Key Aspect in making a realistic and stress free timeline: Understanding that more time is the goal, an 8 hour day cannot fit into a 6 hour timeline. Every moment adds minutes that add up to a big difference. Prioritize your newlywed portraits because this will be the one thing that will be cut in the case of a delayed timeline.
What parts of the day are most integral in staying on track?
Hands down, your morning plans can make or break your timeline. Speak with your hair and makeup team, provide them with all of the women who will need hair and makeup. Do not add an extra person without telling them ahead of time and before the timeline is made. Adding an extra person last minute, will mean your planner has to redo the whole timeline.
How to ensure your morning stays on track
- Tell all of your bridesmaids to be on time
- Assign one or two bridesmaids to take care of organizing your belongings that you’ll be taking with you to your wedding
- Have someone order food and drinks ahead of time
- Keep your room relatively clean and organzied (this will help your media team to get those clean shots)
- Make sure every person on your wedding party and family keeps their phones on, in case we need to contact them
- Keep your wedding details (rings, flowers, invites etc) in a box ready for your media team.
Should You Consider a First Look?
Consider a first look in order to free up your timeline. If you do a first look, we can knock out your family photos before the ceremony starts. This means you’ll actually get to enjoy your cocktail hour. Also, if you do a first look, we can do some of your solo bride and solo groom portraits, before the ceremony. This means we can focus on photos of the two of you during the sunset.
- Pros of a first look: knock out family pics and wedding party pics before the ceremony
- More time to enjoy cocktail hour
- Chance to do solo portraits
- Offers you 2 times in the day for formal portraits and fun editorial portraits
- Ensures that you will get those must have photos. Because to be honest, your sunset portraits may be hindered with rain or any timeline delay.
- *Your sunset portraits will be the one thing that your planner will sacrifice in the case of a delayed timeline. Because planners will not delay the catering or start of your dinner to accommodate your sunset portraits. Catering will begin service on time, always.
Are Sunset Portraits Always at Sunset?
Is sunset portraits always at sunset time? Not always. If your venue is on the east shore of Oahu, you will not get a sunset because the sun sets on the west shores. For example, Paliku at Kualoa does not have a direct sunset view. So your “sunset” portraits can happen sooner in the day. The sunset light doesn’t really matter at this venue.
Sample timelines
6 hour
2pm – first look + bride and groom portraits
2:30 – family pics
3:00 – wedding party pics
3:30 – line up for ceremony
4:00 – ceremony
4:30 – cocktail hour
5:00 – sunset portraits
5:30 – grand entrance
5:40 – dinner is served
6:00 – toasts and speeches
6:30 – first dances
6:45 – cake cutting
7:00 – dance floor opens
8:00 – photo ends
8 hour
12pm – photos of details (rings, invites, shoes, jewlery, dress)
1pm – get into dress + bridal portraits
2pm – first look + bride and groom portraits
2:30 – family pics
3:00 – wedding party pics
3:30 – line up for ceremony
4:00 – ceremony
4:30 – cocktail hour
5:00 – sunset portraits
5:30 – grand entrance
5:40 – dinner is served
6:00 – toasts and speeches
6:30 – first dances
6:45 – cake cutting
7:00 – dance floor opens
8:00 – photo ends
Looking for an Oahu wedding photographer who can help keep your day running smoothly? Get in touch today, and let Megan Moura create the perfect photography timeline for your Hawaii destination wedding.
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