Timeline Tips: First Look or Traditional

Let’s start with the amazingly awesome exciting time you are in. You’re getting married! We figure you haven't planned very many weddings so we at Wiggins Photography wanted to help by sharing an awesome collection of our & other wedding industry leaders’ thoughts. Timing is everything on your wedding day. While it’s so important to be prepared as much as possible, when it comes to the timeline of your day, it’s best to expect the unexpected – in our experience, these unexpected moments are often the most precious. It comes down to the fact that you can never have too much time for photographs. 

Traditional

​Traditional is where the couple does not see each other before the ceremony. Only individual bridesmaid and groomsmen picture are taken prior to the ceremony. After the ceremony, family formals are immediately taken, we try and gather the bridal party for a couple group shots, and then the bride and groom have their Creative Session. In most situations, this is going on prior to & during the cocktail hour before reception.

Here is an example schedule for a traditional wedding timeline that allows enough time for photography in way that is not overly rushed.
9:30-12:00 Hair/makeup/bridal party gets ready
12:30-1:00 Dress On
1:00-2:00 Bride + Bridesmaids
2:00-3:00 Groom +Groomsmen
3:00-3:30 Relax time/greet guests
3:30 - 4:00 Ceremony
4:00-4:30 Receiving line
4:30-5:00 Family formals
5:00-6:00 Bridal Party (including Bride + Groom)
6:00-7:30 Bride & Groom (6:30-7:30 cocktail hour)
7:30 Reception

The big scheduling problem that can arise has to do with getting all of the pictures done in between the Ceremony & Reception. There are three options that can happen post-ceremony.

1. Pictures are sacrificed and rushed in order to make it to the reception/cocktail hour.
2. The cocktail hour begins a couple hours after the ceremony allowing for both full coverage of photographs as well as arriving to the reception on time.
3. The couple misses the cocktail hour and or arrives to the reception a little late in order to get full coverage of photography.

First Look

Simply put – it's when the bride & groom spend some time before the ceremony (yes, before) in a private moment where we get to capture the intimacy of them seeing each other for the first time on their wedding day… seriously private and seriously worth it. Typically, we'll scout out a spot that is re-mote and away from guests. Then we'll lead the groom over to wait anxiously for his bride to tap him on the shoulder so he can turn around and… WOW… see her in her glorious beauty, share true & intimate emotions, and admire who he is about to walk down the aisle with. Not only does this make for some amazing memories & photographs, but you get to share in a private moment just between the two of you! Most couples say that their nervousness is completely gone afterwards, and that despite having seen each other before the ceremony, they still feel equally special when they walk down the aisle and see their bride/groom again at the end of the aisle.

There are some circumstances that truly call out for a first look, such as:

• You have an evening ceremony and you want to use natural light to capture your important photographs.
• You have a tight wedding schedule and you need to do all of your group/family photos before the ceremony.
• You want to have plenty of time to venture out for your bride/groom photos.
• You don't mind trying out this new tradition.

​Doing the family formal portraits BEFORE the ceremony accomplishes a number of things:

1. There are no distractions so we can move quickly (no pulling people from the black hole that is the cocktail hour).
2. We save that amazing light after the ceremony for just the couple.
3. Family can immediately enjoy the cocktail hour and greet their wedding guests right after the ceremony. Believe me, family portraits used to be the most stressful part of the day for us, and now it's one of the most relaxing and stress free portions of our job!

Here is an ideal schedule for a first look timeline:
9:00-11:30 Hair/makeup/bridal party gets ready
11:30-12:00 Dress On
12:00-1:30 First Look/Bride & Groom Creative Session
1:30-2:30 Bridal Party with Bride + Groom
2:30-3:00 Family Formals
3:00-3:30 Relax time/refresh/greet guests
3:30 - 4:00 Ceremony
4:00-4:30 Receiving line
4:30-5:30 Newlywed Portrait Session (Cocktail hour for guests)
5:30 Reception

We’re here to help.
Remember, you’re getting married!