The Perfect 6-Hour Wedding Photography Timeline with a First Look
Planning a smaller, more intimate wedding and wondering if 6 hours of photography coverage will be enough? Good news—it absolutely can be! With a bit of thoughtful planning and an efficient timeline, a 6-hour wedding day with a first look can beautifully capture all your most important moments.
Here’s a sample 6-hour wedding timeline designed for intimate weddings that include a first look, perfect for couples who want a streamlined day without sacrificing any of the magic.
📸 30 Minutes: Getting Ready
Start your day by having all your key wedding items laid out for detail shots—think dress, shoes, bouquet, rings, and invitation suite. Having everything ready ahead of time saves precious minutes and ensures we get beautiful flat lays and candid moments of final touches.
💞 15 Minutes: First Look
A first look is a private moment between the bride and groom before the ceremony—often emotional and incredibly sweet. We’ll arrange it so your bridal party waits elsewhere, giving you both space to be fully present with each other. This not only creates a calm, intimate moment but also frees up time later in the day for more photos and time with your loved ones.
🌿 30 Minutes: Bride & Groom Portraits
With nerves settled and excitement high, this is the perfect time to capture timeless portraits of the couple. We’ll take advantage of the great lighting and relaxed atmosphere to get a variety of romantic, joyful images.
👰🤵 45 Minutes: Bridal Party Portraits
Allocate about 20 minutes each for the bride/bridesmaids and groom/groomsmen. If your wedding party is large, we’ll work quickly and efficiently to capture group and individual shots while keeping the energy fun and relaxed.
👨👩👧👦 30 Minutes: Family Formals
Family portraits can take more or less time depending on family size and dynamics. If divorced parents or extended family photos are needed, consider adding an extra 20 minutes. Having a must-have image list and assigning a helper to gather people can keep this moving smoothly.
✨ 30 Minutes: Venue & Detail Photos
Before the ceremony, we’ll sneak in candid shots of guests arriving and photograph the ceremony setup, décor, signage, programs, and other meaningful touches. This also gives us time for light testing to ensure everything’s ready for the ceremony.
💍 30 Minutes: Ceremony
Most wedding ceremonies fall within this timeframe. If yours is longer, adjust your overall timeline or plan for a shorter reception. If you’re unsure of the length, consult your officiant or coordinator to build the timeline accordingly.
🎉 15 Minutes: Exit or Receiving Line (Optional)
Receiving lines can take a surprising amount of time—sometimes up to an hour! If you're tight on time, consider skipping it and instead greeting guests during the reception or while visiting their tables during dinner.
💑 30 Minutes: Newlywed Portraits
After the ceremony, we’ll take another round of couple portraits—now as newlyweds! This is also the perfect time for ring shots, sunset photos depending on the time, and any “just married” photos before heading into the celebration.
🕺 90 Minutes: Wedding Reception
While shorter than a full-night party, 90 minutes allows time for the essential reception moments. To make the most of it, we recommend front-loading key events like first dances or cake cutting so nothing gets missed.
Here’s how that time breaks down:
- 5 Minutes: Grand Entrances-this can be only the newlyweds or can be the entire bridal party
- 15 Minutes: First Dances (couple, parents, or special guests) having the first dance upon entry is a seamless and beautiful transition
- 30–45 Minutes: Dinner + Reception Details & Ring Shots
- 10–20 Minutes: Toasts
- 10 Minutes: Cake Cutting
- additional time for dancing
If things are running behind, I’ll coordinate with the DJ and planner to ensure we capture the most important moments before I head out.
🎇 Staged Exit (Optional)
Since I typically leave shortly after the dance floor opens up, we can stage a fun faux exit with sparklers, flower petals, or bubbles earlier in the evening. That way, you still get that grand finale feel without needing late-night coverage.
Is 6 Hours Enough for Your Wedding?
For couples planning a smaller or more intimate celebration—with fewer guests, a shorter ceremony, or a simpler reception—6 hours of wedding photography coverage is not only doable, but it can be incredibly efficient. Especially with a first look built in, this timeline covers all your key moments, from getting ready to reception toasts.
If you’re still unsure, talk with your planner/coordinator or photographer. We are sure they would be happy to help you customize your timeline based on your unique plans.
At Milestones Studios in Meridian, Idaho, we believe your wedding day should be as stress-free and joyful as possible—and one of the best ways to make that happen is by working with a team that already knows how to work together seamlessly. That’s exactly what we offer. Milestones Studios is a family-owned collective of wedding professionals who specialize in photography, planning, coordination, beauty services, and officiating—all under one roof.
Through our dedicated branches—Milestones Planning for planning and/or coordination, Milestones Portraits for photography, The Vanity for bridal hair and makeup, and Milestones Union for officiating—we offer a full-service approach designed to simplify your wedding day. When you bundle services through us, you not only receive exclusive discounts, but you also get the peace of mind that comes with hiring a team who knows each other inside and out. We’ve spent years perfecting our timing, anticipating each other’s needs, and collaborating effortlessly to keep your day running smoothly.
No scrambling to find your photographer during the ceremony or wondering if the stylist will be done on time—we’ve got it covered. We show up already in sync, ready to work behind the scenes so you can focus on what really matters: celebrating your love. Whether you're planning a cozy, six-hour celebration or a full wedding weekend, Milestones Studios is here to bring your vision to life with ease, expertise, and a whole lot of heart.
You can learn more about each of our services on our website. Click on each to learn more:
XOXO,
Amy
