Guest Post: Wedding Photography Timeline Wednesday, May 1, 2013 ~ 12:35 p.m.

Today, Las Vegas wedding photographers, Jessie and Jason Emeric are here to share a super helpful wedding photography timeline. It's a great, very useful tool for couples trying to plan out their wedding day - how much time should be spent on getting ready photos, first look shots and so on.

All weddings are different and all couples have different needs. Some weddings are small and intimate. Some are a big celebration with lots of friends and family! Regardless of the kind of wedding you're having, planning for the big day can be overwhelming at times and trying to figure out how much photography time you need can also be a challenge. As wedding photographers we've been to quite a few weddings over the years and we'd like to share what an ideal timeline can look like:

1 - 1.5 hrs for Getting Ready Shots. This will ensure we get all the lovely details, from your beautiful dress, to your pretty bottle of perfume. During this time your photographer will also grab some photojournalistic images of you getting into your dress and putting on the finishing touches.

2 hrs for the First look, Bride & Groom Portraits & Bridal Party Shots. A first look is such a beautiful moment and it deserves to be captured in photographs. Also, allowing a good chunk of time to grab the formal portraits before the ceremony, means you'll have more time to mingle with your guests and party during the reception.

30 - 45 mins to capture Reception Details. About 30 minutes before the ceremony is scheduled, the bride usually gets tucked away so as to not be seen by her arriving guests. This is the perfect time for your photographer to capture the ceremony and/or reception room. You probably spent a lot of time choosing your floral arrangements, place cards, wedding favors, etc. and your photographer will be sure to photograph all your lovely details!

Ceremony (anywhere from 30 min to an hour). During the ceremony, your photographer(s) will document it all professionally and unobtrusively. Be sure to let your photographer know if there will be any special moments during the ceremony that they should pay close attention for, such as unity candle, ring warming, communion, etc.

30 mins for the must-have Family Formal Shots. This is best done immediately after the ceremony. We always have our couples provide us with a list of their preferred family group combinations. It's also a good idea to let the family members involved know to stick around, this allows us to work efficiently and quickly to get these must-have shots done and get everyone to cocktail hour ;)

30 mins for Cocktail Hour/Bride & Groom Formals. After the family portraits, your photographer may go around taking some candid shots of your guests during cocktail hour or finish up any bride and groom formal shots before the reception entrance. It'll just depend on how things have been going so far during the day. This time could also just be a time for the bride and groom to enjoy cocktail hour with their guests or find a quiet spot to relax before their grand entrance.

2 - 4 hrs Reception Coverage. Just as the ceremony, during this time your photographer will mostly capture photojournalistic style photographs of the reception. They'll be sure to capture all the must-have moments, such as the first dance, parent dances, speeches and toasts, cake cutting, and the garter & bouquet toss. They'll get fun shots of your guests mingling and dancing. And, if there's going to be a special exit, such as sparklers or a super cool getaway car, your photographers can stick around for right up until the end!

Of course, this is just a sample timeline of a traditional wedding day and your timeline may look completely different or can be similar to this one! Either way, what's important is that you have a timeline that works for you! You want a fun and stress-free day and a timeline that's specifically tailored for your wedding will make this happen.

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