Having a wedding timeline allows you to see how your wedding day will run and see if you need to make any changes to it. Below are two different timelines for the ceremony and reception. The first timeline is with a first look and the other is without. The amount of time given for each part of the ceremony and getting ready process is roughly how much time your photographer needs to capture everything.
With a first look
getting dressed 25-30 mins
first look 25-30 mins
wedding party 30 mins
immediate family 20 mins
guest arrive about 40 mins prior
ceremony 30mins – 1 hour
extended family photos 20 mins
just married photos 10 mins
bustle/join cocktail hour 30 mins
reception all night
With no first look
getting dressed 20-30 mins
bridesmaid photos 20-25 mins
groomsmen photos 20-25mins
guest begin to arrive 40 mins prior
ceremony 30 mins- 1 hour
family formals 35 mins
bridal party 10-15 mins
bride and groom 10 -15 mins
reception all night
The biggest piece of advice I can give for a timeline for your reception, is to make sure all the traditional events happen at the very beginning of you reception and NOT sprinkled throughout the reception. By having everything at the beginning of your reception, the older generation is able to leave early without feeling like they are missing anything.
Another reason is that you do not want your guests to get bored. They came to celebrate you and your significant other getting married and want to have fun doing it. So the less you have to interrupt the dancing, the better! I have two timeline ideas for you to considered for your reception below.
Reception option 1
Intros into reception
Cake cutting
Dinner (have the cake cut outback for guests)
Speeches (during dinner)
First dance
Parent dances
Bouquet/garter toss
Invite everyone to the dance floor
Reception option 2
Intro into reception
First dance
Cake cutting
Dinner (cake cut outback for guests)
Speeches (during dinner)
Parent dances
Bouquet/garter toss
Invite everyone to the dance floor
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True-to-color, documentary wedding photography for couples who want to feel supported, present, and fully themselves. I photograph weddings, elopements, and engagements with a calm, guided approach that prioritizes connection over performance. The result is imagery that feels honest, timeless, and deeply personal to your story.
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I believe in the power of presence. That belief comes from personal experience. I've seen how quickly moments become memories and how meaningful photographs can be when the people in them are no longer in the room. It changed the way I value being present and the way I approach documenting the people we love.
Because of that, I photograph wedding days with a calm, guided documentary approach. I focus on real connection, the relationships around you, and the moments that often pass quietly but matter most. I guide when it's helpful, step back when moments deserve space, and work intentionally so your day never feels rushed or staged.
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KELSEY SHEEHAN
Kelsey Sheehan is a New England wedding photographer specializing in refined, documentary-inspired celebrations across Rhode Island, Newport, Providence, Cape Cod, Boston, and the coastal New England region. She creates timeless, true-to-color imagery rooted in natural light, emotion, and intentional storytelling.