How Many Hours of Wedding Coverage Do you Need?
You’ve put so much time into planning your wedding, and often, your photos are the only tangible memories you’ll have of your perfect day. So, how you do determine how much time you need? Every wedding is unique and every timeline is going to be a little different, but here is some general advice you can consider to determine how much coverage time you should include.
Wedding Coverage Should Start Well Before The Ceremony
Your wedding photographer is going to look to tell the story of your day, and that story starts well before the ceremony! Usually a photographer is going to arrive at the bride’s getting ready location about 90 minutes before the bride leaves for the ceremony, the first look, or the venue. This will allow time for the photographer to take some images that will tell the story: the dress on a hanger, jewelry, the bridesmaids with the bride in robes, the makeup artist doing some finishing touches, the bride doing a reveal for family, some portraits at a childhood home, or anything else you can dream up. It will also allow some time for some formal portraits of the bride by herself as well as the bride with family members and the bridesmaids.
Often, while the lead photographer is doing all of this, another photographer is doing the same thing with the groom, the groomsman, and his family.
First Look or No First Look?
Some couples opt to have a first look for a number of reasons, but other couples have always dreamed of seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day as the bride walks down the aisle. The best solution here is whatever you want. This is your day, and you should schedule it the way you want.
If your timeline includes a first look, that means that you can plan for family portraits right after you share that moment. The benefit here is that you probably won’t need to schedule a large amount time later with your family for photography. If your timeline doesn’t include a first look, you’ll need to devote some time for family portraits, bridal party portraits, and portraits of the bride and groom. This is where you way want to consult with your wedding photographer about your specific timeline. The photographer’s experience can serve as a tool for you to make sure you get every image you want without feeling stressed or rushed on the day of your wedding.
Bride and Groom Portraits
Most couples will want images at the venue. You’ve spent a lot of time, money, and energy making decisions about what venue to choose and how it is going to look, so it is important to take images of the bride and groom at the venue. You’ll want images that show off the venue but also some more intimate portraits that show the general feel as well. Usually, these images take about 30 minutes, and that can impact your timeline depending on how much of the cocktail hour you would like to attend.
Sunset Portraits
One other factor would be the sunset time on your wedding day. If images during sunset or at the golden hour are important to you, there isn’t much wiggle room with sunset times. Usually, the bride and groom can sneak away for 15 minutes for these images without too much of a disruption. This is especially true if you’ve already set time aside for portraits of the bride and groom.
End of Coverage
How long you would like your photographer to stay is a personal decision. Some couples want the photographer to stay through the end of the night and even attend the after party. Usually, a good rule of thumb is that the coverage should end no earlier than an hour before the reception ends. At most weddings, this is when the cake is presented and cut.
Every wedding is different, and ultimately, you need to do what feels right to you. Your wedding photographer is a great resource, and he or she can help answer whatever questions you may have about the timeline.
You want to have images that capture authentic moments and tell the story of the wedding in a stress free way. When time is short, the one thing that gets cut is the time set aside for photography, so keep an open line of communication with your wedding photographer to make sure you have the memories you want.
We pride ourselves on capturing your day the way you want it to be captured. We know that photography is an important part of your wedding, and we also know how important it is to enjoy your day. If you would like to learn more about our experience, click below for more information.