How to use this
Start with the ceremony time. Work in both directions.
The easiest way to plan a wedding day is to anchor on the ceremony and work outwards. This template is a 10-hour day from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with a first look, a 4:00 PM ceremony and a 7:30 PM sunset. Shift the times to match yours; the durations are what work in practice.
Red flags on any timeline: no buffer between transitions, less than 20 minutes for family formals, and no sunset portrait window. If you see those, rework it.
The timeline
- 01
Getting ready and details
90 min12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Hair and makeup for five people takes longer than you think — start earlier than feels necessary. Keep the room tidy: no coffee cups in the background.
From Mauricio: Mauricio arrives as hair and makeup are finishing and photographs the dress, rings, invitations and shoes first, while everyone is relaxed.
- 02
Getting dressed
30 min1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Buttons, buckles and boutonnieres. Have the dress, jewellery and shoes in one place before this starts.
- 03
First look and couple portraits
45 min2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
A private moment away from guests in a quiet spot at your venue, followed straight away by your couple portraits. It often saves close to an hour after the ceremony.
From Mauricio: For most couples this is the single most useful timeline decision. Without a first look, these portraits move to cocktail hour.
- 04
Wedding party photos
45 min2:45 PM – 3:30 PM
Full party, then smaller groups. Everyone dressed and in one place by 2:45.
- 05
Out of sight while guests arrive
30 min3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
You tuck away and rest. Ushers seat guests; the officiant and DJ check sound.
- 06
Ceremony
30 min4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
A civil ceremony runs 20–30 minutes; a traditional religious one can run 45–60, so shift everything after it. Outdoors, plan for wind and sun direction.
From Mauricio: With a second photographer, two angles — one behind the officiant facing you, one down the aisle.
- 07
Family formals
30 min4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Right after the ceremony, while everyone is still close by and guests head to cocktails. Bring a written family list and ask one person per side to gather people.
From Mauricio: Give Mauricio a family list a week before and he’ll run it quickly.
- 08
Cocktail hour
30 min5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
With portraits already done, you join your guests for the second half of cocktail hour.
- 09
Grand entrance and first dance
30 min5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Introductions, first dance and the welcome toast.
- 10
Dinner and toasts
60 min6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Two or three toasts, about three minutes each. Eat, and take a breather.
- 11
Sunset portraits
30 min7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Portraits about 30 minutes before sunset — the best light of the day. Slip away for a few minutes between courses or right after dinner.
From Mauricio: Look up the sunset time for your date and venue and block this window. Don’t let it get squeezed out.
- 12
Parent dances and cake cutting
30 min7:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Doing these early means every key moment is photographed before the dance floor takes over.
- 13
Open dance floor
105 min8:00 PM – 9:45 PM
The party. Plan any special songs or traditions with your DJ.
- 14
Exit
15 min9:45 PM – 10:00 PM
Sparklers, bubbles, or a quiet walk to the car. Plan it with the venue and DJ — it doesn’t happen by itself.
Five rules of thumb
- 01
A first look buys you time
It often saves close to an hour after the ceremony, which you spend with your guests instead.
- 02
15 minutes of buffer per transition
Everything takes longer than you think. Traffic happens. Grandparents move slowly. The times above already include it.
- 03
Guard the sunset window
Portraits about 30 minutes before sunset are the ones couples frame. Put them on the timeline.
- 04
Send the family list a week before
Every combination you want, written down. It turns the most stressful part of the day into a checklist.
- 05
Eat. Drink water. Sit down.
Couples forget to eat more often than you’d think. Schedule it.
Want help planning yours?
Your date only happens once.
Timeline planning is included with every collection. Mauricio tailors it to your venue, guest count, ceremony and first-look decision — the quiet work that makes the photos feel calm.