Wedding Photography Schedules - No. 9, Melissa Koren Photography

Melissa Wilson from Melissa Koren Photography provides some great insight on planning wedding day formals. Check out her work below or visit her website: Melissa Koren Photography

When meeting with clients we discuss their needs and expectations of formals. I've had formals range from 2 hours just for bride & groom to 30 minutes for a 10 person wedding party and family! The more time provided, the more relaxed the portraits can be however, the more permutations they want, the longer its going to take. If they are anticipating a ton of formals, I often ask them to check with their venue and DJ to see what scheduling they require so we can adjust start times accordingly if need be - some venues are very particular especially if they've got a kitchen full of food waiting to be served. It's also important to make sure they let their family members know not to wander off if they're going to be needed! Sometimes we spend more time trying to gather people than I actually do shooting!

I ask if they're planning on seeing each other before the ceremony. It's such a personal choice and I completely respect that, sometimes the anticipation of not seeing each other until the end of the aisle is part of their ideal day and I never press to take that away from them. If they do want to see each other before hand, we try and plan backwards from the ceremony time. If you need to be at the alter at 4, then we need to be wrapped up in time for you to leave at 3:30 so we need to start at 2:30 time and so you should all be dressed, made up and ready to go at 2:20!

In my experience the majority of my couples are not seeing each other before the ceremony but opt for some length of 'getting ready' photos. When that is the case, and everyone is ready in time, I try and get as many of the brides formals (portraits, family, attendants) out of the way before the ceremony, if there's time and location is conducive I will also find the groom and do the same individual shots for him as well. Then we have more time after the ceremony to celebrate and shoot.

Flexibility is important. If it's crucial that you want a photo of your mother putting on your veil, but she's running an hour behind, lets put on your veil and take some photos and then when mum is ready, we'll carefully remove it and let her do the honors. If you definitely want a shot with your godfather, but for some reason he wasn't available during the formal time, we'll make it a point to get a lovely shot of you two at the reception. I always let clients know that if they have a large family group shot that's not going to fit into the allotted "formal time" they can gather everyone at the reception and I'll gladly make it happen!

Most importantly, try and relax and enjoy every moment of the day! No matter what time line gets worked out with the couple I try and make sure they know that things can happen and that's OK! Even the most detailed schedule is sometimes only a guideline. It's their day and if something gets off track it's not the end of the world, we'll all do our best to still make everything work out and provide absolutely the best results possible. That's just another part of why it's so important to work with professionals, especially the DJ/band & the photographer. We all try and work together with the on-site coordinator (if available) to make sure that even if the day doesn't go as "planned" everything is still perfect

Wedding Photography Schedules - No. 7 Jennifer Stone Photography

Jennifer from Jennifer Stone Photography shares some helpful insight on wedding day formals. Check out some of her work below or visit her website: Jennifer Stone Photography









While most people do not really like doing the wedding day group pictures and formals they are an important part of the wedding day; I mean how often does everyone get all dressed up and are all together in one place...

Wedding day formals are typically photographed during the cocktail hour immediately after the ceremony which is just enough time to get the standard immediate family groups, wedding party groups and a few portraits of the bride and groom. Since time is so limited, it is difficult to get those additional group shots, such as college or high school friends, so I recommend doing those sometime during the reception. A popular picture request is a huge group picture of everyone attending the wedding and the best time to do this is immediately after the ceremony. It is the perfect time to have everyone gather around the bride and groom and document everyone that is there.

Because time is so limited and it's important to get all the groups, I try to make the process quick, easy, and fun so I like to call my formals "relaxed" portraits; I'm really not into stiff formal poses. There is a certain flow to organizing the group pictures and I always go over the list with the bride and groom several weeks before the wedding day to make sure I get all the groups the couples want. I typically start with the grandparents, then immediate family members and then move on to the wedding party groups ending with the bride and groom. Sometimes I will start with the bride and groom if they decide to sneak off right after the ceremony for a few minutes of alone time to enjoy the moment. This is one of my favorite moments to document, standing unobtrusively in the background catching those first moments as husband and wife.

There are lots of variations to scheduling the group portraits and some couples who feel that photography is really important to them and want more time to do these pictures and be able to go to several locations will either schedule a longer cocktail hour, will do some of the groups before the ceremony or will opt to see each other before the ceremony allowing a lot of time to do all the groups as well as fun portraits of the bride and groom. By far the bride and groom seeing each other before the ceremony is the most flexible and enjoyable for everyone. It allows me to get much more creative wedding party and couple portraits without disrupting the flow of the wedding day and allows everyone including the bride and groom to enjoy more time with their guests.

Wedding Photography Schedules - No. 6 Geneve Hoffman Photography

Geneve Hoffman shares 10 tips that every bride should know about wedding day formals. You can check out more photos on her website: Geneve Hoffman Photography



















Modern brides should no longer have to choose between having great candids (wedding photojournalism/reportage) and having stunning portraits (fine art portraiture/traditional). Today’s best wedding photographers will be trained in, and offer both. Once you have found a quality photographer for your day, based on portfolio, price/service, philosophy, and compatibility, here are the top 10 ways to make the most of your wedding day formal portraits:

1. Take advantage of engagement sessions. Win-win in many ways: practice being romantic in public for the big day, professional portraits of you as an engaged couple, build rapport with your shooter, use for guest books/websites/save the dates, see how gorgeous you really are!

2. Leave room in your day, but not too much, for the formals. Work closely with your photographer and planner to ensure that there is enough time, without rushing or lollygagging, for great portrait sessions throughout the day.

3. Space formals throughout the day: each phase of wedding day presents unique portrait opportunities. I like to do several 15-minute “mini” sessions as day unfolds to capture real time emotion and joy and to avoid “photo-fatigue” of long sets.

4. Don’t do formals before the ceremony…unless you want to! Experienced photographers will honor that once in a lifetime “threshold” moment when the groom sees you at the ceremony for the first time and work closely on your timeline to ensure amazing portraits before AND after the ceremony.

5. Create a shot list…or don’t: great photographers will get the job done either way! Each couple has different priorities, and photography is a service that should cater to your heart’s desire…you can’t give an experienced photographer too little or too much information.

6. Sit back and enjoy your day: allow planners, assistants, or designated party to coordinate formals. Photographers will have worked this out weeks before the wedding so that you don’t have to!

7. Keep family portraits to immediate family only when pressed for time. Extended family shots, that may not even make the final album, can quickly eat up all your time allotted for the more important portraits of bride and groom and bridal party. Remember, you are the center of attention for this one day!

8. Do family portraits right away at ceremony site, bridal party at reception site. This allows family to depart for cocktail hour to act as “hosts,” makes the best use of time, and keeps visual interest by changing backgrounds.

9. You choose this location…now make the most of it! Creative photographers take advantage of every nook and cranny at your location…of course, it’s fun to go to a special spot like the beach or a lighthouse, just allow for the special transportation and extra time.

10. Be spontaneous, be romantic, be goofy, PDA all the way! This is truly a once in a lifetime day…have a glass of champagne and ham it up! Turns the photo session into a fun part of your day. Hold hands, pucker up, jump up and down, run barefoot on the beach…relax and be marry!

Wedding Photography Schedules - No. 3 Claris Photography

Liesl Clark from Claris Photography gives some great advice on scheduling your wedding day formals. You can also see her work on her website: Claris Photography

One of the most important but sometimes least favorite parts of the wedding day are the "planned" photos - the "formals" as some may call it. This portion of the day, while essential, is often looked upon as a "grip and grin" section of the wedding that a bride and groom want to just "get through". At the same time, most everyone will agree that without this part of the day, some very valuable photographs of family and friends would be overlooked and later one may have regrets that they weren't captured.

This part of the day doesn't have to be dreaded. With proper planning (ie. scouting of the locations, a thorough shot list provided by the bride and groom, and a detailed photography schedule) the photography needs of the couple and their families can be met without any headache, frustration or confusion.

Communicate early (up to a month or two) with your planner and/or photographer by filling out a "shot list" which is a detailed account of the groups you are hoping to capture. By doing this, you will avoid missing an important grouping. Additionally, you will avoid possible hectic confusion trying to find all the individuals involved in the shot on the wedding day. Your photographer should take this information and create a "photography schedule" for your review which will show the timeline for the entire wedding day which includes details of when and where each photo will take place. Finally, take this schedule along with you and "scout" or walk through the location where these photos will take place if possible. Couples can even make extra copies of this photography schedule and pass them out to key members of the bridal party at the rehearsal to enlist the help of others.

Additionally, this is a good time to decide if the couples want to see each other ahead of time for these formal photographs. This is a topic of much debate as the tradition of not seeing one another until the ceremony still stands strong in most couples. The choice is a very individual one but from a photographers point of view has may benefits (ie. everyone is at their "freshest" and it gives the entire bridal party, including the couple, a chance to enjoy all or a portion of the cocktail hour).

Again, this portion of the day can be well planned out in advance to allow the moment when a couple will see each other for the first time to be dramatic and special. With your photographer, scout a location where this wonderful moment can take place. Generally about an hour total is allotted for "formal" photos so allow 5 or 10 minutes to relish this moment and let it sink in - your photographer will most likely be shooting away without your knowledge. Then move right into a romantic photography session with just the two of you. After another 15 - 20 minutes of these shots together schedule it in a way that the bridal party and the family show up to complete the photography process before the ceremony (usually another 30-40 minutes). There are other variations on this "before the ceremony" photography idea such as doing it half and half - see each other ahead of time and have those amazing shots together and/or with the bridal party then do just the family shots following the ceremony. This will still allow the couple to still enjoy a portion of the cocktail hour.

The benefits to planning ahead by creating this photography itinerary - either seeing each other beforehand or not - are many. Take the time to talk it over with your planner and/or photographer and get all those amazing shots you had hoped for! You will look back and be so glad that you did!

Below is an example of a schedule Liesl might use:

3:00 - 3:45 Photographs of Kate and Bridesmaids in the last stages of getting ready
- Kate w/ Mom and Dad and individually
- Kate w/ Bridesmaids
- Kate w/ MOH
- Kate Alone

3:45 - 4:00 Travel to church (St Andrews by the Sea)
4:00 - 4:30 Photos of Mark and Groomsmen waiting and guests arriving

4:30 - 5:30 Ceremony
5:30 - 5:45 Travel time for Photography - Locations TBD

6:00 - 7:00 Photos to include:
- K & M w/ Lemkes and Keatings
- K & M w/ Arnfields
- K & M w/ Cathleen and Robert, Brett
- Kate w/ Brett
- K & M w/ Cathleen and Robert
- K & M w/ All Parents (Cathleen & Robert,Donna & John)
- K & M w/ Donna, John, Mike and John
- Mark w/ John and Mike
- K & M w/ Donna and John
- Mark w/ Donna and John
- K & M w/ Robert (Grandfather)

- K & M w/ Bridal Party (8)
- K & M w/ Stephen and Alyssa (after this shot they are finished)
- Kate w/ Bridesmaids
- Mark w/ Bridesmaids
- K & M w/ MOH and BM (6)
- Kate w/ Jessica and Jaime
- Mark w/ Groomsmen
- Kate w/ Groomsmen
- Groom w/ Chris and Andy

- K & M Alone
- Kate Alone
- Mark Alone

7:00 - 10:00 Reception Coverage
Photos during reception:
- Kate w/ College Friends
- Kate w/ HS Friends

- Mark w/ HS Friends
- Cathleen and Robert with Dzielaks and VanAlstines

Wedding Photography Schedules- No. 1 Studio Nouveau

Lara and Kate from Studio Nouveau share their advice on how to schedule your wedding day photography. Take a look at what they have to say!

Also check out their fabulous work at: Studio Nouveau

Kate and I usually arrive to the bride one hour before she leaves for the ceremony. This gives us enough time to capture the details in the room, last hair and makeup touch-ups and bride putting on her dress & veil. Depending on the couple and time of year of the wedding determines when we do the formals and shots of the couple alone!

Option 1: If it's summer in high gear and the sun is up until about 8pm we usually do the formals immediately after the ceremony, usually the first 15minutes of the cocktail hour, and then we use the last 45 minutes for the couple alone.

Option 2: If it's an autumn wedding and the sun sets earlier, 5pm-ish, then we try and schedule the formals and the couple photos before the ceremony. (Also takes one hour start to finish) Some couples hesitate at this option because they're not sure if they want to see each other before the ceremony- totally understand that! We try and have a little "ceremony" for them that we call "the reveal": bride and groom will either have their backs toward eachother, or hold hands on either side of a door frame, etc. something so we still capture that bewildered and surprised look on their faces when they turn to see eachother! It's usually quite emotional.

The infamous college friend photos: If there's time left during the cocktail hour we'll ask the bride to wrangle her girlfriends, if not I'll assign the maid of honor or someone in the gaggle to wrangle everyone on the dance floor. Kate and I have a photo booth called Love. Note. Spot. which is a great remedy to the college friend photos, they can all write their messages and inside jokes all night!

Here's a timeline we just finalized with a Bride (it's very official!)

3:30-4:30pm dress, makeup, final hair primping
4:30-5:15pm, reveal the lovebirds, take killer photos, have a ton of fun
5:15-6pm touch up make-up, drink a beer, chillax
6-6:30pm Ceremony
6:30-7:30pm Cocktail (and pictures- few formals, mostly fun candid)
7:30 Reception, Party Time
Love. Note. Spot. will be available to your guests all night!