Your Wedding Timeline

A Guide to your wedding day photography timeline

Welcome!

We’re so glad you’re here! This guide is designed to walk you through what wedding day photography typically looks like, from getting ready to golden hour and everything in between. Our goal is to help you feel confident, relaxed, and fully present, knowing we’re capturing every meaningful moment with care.

Once we receive your completed questionnaire, our event coordinator will use your responses to build out a custom photography timeline that reflects your unique day, priorities, and pacing. This timeline will guide our team and ensure we’re in the right place at the right time, so you can enjoy every second without worrying about what’s next.

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here for you and always happy to help.

This guide is best experienced on desktop.

Bridal Details

We start the day with details, getting our creative juices flowing and further understanding the aesthetic for the day with the details you have set aside for us to capture.


Flat Lay

Standard Bridal Details

Getting Ready Photos
A flat lay is optional, but a great way for us to document your invitation suite, rings, vow books, special keepsakes and more. It does require a little bit more time in the timeline, but it is worth every second!
In the case we aren't designing a flat lay with your detail items, we will capture the details you have provided for us in an artistic and thoughtful manner.
If requested, we will do PJ photos with the bride and her bridal party during this time as well. You can do a champagne toast or we can capture the candid moments during this time.

standard details

flat lay

pj photos

Groom's Details

Available to capture with a second photographer

Similar to bridal details, groom's details allow your second photographer to get the creativity flowing and get to know the groom. Your photographer will document the details laid aside by the groom. Standard coverage includes a flat lay and candids of the groom and his party in the getting ready suite.

Dress Prep

This is when the bride gets into her dress, and trust us, it takes more time (and care) than your average Tuesday morning. We want to make space for the emotion and excitement of this moment, so you can truly soak it in. We recommend having your mom, sister, maid of honor, or another special person by your side to help and share in the experience.

Bridal Portraits

Before you start doing first looks or photos with your party, we'll capture some bridal portraits with natural light, allowing you to soak in the morning with some quiet moments.

First Look with Dad

This is such a sweet moment! We love preserving the special moments between our bride & her dad.

First Look with Bridal Party

We're seeing these more and more! It's a great opportunity to create a moment of your gals seeing you for the first time!

Getting Dressed

Our team steps out of the room to allow the bride to step into her dress. Once dressed, return to capture the finishing touches of zipping up the dress and putting on accessories.

Groom Getting Ready

Available to capture with a second photographer

Groom's Portraits

The final portion of getting ready will be some solo portraits for the groom. If you don’t have a second photographer, we can squeeze these in later, but this is a great opportunity to do them with all of the clothes freshly pressed!

Getting Dressed

Once again, we’ll step out of the room to allow you to put on your suit. We’ll rejoin you and your party to capture them helping you get ready and putting on the final touches.

First Look

A first look is a private moment between the couple before the ceremony just the two of you. It’s a chance to connect, shake off the nerves, and soak in the excitement together before the day picks up speed. First looks often lead to some of the most emotional, genuine photos of the day, and they also allow us to capture many portraits early, giving you more time to enjoy your full cocktail hour.

Of course, a first look is completely optional. If you prefer to wait until the aisle for that moment, we’ll shift your bride & groom portraits and wedding party photos to take place during cocktail hour instead.

Bride & Groom Portraits

This is one of our favorite parts of the day—just the two of you, stepping away from the crowd for a quiet moment together. Bride and groom portraits give us the chance to capture the connection, joy, and emotion you’re feeling in a more intimate setting. Whether it’s before or after the ceremony, we’ll guide you naturally while keeping things relaxed, so the images feel effortless and true to you.

Wedding Party Portraits

Wedding party portraits are where the energy really starts to build! These photos include both formal group shots and some fun, candid moments with your favorite people. If you're not doing a first look, we’ll photograph each side of the wedding party separately before the ceremony, and then capture the full group together afterward.

If you’ve booked two shooters, we’re able to capture more individual moments, like the bride with each bridesmaid and the groom with each groomsman, at the same time. With one shooter, we’ll focus on group shots of each side unless additional time is set aside to accommodate more individual pairings. Either way, we’ll make sure the vibe feels fun, efficient, and true to your crew.

Ceremony Details

Before guests arrive, we’ll take time to photograph the ceremony space—capturing the details you’ve thoughtfully chosen, from florals to signage to the way the light falls just right. These quiet, untouched moments tell the story of your day before it begins. We typically capture these details while the two of you are tucked away, so nothing is missed and everything feels effortless.









Ceremony

The ceremony is the heart of your wedding day - the moment everything leads up to. We’ll document it with care, capturing the emotion, connection, and quiet beauty as it naturally unfolds.

If you're including any special cultural, spiritual, or family traditions, we want to know about them! These moments are deeply meaningful, and we’re committed to honoring them in the way we approach and photograph your ceremony. Be sure to include these details in your questionnaire so we can plan ahead and ensure nothing important is missed.

Family Formals

Family photos are an important part of your day—we know how much these images mean. If you’re doing a first look, we can schedule family portraits before the ceremony to help free up more time afterward. If not, we’ll plan for them to take place immediately following the ceremony.

Each side should have no more than 6 sets (12 total), which we can typically complete within 20-30 minutes. If you would like to add more sets, additional time will need to be added. We encourage these photos to be immediate family and to do extended family photos during the reception.

We request these sets beforehand to allow us to be prepared and efficient. Please list them in this format:
  • Set 1: Bride, Groom, & Bride's Family - Jenna, Dave, Calvin, Judy, Mike
  • Set 2: Bride, Groom, & Bride's Parents - Jenna, Dave, Calvin, Judy
  • Set 3: Bride, Groom, & Bride's Brother - Jenna, Dave,  Mike
  • Etc...

Reception Details
& Cocktail Hour

Only available if you have two photographers or if all portraits are completed prior to the ceremony. 

During this time, we’ll photograph the untouched reception setup—florals, tables, signage, lighting, and all the thoughtful details you’ve planned. It’s also a great window for capturing candid guest moments, laughter, and atmosphere as everyone begins to settle into the celebration. If this coverage is important to you, we’ll work together to make sure it fits seamlessly into your timeline.

Reception

Once the reception begins, we follow the flow of the evening, whether it’s guided by your planner or a timeline you've created. From first dances and toasts to spontaneous dance floor moments, we’ll be there to document it all as it naturally unfolds. Our approach is to blend in and capture the energy, emotion, and celebration as it happens, so you can stay fully present and enjoy every moment.

Sunset Photos

Sunset photos are a chance to step away for just a few quiet minutes and soak it all in, just the two of you. We’ll find the best light and guide you naturally, capturing that golden glow and the just-married feeling that only happens once. It’s relaxed, romantic, and often ends up being a favorite moment (and favorite photos!) of the day.









Grand Exit

A grand exit is the perfect way to end the night with a burst of energy and celebration—whether it’s sparklers, bubbles, or something totally your own. If you'd like these photos captured but your coverage doesn’t extend to the very end of the evening, we highly recommend planning a faux exit with just your wedding party or close friends earlier in the night. This lets you make the most of your photography hours without interrupting the flow of the reception or cutting the party short. We'll help you time it just right so the photos still feel authentic and full of energy.









Frequently Asked Questions

What details should I include in my flatlay?

This blog post lists our recommendation for details to include in your flat lay!

Should i add on coverage time to my wedding day?

If your timeline comes back with less coverage than you were hoping to receive, yes! Our standard 8-hour timeline typically covers everything from details to the first ~2 hours of dancing. We are always happy to add on additional time with your photo/video team as requested. To see a full breakdown of our recommendation, visit this blog post.

Can I add on a second photographer?

Yes! If you would like additional coverage of your wedding day, we are happy to add on an additional photographer for you, subject to availability. To demonstrate the full benefits of a second photographer, please visit this blog post.

Contact

As you work through your timeline questionnaire, please reach out with any questions! Our office hours are
Mon-Fri (9a-4p) and our email address is info@bakerture.com. We typically respond to messages within 24 office hours.