In my post last week about the benefits of first looks, I mentioned why first looks are a detail I highly recommend for wedding days. But I didn’t really have the chance to explain just how amazing an effect first looks can have on the timeline for the day, so I thought I’d give a little more insight! Here’s a look at what a typical wedding day, with a first look, is like from my perspective and the timing that I like to keep in mind for each part of the day.

I like to arrive when you have about 30 minutes left of your hair and makeup appointment. This gives me a chance to capture images of you finishing up the beautifying process, take detail shots of your bridal accessories and wedding dress, capture moments of your bridesmaids giggling and drinking mimosas, and most importantly, capture you putting your dress on!

After your hair and makeup is done, It typically takes about 30 minutes to get your dress and accessories on, and make your way down to the first look. I like to recommend doing the first look in the general vicinity of where you’re getting ready.  For example, if you’re getting ready at a hotel with a park around the corner, meet at the park! This cuts down on travel time and allows you to get the nerves of seeing each other for the first time without being stuck in traffic on the way.

The first look typically takes about 15 minutes. Then, I like to have an hour of shooting time for the two of you and your wedding party. We can keep everything in the same vicinity of the first look, or we can travel somewhere between the first look location and the ceremony. I like to arrive at the ceremony location 30 minutes before the start time so you have some time to relax. Because at this point you’ve already been taking photos for a while, I love to recommend having a quick touch up with your makeup artist. It’s nice to feel refreshed right before the ceremony!

Once the ceremony is over, guests will move on to cocktail hour. We can do some quick portraits in the ceremony location with immediate family. I like to try to keep it at a maximum of 25 combinations. Providing me with a list of names ahead of time is very helpful, and we can usually get this done in about 30 minutes!

Thanks to the magic of the first look, you can now head back to your wedding party! You get to enjoy a majority of your cocktail hour and mingle with your guests and then transition into your reception. We typically stay until about an hour after dancing starts, so we can always steal you away for a few more photos throughout the evening, but the rest of the night is yours to enjoy!

 

 

 

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