics, you don’t know what you don’t know. We have had several clients this season make this mistake when planning their big day and in some cases, once we catch wind of it, it’s too late. We are writing this blog post for all future brides (and grooms) so that they don’t make this one easy-to-miss mistake that has a big impact on the entire day.
It’s likely that you are paying a lot of money for your wedding. You may have a photographer and a videographer with you to help capture all of the important moments throughout the day. (Hiring a great videographer is a fantastic idea by the way) If you do decide to spend some cash on a photographer and videographer, wouldn’t you want to get the most out of their services? If so, you need to make sure you coordinate the correct timeline for your day.
When we are talking about a “correct” timeline, we are referencing Traditional Western Weddings. There are only two timelines you need to worry about and choosing the wrong one will mean that a large chunk of your day will be wasted. Knowing which timeline is right for you is paramount to getting the biggest bang for your buck and also having the best photos and video. Let’s talk about the timelines and which one is right for your event.
The first of the timelines is the “Traditional” timeline. This is when the groom does not see the bride until she is walking down the aisle. The groom anxiously awaits as he stands in front of the many wedding guests staring at the back of the church (or aisle) for the moment he will see his soon-to-be bride come to join him and become his wife. This can be an emotionally charging moment that comes with its pros and cons, but for the sake of this post, we are only going to focus on how this choice affects your timeline on the wedding day. If you choose to have a “traditional” timeline, it is important to note that there will not be time to take any photos (or video) of the bride and groom together until after the ceremony. The timeline usually has the ceremony and reception several hours apart from one another. This is a perfectly fine option for planning your wedding, but if you choose this, do NOT make the big mistake we will outline below.
The second timeline is the “First Look” timeline. If you aren’t sure if a first look is right for you, check out our post “Should You Do A First Look For Your Wedding?” The first look is an intimate time between the couple prior to the wedding ceremony. They will see each other for the first time and have a private and romantically charged moment together. This is a great option that will not only provide amazing images, but it also takes the stress off of the bride and groom and allows them to soak up the day without worry. Having a first look will provide you with ample time to grab those photos and video while also not feeling pressured to get things done quickly.
Now that we have established what the two timelines are, let’s talk about the big mistake we keep referring to. During this season, this has happened multiple times and it all comes down to understanding these timelines and also what your photographer and videographer will need in order to create stunning imagery for you. In order to capture these images, your photo and video professionals will need time. The more time, the better. A few clients we have had this year planned their wedding using a First Look timeline. The problem…they did not want to do a First Look! You may be wondering why that is a problem. Let me break it down for you. A First Look timeline typically will have the bride and groom get ready in separate locations. They will then have their first look early in the day. After they have had their moment, they go off with their photographer and videographer to have some fun and create content. The wedding party can also join them and by the time the ceremony rolls around, most of your photos and video are done leaving you to enjoy the festivities. In a Traditional timeline, the couple will have their ceremony and then go off for a few hours afterward to capture those images. They will then return during cocktail hour to be returned to their guests and to begin their reception. Both of those options, when planned correctly, leave ample time for photo and video while also allowing the bride and groom to enjoy their party. Planning a First Look timeline without doing a first look, however, is a recipe for disaster.
Planning a First Look timeline without a first look usually means that the events of the day will unfold with the cocktail hour immediately following the ceremony and then the reception directly after that. If you plan your day this way, you will have to sacrifice your cocktail hour to get any photos of the two of you. You will also have to find a way to cram in all of your family photos and your bridal party photos. This leaves virtually no time to complete that task. If you think you are going to get stunning images of the two of you, all of your family photos and bridal party pictures done in under an hour…think again. Your photographer will not have enough time to get all of that done before the reception begins. Your videographers will also have to leave prior to the reception to get ready with audio, lighting and other important items. If you pay for beautiful imagery, you need to factor that time into your itinerary. Planning a First Look timeline without doing a First Look will be stressful for you and your hired professionals. You will also likely not be satisfied with what you paid for. This is not to say that your vendors won’t be professional and do the best with the time they have, but it won’t be easy.
So, how can you plan your wedding day itinerary that makes the most sense? It honestly does not matter if you plan to do a First Look or a Traditional timeline, but you can’t have it both ways. Pick one and stick with it. These timelines are tried and true and have worked for millions of couples providing them with a stress-free wedding day. If you want to do a first look, plan to do it a few hours before your ceremony. If you would prefer the traditional route, no problem, just make sure there is time between the end of the ceremony and the cocktail hour. Either way, your hired professionals will want at least 2 hours with you to grab those images and to offer you a variety of them.
In the end, knowing the difference between the two timelines is an important first step in deciding how to plan your special day. If you aren’t sure which one is right for you, talk to your vendors. Make sure your photographer and videographer are on the same page. Talk to your reception venue to see how they coordinate their food service. You don’t have to have it all figured out right away, but you should have an idea of how your day will flow. Hopefully this post will help you make the choice that is right for you and you can avoid making the same mistake that many people have made in the past.
