How much wedding coverage do you need?

This is one of the most popular questions that a bride to be ask when booking with me. How much do coverage do you need? It all comes down to the based of your needs. Don’t know what you’re looking for? Don’t worry. You’re not alone in this. I’m here to help you out. It all comes down to this. Are you having a short wedding or a long one? With my packages, it all comes into different hours of coverage.

Whenever I chat with my couples over the phone (or video chat) or even at a coffee shop to discuss working with me, I share my expertise snd experience to help them build a timeline. I use this template to help all of my couples to make sure how much wedding coverage they need for the day (making sure you want everything included like first looks, getting ready and exit portraits.) These factors can help sum up to determine the number of hours you need during your wedding day. If you need a second shooter, that option is available as well for your photo coverage.

These details are not only important for your wedding photographer, but they can be helpful when making your vision come true and also sharing this with other vendors that you choose to work with.

Read my thoughts below about these important deets so you can determine how much wedding photography coverage you need.

Elopement: 2 Hours

If you are looking for intimate ceremony coverage with your fiancé and closest friends, an elopement package might be perfect for you. This type of coverage is best for guest lists of 30 or less, without a traditional wedding party. It documents beautiful moments such as your wedding ceremony, celebration with family and a few dreamy sunset portraits.

Micro Weddings

Another smaller wedding is, Micro Weddings. It is best for 50 guest list or less and 4 hours. It includes of couples getting ready, ceremony details, family formals and a few romantic newly weds portraits!

To help you envision your day for longer wedding coverage, here is what I usually capture:

Getting ready: 1 hour
First look & couple portraits: 30 minutes - 1 hour
Wedding party photos: 30 minutes
Family photos: 15-30 minutes
Ceremony & Reception area shots: 30 minutes
Ceremony: 30 minutes
Cocktail hour: 1 hour
Extended family photos: 15-30 minutes
Reception (grand entrance, first dance, parent dance, bouquet/garter toss, cake cutting): 4 hours
Sunset portrits: 15-30 minutes
Grand exit: 10 minutes

Every wedding day is different so do not feel like you must do all these typical wedding events. You can do it all, or some and add some into it whether it’s based from your culture or something unique. Don’t forget to factor in travel time as well if the getting ready space, ceremony, or reception are in different locations!

Standard Coverage

This comes in 6 or 8 hours of coverage. (Even if it’s 7 hours.) Six hours coverage is also another shorter wedding day. It works well if you do not want wedding details or getting reddy photos.

For six hours with first looks

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm - Detail photos of the dress and jewelry, shoes, and stationary.

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm - Getting ready photos.

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Bride and Groom first looks.

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm - Bridal party pictures (groom & groomsmen, bride and bridesmaids, individual shots, entire bridal party including flower girl, ring bearers and ushers.

4: 00 pm - 4:30 pm - Family portraits ( each family, families together, grandparents, uncles and cousins).

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm - Ceremony

5:00 pm - 5:30 pm - Romantic portraits for bride and groom

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm - Dinner. Welcome and thank you speech from the bride and groom.

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm - Cake cut, speeches, Mother/Son dance, Father/Daughter dance, dancing. Grand exit with sparklers.

For six hours without first looks

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Detail photos (the dress and jewelry, shoes, and stationary) + Getting ready photos.

3:00 pm - 3: 20 pm - Wedding party portraits - Side 1

3:20 pm - 3:45 pm - Wedding party portraits - Side 2

4:15 pm - Ceremony

4:45 pm - 5:45 pm - Family portraits. Romantic portraits of the bride + groom

6:00 pm - Reception events

7 or 7:30 pm - Golden hour portraits

8:00 pm - photographer departures*

For eight hours with first looks

1:00 PM - 2:00PM - Photographer arrives; initial getting-ready details (hair, makeup, etc.)

2:00PM - 2:30PM - Bride in dress, bridesmaids dressed; bridal party reveal

2:30PM- 3:00PM - First look with partner; couples portraits

3:00PM - 3:40PM - Bride with bridesmaids, groom with groomsmen; family portraits

3:45PM - Ceremony begins

4:30PM - Ceremony ends; cocktail hour begins

5:00PM - 5:30PM - Formal family photos, full bridal party portraits

5:30PM - Guests seated; reception begins

6:00PM - Bridal party entrances, first dance, parent dances

6:30PM - Dinner and toasts

7:30PM - Cake cutting, dance floor opens

8:30PM - Sunset/nighttime portraits

9:00PM - Party time, photographer coverage ends

For eight hours without first looks

1:00PM - 2:30PM - Photographer arrives; initial getting-ready details (hair, makeup, etc.)

2:30PM - 3:00PM - Bride & Bridesmaids/Groom & Groomsmen Portraits

3:00PM - 3:30PM - photograph the ceremony and reception details

3:30PM - 4:00PM - Capture the ceremony site details and the arrival of guests

4:00PM - 4:30PM - Ceremony

4:30PM - 5:00PM - Family portraits

5:00PM - 5:30PM - Wedding Party portraits

5:30PM - 6:00PM - Couple Portraits

6:00PM - Grand Entrance of Wedding Party

6:30PM - 7:00PM - Cocktail Hour

7:00PM - 7:30PM -Speeches & Toasts

7:30PM - Dinner

8:00PM - Cake cutting

8:30PM - 9:00PM - First dance/Parents dance

9:00 -Dancing

10:00PM - Photography coverage ends

Full Day Coverage

For ten hours with first looks

11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Hair and makeup for the bride. Detail photos of the dress and jewelry, shoes, and stationary.

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - The guys are getting ready!

1:30 pm- 2:30 pm - Final touch ups for the bride. It's time to put the dress on. Candid shots with family and friends.

2:30 pm - 2:45 pm - Bride and Groom first looks

2:45 pm - 3:25 pm - Bridal party pictures (groom & groomsmen, bride and bridesmaids, individual shots, entire bridal party including flower girl, ring bearers and ushers.)

3:25 pm - 4:00 pm - Family portraits ( each family, families together, grandparents, uncles and cousins.)

4:00 pm- 4:30 pm - Romantic photos of the Bride & Groom

4:30 pm -5: 00 pm - Hide before the ceremony

5:00 pm -5:30 pm - Ceremony

5:30 p m - 6:30 pm - Cocktail hour (bride &groom enjoy with the guests as the photographer shoots candid shots of guests, and additional guest shots.)

6: 30 pm - Guests start sitting. Grand Entrance of the bridal party.

6: 45 pm - Dinner starts. Welcome and thank you speech from the bride and groom.

7:30 pm - 7:35 pm - Cake is cut and served.

7: 35 pm - 8:35 pm - Speeches from the best man, maid of honor, siblings or parents.

8:35 pm - 8:50 pm -First dances (bride and groom, father and daughter, mother and son.)

8:50 pm -9:20 pm - Dancing

9:20 - 9:30 pm - Grand exit with sparklers

For ten hours without first looks

11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Hair and makeup for the bride. Detail photos of the dress and jewelry, shoes, and stationary.

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - The guys are getting ready!

1:30 pm- 2:30 pm - Final touch ups for the bride. It's time to put the dress on. Candid shots with family and friends.

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm -Bride and groom hide before the ceremony.

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Ceremony

** Cocktail hour opens at 3 pm. Romantic photos for the bride and groom while the guests mingle.

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm - Family portraits.

4:00 pm - 4:45 pm - Bridal party pictures

4:45 pm -5:45 pm - Romantic portraits for bride and groom.

5:45 pm - 6:15 pm - Bride and groom enjoy the cocktail hour.

6:15 pm - 6:30 pm - Guests start sitting. Grand entrance of the bridal party.

6:30 - Dinner starts. Welcome and thank you speech from the bride and groom.

7:30 pm - 7:35 pm - Cake is cut and served.

7: 35 pm - 8:35 pm - Speeches from the best man, maid of honor, siblings or parents.

8:35 pm - 8:50 pm -First dances (bride and groom, father and daughter, mother and son).

8:50 pm -9:20 pm - Dancing

9:20 - 9:30 pm - Grand exit with sparklers

We work with our clients to come up with a timeline that fits their day, so don’t worry if these don’t seem like they’d fit what you’re looking for! We will help make it work for you.

With Love,

Stephanie