Tips when deciding on your Wedding Day Timeline...
Most couples have never planned a wedding before, and the process can be overwhelming at times!
Rest assured, a great wedding planner will help relieve your stress and handle all the overwhelming aspects when it comes to the planning & details.
Keep in mind, your wedding planning experience should be FUN & EXCITING!
One tip that I like to share with my couples is suggested when we discuss the wedding day timeline & photos.
Once you have locked in your date and secured your venue & ceremony location, you will want to decide on your ceremony start time.
A traditional ceremony is usually blocked for 30 minutes. It’s encouraged to have a 1-hour cocktail hour to follow. Cocktail hour was invented to offer a time for family photos & wedding party photos while offering your guests a social hour to enjoy tasteful hors d'oeuvres, drinks & music and/or entertainment.
Wedding photos are cherished as life long memories and you really can’t put a price tag on that value.
As I’ve worked with many photographers over the years, I found that some of the best photos were captured during the evening’s “golden hour”.
Q: What is Golden Hour?
A: The last hour before sunset and the first hour after sunrise are coveted by professional photographers. Referred to as “the golden hour” or “magic hour,” these times provide the perfect light to capture stunning photos. Learning to harness the power of the golden hour is a tool every photographer can use.
I suggest trying to plan your cocktail hour to start one hour before the sunset is scheduled for your big day.
If you are having a summer wedding, sunset is usually later in the evening so another option for great golden hour photos would be to schedule a small break right after the bride and groom finish their meal. That way your guests are still enjoying dinner and the couple can slip away for a quick couple’s portrait session.
With Love,
Karissa Joy
