Yesterday I talked about five questions to ask a Wedding Planner if you were considering hiring one for your wedding day.  Every bride’s wedding budget is different. Maybe you have a venue, but coordinating your day is not included.  Well your wedding photographer may be able to provide some help in assisting you with a wedding day timeline.  Having a wedding day timeline will help to put your mind at ease.  From your wedding day timeline, you’re able to know when your getting ready pictures will happen, how long it will take for the family photos that you would like, and you’ll know in advance if you need to add time for the wedding photos that you would like of you and the groom.When I’m working with wedding clients, one of the first things that I do after they book is send them a questionnaire that asks questions that are key to putting together a timeline.  Some of the questions include where is the bride getting ready, the location for the ceremony and the reception venue, how many are included in the bridal party, and family photo expectations.  The answers to these questions will help me as the photographer to know how much time is needed to document what is most important for the bride and groom.  

After I receive the answers to the questions, I prepare a pre-liminary timeline that I send out to the bride and groom.  We either meet, Skype, Facetime, or chat over the phone about their timeline.  From the timeline, the bride and groom can decide if they would like to add additional photography time to their day, take some of the family or bridal party photos before the ceremony, or make edits to the timeline.  Having a wedding day timeline provides time well before your wedding day to make any necessary changes.  The final timeline is sent to the bride and groom at least a month before their wedding day.

Here are some reasons why a Wedding Day Timeline is Helpful: 

• The bride is able to let her hair and makeup artist know what time they should arrive and when hair and makeup should be finalized.
• Family members needed for family photos will know the time for photos.
• The florist will know when flowers should arrive. 
• The photographer will work hard to make sure that the Bride and Groom are at the reception on time:)
• There is an opportunity to plan for Option B before your wedding day.
• The bride and groom will have an idea of how their wedding day should flow.
• The Bride will be more at ease about her wedding day.