Wedding day timelines are not just for the Type A brides out there. They are simple-to-make and easy to distribute to wedding vendors, particularly to the wedding photographers. Keep your wedding day stress-free with these five tips from a seasoned Catholic wedding photographer.
What is a Wedding Day Timeline?
A Catholic wedding timeline is a simple agenda outlining the dates, times, and locations for events during the wedding festivities. The finalized timeline should be shared with wedding vendors. Your florists, DJs, venue coordinators, bridal party, and photographers will use it to help keep your wedding day on track.
For wedding day photography, the timeline is essential for letting the photographers and videographers know where they should be and when to capture every detail of your day!
Writing a Catholic wedding timeline out is also a great way to see if you are giving yourself sufficient time for everything you want to accomplish on the big day. For instance, if you want photography of a first look before mass, then you might find that you need to add more time before leaving for the church to accomplish this. All in all, the wedding day timeline helps ensure that you have time to take all the pictures and portraits you hope to get throughout the day.
Tip #1 – Use a Catholic Wedding Timeline Template
To begin creating your wedding day timeline, start with the “anchor” points” of the day. These are the main events that the rest of your day will be built around. Examples of “anchor” points include the wedding Mass time, the dinner service, and your grand exit from the reception. Once you identify your “anchor” points, then you can easily slot in the rest of the day’s activities.
Another way to identify the “anchor” points is to reference a wedding day timeline template. Ready-made templates already include the basics. For example, take a look at this sample Catholic wedding timeline from Four Loves Photo and Film (use our free Canva template to customize it as your own). Once you nail down the basics, add in the unique details of your wedding day for the final timeline.
Tip #2 – Start Earlier than you Think you Should
The last thing you want to feel is rushed and stressed on your wedding day. Give yourself time to get ready, eat, and travel between destinations so that you are feeling refreshed and excited. Wedding pictures will feel more authentic when you are feeling like yourself.
Tip #3 – Account for your Wedding Size
The start time on your timeline will depend on the size of your bridal party. It will take less time to organize, pose, and follow a bride with three bridesmaids than it will for a party of, for instance, nine bridesmaids. It takes time to corral people. It takes time to wait for everyone’s hair and makeup to finish. It takes time to move to the next location with the bridal party. Give yourself the time you need!
Tip #4 – Remember to Budget for Travel Time Between Destinations
Most couples get ready for the wedding at a venue separate from the church. Like you, your photographer will need time to travel from one location to the next. She will need to know how much time there will be to capture photos at each location. This information will help her direct your guests and bridal party so that all the wedding portraits are complete within the allotted time.
Tip #5 – Ask your Wedding Photographer for Help
If these wedding timeline tips are stressing you out—don’t worry! Ask your wedding photographer for help. In fact, even if these tips aren’t stressing you out—send your wedding day timeline to your photographer. Ask for feedback on the day’s agenda. The photographer can then help you refine the timeline, or tell you what you can reasonably expect to accomplish within the given times.
Lastly, Don’t Get Married to Your Timeline
The purpose of the written timeline is to help eliminate stress on the wedding day. It does not mean that every single item on the list must happen at exactly the time stated, so don’t get married to the exact timing of it all. Instead, allow your bridal party and wedding vendors to use the timeline to help keep the day rolling smoothly. Similarly, if you find that there must be a change in plans, simply let your wedding photographer know so that she can communicate the change to others.
For example, I recently filmed a wedding in Jacksonville where a last-minute decision changed the order of events at the reception. The DJ informed me of the change, I moved my gear to prepare for the new plan, and the night continued seamlessly. The camera rolls with the changes, but a solid Catholic wedding timeline keeps your special day on track!
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Joanna Schnitzer is a Catholic Wedding Photographer and Videographer and founder of Four Loves Photo and Film. She is a devout Catholic, wife, and mother with a passion for serving couples on the most important day of their lives. Before pursuing photography full-time, Joanna spent nearly a decade as a Youth Minister at parishes in central Florida.
