Putting together your..
Wedding Day Timeline
Your wedding day timeline might be one of the MOST confusing parts of planning your day. How to fit in all the important moments and make sure they’re captured can feel like a cumbersome job but I’m here to make it easy !
These timelines are based on NSW daylight savings times (specifically Dubbo) but they could easily be adapted if you choose the month that has sunset closest to your chosen date’s. They're also based on a traditional Australian wedding and those that I am familiar with.
Photography Timeline Guide for Dubbo and the Central West NSW Weddings
I will start by saying that your day is uniquely yours and you can do things however you want! These are a rough guide so you can get everything that you want captured in the time that your photographer is there
As a BONUS I sat down with my husband who has been a chef for the last 16 years and added in suggested times for meals to be served to help your day flow perfectly.
These times are based on booking your photographer for 8 hours. To reduce hours you could remove one or two ‘getting ready’ photos OR if you booked a bigger package add more time to these to get those sweet creative portraits. You can also add more time on the end of the night if you’ve booked a longer time period and are wanting those fun party shots.
Ok enough from me, here is mine and my husbands personal opinion on how your day should go…
January
1:30-2:15: Bride/Groom getting ready
2:30-3:30: Bride/Groom getting ready
4:00: Ceremony
4:30-5:30: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with)
5:30: Canapés and champagne served to guests
5:30- 6:30: Bridal party portraits
6:30: Enter reception
6:30: Entree served
6:40: First round speeches
7:30: Main meal served
8:00: Sunset couple photos
8:20: Cake cutting
8:30: Second round speeches
8:40: Dessert served (based on this being the wedding cake)
9:00: First dance
February:
1:00-1:45: Bride/Groom getting ready
2:00-3:00: Bride/Groom getting ready
3:30: Ceremony:
4:00-5:00: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with)
5:00: Canapés and champagne served to guests
5:00-6:00: Bridal party portraits
6:00: Enter reception
6:00: Entree
6:15: First round speeches
7:00: Main
7:40: Sunset couple photos
8:00: Cake cutting
8:15: Dessert served
8:20: Second round speeches
8:30 First dance
March
12:30-1:15: Bride/Groom getting ready
1:30-2:30: Bride/Groom getting ready
3:00: Ceremony
3:30-4:30: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with)
4:30: Canapés and champagne served to guests
4:30-5:30: Bridal party portraits
5:45: Enter reception
6:00: Entree
6:30: First round speeches
7:00: Sunset couple photos
7:20: Main
7:40: Cake cutting
7:45: Dessert served
8:00: Second round speeches
8:10: First dance
April (after daylight savings ends)
12:30: Bride/Groom getting ready
1:30: Bride/Groom getting ready
3:00: Ceremony
3:30-4:30: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with):
4:30: Canapés and champagne served to guests
4:30-5:30: Bridal party portraits
5:40: Sunset couple photos
6:00: Enter reception
6:15: Entree
6:30: First round speeches
7:00: Main
7:30: Cake cutting
7:40: Dessert served
7:45: Second round speeches
8:00: First dance
May
12:00: Bride/Groom getting ready
1:00: Bride/Groom getting ready
2:30: Ceremony
3:00-4:00: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with):
4:00: Canapés and champagne served to guests
4:00-5:00: Bridal party portraits
5:00: Sunset couple photos
5:30: Enter reception
5:45: Entree
6:00: First round speeches
6:30: Main
7:00: Cake cutting
7:15: Dessert served
7:30: Second round speeches
7:45: First dance
June
12:00: Bride/Groom getting ready
1:00: Bride/Groom getting ready
2:30: Ceremony
3:00-4:00: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with):
4:00: Canapés and champagne served to guests
4:00-4:45: Bridal party portraits
4:45: Sunset couple photos 5:07
5:15: Enter reception
5:30: Entree
6:45: First round speeches
6:30: Main
7:00: Cake cutting
7:15: Dessert served
7:30: Second round speeches
7:45: First dance
July
12:00: Bride/Groom getting ready
1:00: Bride/Groom getting ready
2:30: Ceremony
3:00-4:00: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with):
4:00: Canapés and champagne served to guests
4:00-5:00: Bridal party portraits
5:00: Sunset couple photos
5:30: Enter reception
5:45: Entree
6:00: First round speeches
6:30: Main
7:00: Cake cutting
7:15: Dessert served
7:30: Second round speeches
7:45: First dance
August
12:30: Bride/Groom getting ready
1:30: Bride/Groom getting ready
3:00: Ceremony
3:30-4:30: Congratulations and family group shots
4:30: Canapés and champagne served to guests
4:30-5:15: Bridal party portraits
5:15: Sunset couple photos
5:50: Enter reception
6:00: Entree
6:30: First round speeches
7:00: Main
7:30: Cake cutting
7:40: Dessert served
7:45: Second round speeches
8:00: First dance
September
12:30: Bride/Groom getting ready
1:30: Bride/Groom getting ready
3:00: Ceremony
3:30-4:30: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with):
4:30: Canapés and champagne served to guests
4:30-5:30: Bridal party portraits
5:40: Sunset couple photos
6:00: Enter reception
6:15: Entree
6:30: First round speeches
7:00: Main
7:30: Cake cutting
7:40: Dessert served
7:45: Second round speeches
8:00: First dance
October (Daylight savings commenced)
12:30-1:15: Bride/Groom getting ready
1:30-2:30: Bride/Groom getting ready
3:00: Ceremony
3:30-4:30: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with)
4:30: Canapés and champagne served to guests
4:30-5:30: Bridal party portraits
5:45: Enter reception
6:00: Entree
6:30: First round speeches
7:00: Sunset couple photos
7:20: Main
7:40: Cake cutting
7:45: Dessert served
8:00: Second round speeches
8:10: First dance
November
1:00-1:45: Bride/Groom getting ready
2:00-3:00: Bride/Groom getting ready
3:30: Ceremony:
4:00-5:00: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with)
5:00: Canapés and champagne served to guests
5:00-6:00: Bridal party portraits
6:00: Enter reception
6:00: Entree
6:15: First round speeches
7:00: Main
7:30: Sunset couple photos
8:00: Cake cutting
8:15: Dessert served
8:20: Second round speeches
8:30 First dance
December
1:30-2:15: Bride/Groom getting ready
2:30-3:30: Bride/Groom getting ready
4:00: Ceremony
4:30-5:30: Congratulations and family group shots (can either be candid or a list of people you want to make sure you get a posed shot with)
5:30: Canapés and champagne served to guests
5:30- 6:30: Bridal party portraits
6:30: Enter reception
6:30: Entree served
6:40: First round speeches
7:30: Main meal served
8:00: Sunset couple photos
8:20: Cake cutting
8:30: Second round speeches
8:40: Dessert served (based on this being the wedding cake)
9:00: First dance
