Timeline + Important Wedding Day Tips
Here are some wedding day tips to help your day go smoothly and to make the most of your cherished photographs. Since Hartman Outdoor Photography began in 2010, we have photographed over 200 weddings, so I figured sharing this information might make your life a little bit easier.
Whether your wedding is being photographed by myself (Shelley) or one of our very talented associates – when we photograph, we love to take a lot of candids. So you can pass this along to your friends and family. Don’t worry- we only keep the cute and flattering ones though! 🙂 We’ll make light chit chat to help people feel comfortable and open up, and if we see that people don’t know how to act or feel awkward, we will give friendly, gentle direction- usually to move around or do something that focuses them in the moment and off of the fact that their picture is being taken. If we see an opportunity for really good lighting, or a photographic vision, or lipstick on teeth, etc, we’ll point it out. We’ll also tell you to look right at the camera when I think that will make a strong image. Otherwise, we really think we capture things best as observers of these beautiful moments of your life.
As the office manager, I also like to send out a sample timeline for each wedding day after booking based on the best lighting. If for some reason you have not received this, please contact me. Enjoy the tips and can’t wait to work with you! ~Michelle (Shelley) Hartman
WEDDING DAY TIPS
GETTING READY
Estimated time needed: About 1.5 hr give or take some
We love photographing the getting ready time, mainly because there is so much emotion and anticipation here. Being able to photograph at this time also helps us meet and get to know your important friends and family before all the festivities officially get started. In photographing the getting ready process, we focus both on people, connections, and memories, and any special details you’d like photographed (dress, jewelry, shoes, etc).
Here are some of my top Getting Ready Tips:
- If the option exists, it simplifies things to be able to get ready at your wedding venue (This works best for us logistically to save time and allow us to wander/ check out ceremony and reception area as setup is completed)
- If you’d like pictures of both the Bride and Groom getting ready, its helpful to choose a location where we can easily walk between you both.
- Have the dress/ any details you’d like photographed set aside in one area for us to efficiently photograph them.
- Make sure mamas get ready too! Moms are usually busy taking care of things to make the day perfect, but they should be ready for pictures too! We recommend delegating tasks to a wedding planner, trusted aunt/uncle or good friend who isn’t in the wedding party.
- When selecting where to get ready, choose a room with a lot of NATURAL LIGHT during the time of day you’re getting ready. Windows are our friend!
- Set up near a window to do makeup, hair, put on dress, etc. Natural light is much more flattering than artificial lighting.
- We will take some regular pictures of your dress being hand buttoned, but if you have a lot of buttons on your dress, a small crochet hook will be a LIFESAVER on your wedding day- both to put the dress on, and for your partner to take it off at the end of the night!
FIRST LOOK
Estimated time needed: about 20-30 minutes
This one depends on what traditions you like to follow and your schedule. When it comes to a first look, we do not try to influence couple’s decisions either way. It is completely up to you whether this is what you want to do. In my experience though, I think people tend to feel a bit nervous before the wedding- even when they think they won’t be. The portraits after the ceremony are much more relaxed, and the lighting is generally better, so that is typically where we prefer to spend most of our time. However, doing a first look is a great idea if you would like to see each other and get the family and wedding party portraits done before the ceremony- or if you want more portraits of you two in different lighting- or if you are getting married in the winter when the days are shorter. It also is a wonderful way to share personal vows or letters with each other privately. Either way you decide to go, we can scout the location based on the best light and scenery.
CEREMONY/ PRE-CEREMONY TIME
Estimated time: about 60 minutes
Time to do this thing! Usually the ceremony itself is pretty quick, about 20 minutes or so. However, I suggest allowing a little extra time in your schedule just in case things run behind (which it does about 80% of the time). Having this extra cushion of time built in will keep things nice and relaxed. I also include an additional 20-30 minutes in your timeline to allow us to photograph the ceremony and reception areas about an hour before the festivities start (if logistically possible). Best case scenario, everything runs on time and you just get a bit more time to drink champagne with your best friends and relax before the ceremony. :)
My Ceremony Tips:
- I highly recommend planning your ceremony during a time when the sun is a bit lower in the sky to make sure the lighting is most flattering. Usually a couple of hours before sunset is good, though maybe even sometimes earlier if there are very tall buildings or mountains that will block out the sun (the sunset times online are based on sea level). Avoid high noon when the sun is directly overhead of you (creates shadows under eyes and noses).
- If possible, plan your ceremony in a location where your guests would be seated facing towards the sun. Though direct sun can be interesting, this backlighting on you at the alter is generally most flattering. An evenly shaded area also works. If your only option is a spot in direct sun, just be careful that you don’t end up standing in a spot where the shadows of overhead leaves or branches land on you as uneven lighting is often unflattering.
- If you have a ceremony arbor or pergola, we recommend planning to stand in front rather than underneath for the best photos.
- Please let me know if you are having a particularly long or short ceremony. We are usually expecting ceremonies to last about 20 minutes.
- Please let me know on your questionnaire if you have any special traditions or surprises planned during the ceremony so we can be ready to photograph them.
- During your ceremony, we will be quietly walking all around you and the ceremony site to capture a variety of angles.
- If rain is predicted for your wedding day: 1. Don’t trust the forecast until the day of! 2.On the day of- only look at the HOURLY forecast/radar before making your decision of whether to go with Plan B. Even if its only due to rain at 3am and be sunny the rest of the day, that daily forecast will still just show a big rain cloud with an 80%. 3. I have photographed multiple ceremonies in the rain where guests hold umbrellas. The ceremony is only 20 minutes, so its not too bad, but it is very memorable. However, we support you no matter what you choose to do!
- If you are wanting people to throw petals as you walk down the aisle as newlyweds, give a generous amount and give an extra big amount on the seats right next to the aisle. That way, even when everyone throws them up in the air unsynchronized, and the petals spread out mid-air, they will still have great effect! Seeds are fun, but they don’t show up too much in photos. Actual flower petals do best (not the faux fabric or plastic though because we don’t want to pollute our beautiful earth).
FAMILY PHOTOS
Estimated time: 20-30 minutes
Yay! You’re married!!! Usually after the ceremony, family members meet up at a spot so they can hug and congratulate you and then move into the family formal portraits. I will be emailing you a questionnaire a month prior to your wedding to make sure we know who to group together and keep things efficient so everyone can get to cocktail hour and celebrate asap.:)
Here are my family photo tips:
- Do me a favor and tell family prior that they need to stick around after the ceremony if you want them in any pictures. We usually end up taking photos at the ceremony site, light permitting.
- I recommend keeping your list of family formal portraits short and sweet. Generally we photograph just the immediate family: couple with parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other very close family members or friends. If you need extended families included, we will need to allow for more time here.
- Typically we start with grandparents or small kids so that they can sit down first.
WEDDING PARTY PHOTOS
Estimated time: 20-30 minutes
Time for the VIP Squad! For wedding party photos, we will go to a spot we scouted out based on lighting and scenery. We’ll get the individual wedding parties, bridesmaids and groomsmen all together, and then individuals of each wedding party person with bride/groom if time allows. Flower girls and ring bearers can get in here too! Note: This time estimate is based off 4 bridesmaids and 4 groomsmen. If your parties are closer to 10 each, we will probably need the full 30. :)
Wedding Party photo tips:
- Make sure wedding party knows we’re doing pics after the ceremony, though they can run to grab drinks really quick before we meet up after family photos… and maybe they’ll be so kind as to bring one back for you too! ;)
- Wedges are your friend!!! Usually the scenic spots requires walking or standing in grass, which does not agree too well with spiky heels. Wedges are the heel of choice at an outdoor wedding! Though if you know people have already bought their heels or just want some insurance just in case, they do make these handy heel protectors for walking in grass.
NEWLYWED PORTRAITS
Estimated time: 20-60 minutes
Time to enjoy some quiet time alone in that gorgeous soft evening light. We’re saving the best light of the day for the most romantic pictures of you two. We will have scouted out a location or two for us to enjoy the sunset from. We will also get some individual portraits of each of you at this time. Then we will wander back to start the party!
Newlywed Portrait tips:
- Again, I highly suggest wearing WEDGES OR FLATS! Even if you have a fancy pair of spiky heels you want to wear for the rest of the day, walking around outside will be so much easier in wedges or flats.
- These may be a little bit before the online sunset times due to any tall mountains or trees or buildings that could block the light early as the sun goes down (I call this the realistic sunset time since online times are based on the sun going below sea level).
- Feel free to email me with any questions about timing!
- I like these to be planned a little bit before the realistic sunset time in case of cloudy weather that blocks the sun earlier on your wedding day. And so we still have some light for your first dance if you do that first thing during the reception.
- Note: Depending on the amount of time you would like for newlywed photos, and how much time we need for family and wedding party photos, a cocktail hour + (cocktail hour and a half or hour and 15 minutes) may work nicely to allow for enough time to capture everything after the ceremony.
RECEPTION
Estimated time: 3 hours
Party time!!! Now that the sun has set, we will use a video light or flash to photograph, though we will also try using natural light when we can to capture the ambiance for some shots. We’ll make sure to capture the sweet moments, the crazy dance moves, and those things that people might not remember the next morning. ; )
Reception tips:
- If your venue is very dark, full of dark wood, or is outside under the stars, I recommend stringing a whole bunch of lights around and overhead so we can capture the romantic ambiance. And you can never have too many candles!
- If you need to get a tent, clear tents are wonderful because they can pull in some natural lighting at dusk. Sailcloth tents are also very photogenic.
SPARKLER EXIT
Estimated time: 15 minutes
That last romantic hurrah. For the exit, I recommend sparklers over glowsticks, etc due to the bright, warm light they emit. Sometimes people also like to send off lanterns, but though they look beautiful in pictures, in reality they often get stuck burning in trees, which is quite scary to watch. As far as sparklers go, make sure you get the nice extra long kind so we have plenty of time! Also, take your time going through, and soak it all in. High five people, stop to kiss, etc. Heck you could even run through twice. And then before you leave, don’t forget to let us give you a hug goodbye!!!
Hope that helps!!!
Shelley Hartman