THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY TIMELINE | NEW ZEALAND
Sorting the timings out for your wedding day can seem impossible initially, but as someone who’s seen so many successful ones, let me promise you that it’s not! As a wedding photographer, part of my job - alongside taking wedding photos to be treasured forever, of course - is to help you put together a timeline for the day that gives everything the correct breathing space. So, I thought I’d give you a couple of wedding day timeline templates to get you started, based on a modern New Zealand wedding.
A note on wedding day timeline templates
*sound the caveat klaxon* - I just want to say that your timings will differ depending on what you’ve got planned and where in the world you are, so wedding day timeline templates are just that - templates to put your own spin on if need be. There’s no right or wrong way to do it - all of this to say, in fact, the opposite! Your wedding should be done your way, in line with your priorities and what you’ve got planned, and so these example timelines can just be starting points.
For example, I split my time between the UK and my motherland NZ, and I’ve noticed that UK weddings often have an early afternoon ceremony with a meal afterwards, followed by evening guests and then more food at the reception; whereas in contrast, most New Zealand weddings have a late afternoon ceremony followed by just the one meal. The wedding day timeline templates below are based on the NZ format, both with and without a first look, but if you’d like to see the UK one please head here.
Wherever you’re getting married, often the main thing to take away from a wedding day timeline template is that some seemingly quick things can take a lot longer than you think, e.g. getting your outfit on around an hour before you leave!
A TRADITIONAL NEW ZEALAND WEDDING TIMELINE:
11:00 | I Arrive for Getting Ready & Detail Photos
13:15 | All Hair & Makeup Finished
13:30 | Dress On & Final Touches
13.45 | First Look with Bridesmaids / Father of the Bride
14:00 | Bride & Bridesmaids Portraits
14:30 | Travel to Ceremony location
15:00 | Ceremony Begins
15:30 | Ceremony Ends
15:40 | Canapes and greetings / Candid shots
16:00 | Full group Photo
16:10 | Family Portraits & Friend Group Photos
16:30 | Wedding Party Portraits
17:00 | Bride & Groom Portraits
17:25 | Return and freshen up
17:30 | Guests are Seated for Dinner
17:45 | Grand Entrance to Reception
18:00 | Food & Speeches
20:00 | Golden Hour / Sunset Couple shoot (depending on sunset time)
20:30 | First Dance
20:45 | Party the night away!
A NEW ZEALAND WEDDING WITH A FIRST LOOK:
10:30 | I Arrive for Getting Ready & Detail Photos
12:30 | All Hair & Makeup Finished
12:45 | Dress On & Final Touches
13:30 | First Look: Bride & Groom Portraits
14:30 | Family Portraits
15:00 | Photos Finished (Guests Begin to Arrive)
15:30 | Ceremony Begins
16:00 | Ceremony Begins
16:10 | Canapes and greetings / Candid shots
16:30 | Full group Photo & Friend Group Photos
16:45 | Wedding Party Portraits
17:20 | Return and freshen up
17:30 | Guests are Seated for Dinner
17:45 | Grand Entrance to Reception
18:00 | Food & Speeches
20:00 | Golden Hour / Sunset Couple shoot (depending on sunset time)
20:30 | First Dance
20:45 | Party the night away!
As your photographer I'm 100% here to help plan your day! Your wedding day timeline depends on so many factors , but these examples are a great starting point. I work with you to customise a plan which means you can relax and enjoy the day!