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  • Writer's pictureRyosuke Rui

How Many Hours of Photoshoot Is Ideal for Your Wedding?

Most of the wedding photography packages in the market are based on the number of hours of photoshoot needed. Of course, you want to have all the important moments of your day to be captured. If you hire for fewer hours than what you anticipate, you will end up paying for overtime or risk the photographer's unavailability. You also don't want to waste your wedding budget for extra hours that you don't really need.


Every wedding is unique and every couple has different cultures and traditions to follow. Some traditional weddings even involve activities that last for a couple of days. In this article, I will focus on the most common weddings that only complete in a day. You can refer to ceremony start time, and from there you can then plan it backward and forward to get a draft of your wedding timeline



An intimate wedding ceremony at Kedron Dells Golf Club


4 Hours of Mini Wedding Photography

It is best for couples who has a simple wedding ceremony, and the reception venue is at the same place. If you do not need getting ready and dancing photos, this will be your best choice.


Time

Activities

10:00

Couple portrait/ Wedding party pictures

10:30

Guests arriving

10:45

Ceremony details/ Venue decor/ Ceremony prep

11:00

Wedding ceremony

11:30

Family & couple portrait

12:00

Reception details

12:30

Grand entrance

12:35

Toasts

1:00

Lunch

1:45

Cake cutting

2:00

Photographer departs



Bride was giving her speech at her wedding at Cluny Bistro, Toronto


6 Hours of Intimate Wedding Photography

Six hours of photography allow 3 options to choose from. Based on your needs, you can either go for getting ready photos, or decide to have first look photos or capture a lot of fun dancing photos with sparkling exit. The timeline will work provided your ceremony and reception are at the close proximity.


Time

Getting Ready

First Look

Dance + Sparkler Exit

2:00

Bride & bridesmaids getting ready

Set up for the First Look

2:15

''

First Look

2:30

''

Couple portrait

3:00

Groom & groomsmen getting ready

Wedding party pictures

3:30

Guests arriving

Guests arriving

Guests arriving

3:45

Ceremony details/ Venue decor/ Ceremony prep

Ceremony details/ Venue decor/ Ceremony prep

Ceremony details/ Venue decor/ Ceremony prep

4:00

Wedding ceremony

Wedding ceremony

Wedding ceremony

4:30

Family & couple portrait

Family & couple portrait

Family & couple portrait

4:50

Wedding party pictures

Sunset newlywed picture

Wedding party pictures

5:00

Sunset newlywed picture

''

Sunset newlywed picture

5:15

Reception details

Reception details

Reception details

5:30

Grand entrance

Grand entrance

Grand entrance

5:35

Toast

Toast

Toast

6:00

Dinner

Dinner

Dinner

7:00

First dance & Parent dances

First dance & Parent dances

First dance & Parent dances

7:10

Open dancing

Open dancing

Open dancing

7:45

Cake cutting

Cake cutting

Cake cutting

7:55

Bouquet & garter toss

Bouquet & garter toss

Bouquet & garter toss

8:00

Photographer departs

Photographer departs

Open dancing

9:15

Sparkler exit

9:30

Photographer departs




Guests dancing at a backyard wedding in Brampton.


8 Hours of Big Day Wedding Photography

Eight hours of wedding photography is the most popular duration and it will cover for almost all the activities from begin to end. If your reception is located at a different place from the ceremony and you want to capture getting ready, first look, and a lot of dancing photos then 8 hours will work best for you.


Time

Traditional

First Look

1:00

Bride & bridesmaid getting ready

2:00

Bride & bridesmaid getting ready

Groom & groomsmen getting ready

2:30

"

Set up for the First Look

2:45

"

First Look

3:00

Groom & groomsmen getting ready

Couple portrait

3:30

Guests arriving

Guests arriving

3:45

Ceremony details/ Venue decor/ Ceremony prep

Ceremony details/ Venue decor/ Ceremony prep

4:00

Wedding ceremony

Wedding ceremony

4:30

Family & couple portrait

Family & couple portrait

4:50

Full wedding party photos

Full wedding party photos

5:00

Sunset newlywed pictures

Sunset newlywed pictures

5:15

Reception details

Reception details

5:30

Grand entrance

Grand entrance

5:35

Toast

Toast

6:00

Dinner

Dinner

7:00

First dance & Parent dances

First dance & Parent dances

7:10

Open dancing

Open dancing

8:00

Cake cutting

Cake cutting

8:10

Bouquet & garter toss

Bouquet & garter toss

8:20

Open dancing

Open dancing

8:50

"

Sparkler exit

9:00

"

Photographer departs

9:50

Sparkler exit

10:00

Photographer departs



Guests enjoy champagne at a micro wedding at Kimpton Saint George Hotel


10 Hours of Forevermore Wedding Photography

If you are having two ceremonies (such as a morning tea ceremony and a traditional afternoon or evening ceremony), you should then consider to book for 10 hours of wedding photography service. In some weddings, there will be a gap of time between the end of ceremony and the start of reception (such as church weddings), this 10 hours photography will be ideal for you too.


Time

Traditional Church

Two Ceremony

10:00

Morning tea ceremony

10:30

Bride & bridesmaid getting ready

"

11:30

Groom & groomsmen getting ready

"

12:00

Wedding ceremony

-Break-

1:00

Family & couple portraits

-

2:00

​Optional break / Couple portraits

-

3:00

Cocktail hour

Getting ready photos for second ceremony

4:00

Reception details

Wedding ceremony

4:15

Grand entrance

"

4:30

Toast

Family & couple portraits

5:00

Dinner

Sunset newlywed pictures

5:15

"

Reception details

5:30

"

Grand entrance

5:35

"

Toast

6:00

First dance & Parent dances

Dinner

6:10

Open dancing

"

7:00

"

First dance & Parent dances

7:10

"

Open dancing

7:45

Cake cutting

Cake cutting

7:55

Bouquet and garter toss

Bouquet and garter toss

8:00

Open dancing

Photographer departs

8:30

Photographer departs



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