How Long Do Wedding Photos Take? A Complete Timeline Breakdown for Your Wedding Day
Large bridal party photo at the War Memorial in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
A Step-by-Step Look at How Wedding Day Photography Works
One of the most common questions I hear from engaged couples is:
“How long do wedding photos actually take?”
And the truth is — the photography timeline can make or break how smooth and stress-free your day feels. Knowing what to expect helps you build a realistic schedule, avoid feeling rushed, and make sure you get all the photos you’ve been dreaming of.
Every wedding is unique, but there are standard time ranges that work beautifully for most days.
Here’s a clear, photographer-approved breakdown of how long wedding photos take for each part of the day, plus tips to help everything flow effortlessly.
Portrait of the bride getting ready prior to the wedding ceremony at Grosse Pointe War Memorial.
Getting Ready Photos
Recommended Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
This window allows me to capture:
Hair & makeup finishing touches
Bridal details (rings, dress, shoes, jewelry, perfume, veil, invitation suite, hair pins, bouquet, bouquet charm, vow book, garter, “something blue,” “something borrowed,” loose flower petals or sprigs, color-themed ribbons or fabrics, etc.)
📌 Tip: Gather all the details you’d like photographed in a bag or box before I arrive. This way, I can start setting them up right away, and we won’t lose any valuable time searching for items. Don’t forget both wedding bands and your engagement ring!
📌 Tip: Have your dress unpacked, out of the bag, and placed on the hanger you’d like it photographed on (usually a wooden, satin, or custom hanger)
Groom’s details (ring, tie, tie clip, boutonniere, cologne, shoes, cuff links, watch, vow book)
Wedding flat-lay of bride’s details.
Candid moments with your bridal party
Gift exchanges or letters
Getting into the dress / suit
A first look with parents or bridesmaids
Why it takes this long:
Getting ready is usually the most unpredictable part of the day. Hair and makeup run late more often than couples expect. The extra buffer keeps the rest of your timeline on track.
Photographer Tip:
Choose a getting-ready space with big windows and minimal clutter for the best photos.
📌 Tip: Ask your bridal party to keep all their items together in a bag or box that’s easy to carry and move out of the way for photos. Make sure nothing is left lying around, as even a few stray items can create clutter and distract from your beautiful shots. Following this simple step helps keep your space tidy and ensures every photo looks its best.
Bride and groom’s first-look at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
First Look (Optional)
Recommended Time: 15–20 minutes
A first look is quiet, emotional, and intentional — and needs space to breathe. I typically help with:
Finding a private, beautiful spot
Positioning each of you
Capturing the moment from multiple angles
Why it takes this long:
Couples often want a few minutes afterward to talk, hug, laugh, or breathe together. I always build in time for that and capture beautiful heartfelt candid photos of the bride and groom together during this time.
Bride and groom photo taken during couple’s portraits.
Couple’s Portraits
Recommended Time: 20–30 minutes (if doing a First Look)
OR 45 minutes (if not doing a First Look)
If you do a First Look, we capture the bulk of your portraits before the ceremony when the light and timeline are flexible.
If you don’t, we’ll need a longer block after the ceremony to photograph you together — and keep in mind, this can make your cocktail hour feel tighter.
Photographer Tip:
Even if you do a First Look, I always love sneaking you out for 10–15 minutes at golden hour for soft, dreamy evening portraits.
The bride and groom “dipping” for a photo outside the Holly Vault’s Nova Room.
Wedding Party Photos
Recommended Time: 30–45 minutes
This includes:
Full wedding party (15 minutes)
Bridesmaids (10 minutes)
Groomsmen (10 minutes)
Individual photos with each person (10 minutes)
Why it takes this long:
Large wedding parties = more posing, more coordination, more fun (and more herding!).
The bridal party during wedding party photos at Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester, Michigan.
Family Formals
Recommended Time: 30–45 minutes
For an average list of 10–12 groupings
Family photos move very quickly when:
Make sure everyone knows where to be and when — remind guests ahead of time, and consider having your officiant let them know to stay present after the ceremony until they are officially released to cocktail hour.
We keep the list simple and organized
We photograph the biggest groups first and work down to smaller ones
Photographer Tip:
Create a list ahead of time and assign one loud, helpful family member on each side to help gather people.
Austin and Sienna enjoy some time together during their couples’ portraits at Weller’s Weddings in Saline, Michigan.
Ceremony
Time Varies: 15 minutes – 1 hour+
Ceremony length depends entirely on tradition, religion, and personal preference.
Photography note:
I like to arrive early to set up lights and capture:
Guests arriving
Ceremony details
Groom at the altar
Family moments
Venue and décor
Bride and groom, Taylor and Thomas, during couples’ portraits at Pine Knob Mansion.
Reception Photos
Recommended Time: 2–4 hours depending on coverage
This typically includes:
Introductions
First dance
Toasts
Table dash / Photo dash
Parent dances
Open dancing
Sunset/golden hour portraits (if possible)
Cake cutting
Bouquet and garter toss
Exit photos (sparkler, bubbles, cold sparks, etc.)
Photographer Tip:
Most photographers don’t need to stay until the very end — the dancing photos tend to all look the same after the first hour and people tend to start looking tired and sweaty.
Sunset or Golden Hour Photos
Recommended Time: 10–20 minutes
These are often couples’ favorite photos of the whole day. The light is soft, romantic, and flattering — and sneaking out for a few minutes gives you time to reconnect during the chaos of the reception.
All the ladies during bridal party photos at Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan.
So… How Long Do Wedding Photos Take in Total?
Here’s a quick summary:
Getting Ready: 1.5–2 hours
First Look (optional): 15–20 minutes
Couple’s Portraits: 20–45 minutes
Wedding Party: 30–45 minutes
Family Formals: 30–45 minutes
Ceremony: 15–60+ minutes
Reception Events: 2–4 hours
Golden Hour: 10–20 minutes
Most couples end up with coverage between 8–10 hours to comfortably fit everything.
Bride and groom, Amy and Tony, after their wedding on the beach in Oscoda, MI.
How to Make Your Photography Timeline Smooth & Stress-Free
Start hair/makeup earlier to ensure you’ll be done before photo start-time
Keep rooms tidy (clutter kills great photos!)
Have your detail items ready in a bag or box at the start of the day
Build buffer time into every part of the day
Communicate the timeline with family + wedding party
Trust your photographer’s guidance
Final Thoughts
Your wedding timeline should feel natural, fun, and stress-free — and photography plays a huge role in that. With the right plan (and the right photographer), you’ll have time for every important moment and the flexibility to enjoy the day as it unfolds.
If you want help building a custom, photography-friendly timeline for your wedding day, I’m always happy to walk through it with you and I offer timeline consultation as a part of every wedding photography collection.
