A lot of Brides ask me how they should schedule their pictures into the packed day of the wedding. Let me start off by saying that I am not inclined to be a bossy drill sergeant during your wedding day. I am simply there to capture the day's events as they unfold. Though I'll gladly help coordinate your crowd for portraits, I'm not there to make sure everything happens exactly on schedule. If you or your attendants/family run late, I will simply work within the time I'm given. If you would like my suggestions for when to schedule pictures so that they fit seamlessly into your day, I offer the following thoughts.
Portraits Anyone?
Based upon an afternoon/evening ceremony, I would typically work backward to a start time of shooting in the dressing rooms about 3-4 hrs prior (while you and your wedding party are getting ready). The reason I'd suggest getting ready 3-4 hours prior to ceremony is because bridesmaids and family members tend to run late, and a dressing room full of girlfriends will take a little longer to get ready than the Bride would by herself. Brides who want their ceremony to be earlier in the day might still consider doing portraits earlier, but might be happier moving portraits until after the ceremony.
If possible, I prefer to capture a few portraits of you with your attendants and/or immediate family, starting around 2.5-3 hrs before the ceremony. Don't worry, we won't actually be shooting portraits for hours on end! The day will fly by and, with all the other important activities taking priority, pictures often get pushed out. I suggest scheduling this time simply so we'll be wrapped up long before the guests start arriving.
The reason I prefer doing at least some portraits before the ceremony is because people are still full of excitement and anticipation (which will show in their faces). After the ceremony, people are often tired of all the wedding business and start to get antsy to join the reception (resulting in a distracted group with little patience for portraits). To keep everyone engaged, my goal would be to do formal portraits before the ceremony so we can save the fun/informal portraits for after. If you'd like a lot of specific group portraits, I'd suggest putting together a list of names/groups in advance (so I can keep track as we work through them).
Tip: The key to successful group portraits is to make sure everyone in your list knows when they need to be ready and present. Thus, I'd suggest informing your wedding party and immediate family to be ready to shoot at least 2 hrs pre-ceremony.
To See or Not to See?
One major thing to consider is whether to see each other before the ceremony? A lot of Brides fantasize about the fairytale moment of watching the groom's expression when he sees her in the dress the first time as she walks down the aisle. The reality is that during the ceremony, you'll be surrounded by a hundred people watching your every move, which can prove to be extremely distracting. The ceremony often breezes by in a blur, and I've heard couples comment that they were so nervous during the ceremony that they had no memory of anything that happened. So much for that fairytale moment...
A modern tradition that is fast replacing the old is arranging a private encounter shortly before the guests arrive, where the two of you can candidly meet for a worry-free and romantic moment in time together. Free to take in the full presence of each other and to help calm each other's nerves before the big moment in front of the crowd. I've worked with several couples who've done this, and they've all been extremely happy with the decision. Plus, the pictures created during this moment are one of a kind and genuinely candid. The choice is ultimately yours to make, but I encourage Brides to consider their options.
The "Magic Hour"
The final thing to consider is when to do the couple's portaits. There's a window of time about an hour before sunset known as the "Magic Hour" where the sun is low enough in the sky that it lets off a soft, warm, and romantic glow. Pictures taken during this time are stunning. During August in Oregon, this happens to be from about 6:30 -7:30pm. If at all possible, I'd love to reserve at least 20 minutes of the Bride & Groom's time during this window to steal away from the reception to do some creative portraits of just the two of you. I promise, you'l love the results!
There is also a more subtle Magic Hour in the morning after sun-rise, where the sun is also low in the sky. The light is not as warm as it is in the evening, but it certainly provides an opportunity to get in a some great portraits before the chaos begins.
For other dates & locations, sunrise/sunset timetables can be found here: http://www.timeanddate.com
Please keep in mind that the above timelines are just my personal suggestions, based upon my experiences from weddings I've worked. I have no intent to take over your big day with my camera. If the above suggestions don't interest you, I will eagerly work to whatever schedule you prefer.
