Wedding timeline - Planning 101 {Auckland weddings photographers}

Wedding timeline is one of the most important things on the wedding day and many clients ask us how better to plan photography events and how many hours of coverage do they need for capture all important moments. As wedding photogpraher who captured many weddings around New Zealand & International Im happy to share my experience and give some time frames for orientation.

Of course each wedding and their timelines are unique. Following information just something what can be considered for make your wedding day more enjoyable and create perfect conditions for stunning photos. Take on only those points what suits your situation!

Getting ready

Getting ready: Maya

Getting ready: Maya

1. Getting ready - 1.5-2 hours. Minimum time for getting ready photos is 1 hour {we usually start shooting when make-up, hair half way through. If you would like us to capture some special events as first look with dad, family portraits, lots of pictures with bridesmaids, many details shots etc you need to add on time. Better prepared beforehand all special for you items what you want us to capture {it will save the time and make morning less stressful for you}. Groom getting ready photos usually faster ones {as there no make-up and hair done :)}, but if groom planned something special with his groomsmen {as play golf on the morning, fishing, shooting etc.} definitely let us know, we would love to capture a complete story of your wedding day.

First look

First look: Madeline & Barry

First look: Madeline & Barry

2. First look - 30 min - 1.5 hours. First look is a special event which became more popular lately {not for traditional couples}. Its a moment when groom seen his bride before the ceremony {turn back to her walking towards him and then turn around}. First look is emotional moment and flow into the bridal party and couples photo shoot {thats why its up to 1.5 hours long}. This event allow to save some time between ceremony and reception when couple traditionally doing photo shoot on location, or add on extra location and variety for images.

Wedding Ceremony

Wedding ceremony: Ilinke & Shaun

Wedding ceremony: Ilinke & Shaun

3. Ceremony - 30 min {outdoor} to 1 hour {traditional church ceremony}. Ceremony usually take between 30 min and 1 hour. We need to arrive on site 20-30 min before ceremony starts to capture details, guests arriving, groom waiting etc. Also allow yourself at least 10-15 min after ceremony for greetings, relax and hug your family and friends.

Family Formals

Family formals: Kara & David's wedding

Family formals: Kara & David's wedding

4. Family photos - 20-40 min {depending on amount of groups}. Something to consider: big group with all guests can take up to 10 min, each small group up to 3 min. We usually recommend to have up to 10 groupings as its can be exhausting for couple to wait for everyone and keep tuned {they are usually starving and thirsty at this moment {needed provide some drinks and snacks}. Also good idea to have a shepherd - a person who know well the family and can gather people together {which save a time}. Good to have a little breath after family photos {drink and snacks} to refresh.

Bridal party + Bride & Groom session

Bridal party: Kathleen & Steve wedding

Bridal party: Kathleen & Steve wedding

Bridal party: Hana & Aidan wedding

Bridal party: Hana & Aidan wedding

5. Bridal party and Bride & Groom intimate session - 1.5-2 hours. Minimum time for photo shoot is one hour {20 min - tidal party photos and minimum 30 min bride & groom photos with basic amount of photos}. Extra time give more opportunity to be creative, walk and talk, relax and go with the flow. Also allow extra time if there few locations or travelling involved. Many couples worried about their guests waiting for them, but believe me your guests are fine, they talking, enjoying outdoor games and other activities, snacks and drinks. If you would like to mix & mingle with your guests its a good idea to arrive to reception 30 min before its starts and have a good chat with all family members and guests.

Bride & Groom session: Georjarna & Gareth

Bride & Groom session: Georjarna & Gareth

Best time for photos: morning or during two hours before the sunset. Placing couple photo shoot in this time frame can be ideal but often impossible at the wedding day. We used to work with different lighting conditions. Solutions can be: moving ceremony to later time during summer as 3.30-5 pm {later is better for outdoor ceremonies, otherwise there can be tricky lighting situation with light and shade and hot spots on the faces}. Winter weddings usually scheduled with 1-3 pm ceremonies. 

Sunset Bride & Groom intimate session: Jenny & Andrew

Sunset Bride & Groom intimate session: Jenny & Andrew

Other option: have a separate photo shoot just before the sunset during summer time - sneak out of reception while guests eating their dinner, relaxing, chatting.

One more option for night lovers - get creative photos when sun go down, at late evening with dark and moody atmosphere:

Night time photos: Ellise & Wasim

Night time photos: Ellise & Wasim

Reception

Reception: Megan & Chris wedding

Reception: Megan & Chris wedding

6. Reception {coverage depending on amount of events planned, usually its around 3-4 hours, including speeches, dinner, cake cutting, first dance, father-daughter dance, mother-son, guests dancing + any more cultural traditions}. You can move these events around to suit your needs and what you like to do, its your time to enjoy rest of the day.

First dance: Chauntelle & Jayden

First dance: Chauntelle & Jayden

Full day coverage {from getting ready till guests dancing usually around 9-10 hours {if there late evening events planned its comes to 11-12 hours which is rare}. Small weddings, elopements usually take around 3-5 hours. 

Hope this orientation and tips with wedding timeline will help your planning. Let me know if you have any questions! As I said each situation is unique, just allow yourself time to breath and move from one part of the day to another without rush and enjoy every moment!

Sony & Ryan

Sony & Ryan

Its your time, time of your life!

{Other thing to consider - having a wedding planner can make you life so much easier and save lots of hours planning, putting things together, looking for wedding vendors and communicating with everyone. Experienced wedding planners know exactly how make your day run smoothly and allow you fully enjoy your time}.

Wedding reception

Wedding reception

We will help you with everything run smoothly!

x Warmly, 

Olga & Matt

Guests dancing {Langham}

Guests dancing {Langham}

Second photographer on wedding day {Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga lifestyle couples-engagement photographer}

I have a lot of questions from my couples about second photographer on their wedding, do they need it, what coverage better to order and what actually the point to have a second shooter on wedding day?

Im shooting weddings around Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and surroundings areas and can tell a lot of times I can cover wedding all by myself with all my activity, creativity, fast move around the space and try to capture all important for couple moments :).

But sometimes its just not enough, especially when you need a full day coverage, you having a big wedding with a lot of guests and events. So second photographer can capture:

  • groom getting ready when main shooter capturing bride getting ready on different location,
  • ceremony from different angles and sides (one photographer shoot bride with her father walking down the aisle, another photographer groom's reactions and even tears in their eyes, thats a priceless moments),
  • one photographer doing bridal party shots and intimate session, another one shooting them  from different angle with different focal length of the lens or doing receptions details shots and wedding guests candid shots (schedule always running late and often bride and groom enter the reception with main photographer when guests already took their places (so there is no time to capture all these beautiful details of decoration, cake etc.).

Don't forget a peoples factor: everyone can miss the moment, be tired, and just be in a different spot when something important happening. Thats why the ability to have a second shooter can save the day. I can also tell you a secret: everyone love to have a buddy at work so you feel less tired, more inspired and less stressful, wedding can be a hectic event :)

So its totally your personal choice, but I highly recommend to have a second photographer on wedding day (most of our packages offering it).

Im also like to help out other talented photographers in Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga areas with shooting their weddings and be a part of couples special day, take of responsibilities of main shooter, don't waste the time on post-processing and enjoy creativity and fun of the day (if I have any free spots in my busy schedule, of course ;).

Have a look at these few images what I took as second shooter with Erica Jane for Kelly Oliver in Ataahua Garden Venue, enjoy this gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

(BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Castaways Resort - Kariotahi beach wedding {Auckland lifestyle couples-engagement photographer} Juliette and John

What a beautiful wedding in Castaways Resort (Kariotahi beach, Auckland) I been captured with Juliette & Jonny; just amazing couple and meant to be with each other. I been shooting their engagement party in April last year; what a warm and cosy atmosphere it was. I been really thrilled to be invited to capture their special wedding day!

It's even more meaningful for me because Juliette is my very first friend that I met in New Zealand in my first year when I joined ice skating coffee club (I been doing figure skating for 5 years back in Russia :). She is a presenter at Radio New Zealand concert. We both love ice skating, dance and more :) it was a big honour to capture these beautiful moments for this stunning couple.

Juliette & Jonny met each other on tropical island on holidays few years ago and thought they never met again, but it was destiny :) Jonny moved to Auckland and started to work just few buildings over from Juliette's office and they met each other again and together forever from this point :) They have amazing story of relationship (there even been a moment when Juliette drove to rescue him in Northland where he was diving, luckily all finished good, but it was really strong check of their relationship). This couple meant to be with each other!

Creative team what made this wedding so special:

Dress: Parkland Bridal & Shirley from I Sew 4 U- Dressmaking & Alterations
Makeup: Catherine Campbell Make Up
Hair: Sam Graham from Framed Hair & Beauty
Shoes: Trousseau - bridal & evening shoes
Cake: Isabelle Edmonds
Flowers: Rosemary McNoe
Band: Twistin’ The Swing
and Levien & Lens Photography ;)

Day started from getting ready moments in nice Castaways chalet with amazing views to the ocean, what a great place to be! It was emotional moments with first look with Juliette's dad and time with all her close family and 3 bridesmaids (one of them Rosemary is Juliette's sister, she also made gorgeous flowers bouquets for bridal party: need to mentioned other sister Catherine created make-up for her, what great family support!). Juliette's veil is very special and kept in family for a few generations, what a beautiful tradition!

Then we moved towards St Anthony's Catholic Church in Waiuku, Auckland where wedding ceremony was held. It's such a beautiful place with nice Christmas display and warm atmosphere. Music and amazing, singing made this ceremony special as well. Scotland national music finalist at the wedding with couple walking down the aisle as husband and wife! 

We not missed the family formals after the ceremony, it was a big fun with so many relatives from both sides and also little ones - nieces and nephews (8 kids in total!).

Then became time to have rest and relax on the top of beautiful hills near Kariotahi beach, where we made bridal party shots and intimate session for bride and groom. Amazing views, beautiful landscapes and couple's emotions and connection made this location shoot really special. I love to give my couple time to be themselves and get a peaceful moment in between of this hectic day :)

Reception been held in Castaways Resort Restaurant on the top of the hill with stunning views, where we get a chance to sneak to a few shots before the sunset in between of speeches, cake cutting and first dance.

What beautiful memories!

Congratulations Juliette & Jonny! Happy future together!

Enjoy this video and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Unitec Pumphouse | Auckland City Oaks hotel | St Therese Church traditional wedding {Auckland couples photographer}

Toni + Eddy - a truly amazing couple and a great wedding I was honoured to capture on the 28th February. I loved every single moment of it: the bride and the groom getting ready at the Auckland City Oaks Hotel, the ceremony in St. Therese Church (Three Kings), and the shoot at location near the reception area - Unitec Pumphouse

Make-up - Jun Chen from JC Makeup & Photography
Hair Stylist - Alan Wang from Perfect Hair Studio

Thanks for assistance to Olga Franco from Sugar Sugar Photography.
There were so many different emotions - from positive and peaceful moments to smiles and tears.
I was pleased to be with these open and beautiful people, and really appreciated the way they shared with me their special moments!
I would love to photograph more weddings! If you know someone getting married I would appreciate referrals

my work at Facebook and Website

Thank you!

Beautiful moments of Toni + Eddy's Wedding. Enjoy it!

getting ready Unitec Pumphouse | Auckland City Oaks hotel | St Therese Church traditional wedding {Auckland couples photographer}
Unitec Pumphouse | Auckland City Oaks hotel | St Therese Church traditional wedding {Auckland couples photographer}

And just bonus board -some of my favourite pictures with beautiful bride Toni:

bride

And I'd love to put some lifestyle pictures what show emotions and capture real feelings, especially treasure family moments - mothers and daughters with 3 generations (bonus 2):

mothers and daughters