When you’re deep in wedding planning mode, it’s easy to overlook photography as just a line item, better yet you may think, “I’ll just hire anyone because it’s just taking photos. How hard can it be?!” I too was guilty of this thought when I was planning my wedding. Little did I know anything in the Wedding Photography industry 13+ years ago that I can easily say, “Yep, that was me. I’m guilty.” One of the many reasons why I am in the field today is because of my own personal experience I had as a bride myself.
Being full time over 5+ years and a decade of experience, shooting multiple weddings and training associates in my career, I explain the value and importance to my couples what the best amount of coverage time would be for them . Also, empyazing how I can ultimately serve them with the very best experience based off their desires they want on their wedding day. 95% of the time they will do the full 10 hours of coverage time unless they are either tight on budget, have a smaller wedding guest count or simply don’t have as many details to capture going into their day. This doesn’t even play into what season of the year they are getting married in.
Seasons can dictate your coverage time too, dear.
Imagine getting married in the spring or the summer time. The light gets darker later in the evening so your ceremony is later in the day. Let’s say your ceremony is at 4:30 pm and your reception starts at 6 pm, but hello… It’s still very sunny and bright outside and doesn’t get dark until close past 8 pm. (Whoopsies!) Are you going to do a mock exit because your guests will have them stay much longer past 10pm since it gets dark later in the evening? Are you going to let your Wedding Photographer leave because their coverage time you had scheduled for them is actually over since they started at 1:30pm? Or let’s say your wedding is in the fall time, which gets darker sooner during this season. You get married at 3pm and your reception starts at 5pm. You still have 4+ hours left in the evening. Are you dismissing everyone early at 8pm if they started at 12pm?
For reception coverage alone, you need at least a minimum of 4 or more hours of coverage time just to get all the basics of everything in (grand entrance, dances, dinner, toasts, party dancing, cutting your. cake/dessert, your exit) and that’s on a tight timeline. That means your photography coverage time is half of the time being used up for reception alone.
Curious about having a shorter window of coverage time? I thought you might want to take a peak. Let’s discuss what a 6 hour coverage day looks like for me… I still do them, but not as much after I explain to the couple all the factors I’m about to explain to you below.
A couple with 6 hours of coverage time will have…
- A short amount of detail photos and/or getting ready photos
- No first look or it’s extremely, extremely tight
- No exit shot unless it’s a mock exit or their timeline has to be very tight and coverage time starts later, which means less getting ready and details
Tight timeline, right? Absolutely! If you’re wanting just the basics covered, less candids and not many portraits of the two of you, go for it! This amount of time is perfect for smaller weddings and the very basic key of events that need coverage. I can guarantee years down the road you’re take on this will change and definitely will be a night and day difference if you’re expecting more candid moments and more allotted time for couple portraits of the two of you. You’ll wish in the end you didn’t cram everything into the biggest day of your life, but that you could have taken in the moment a little better than what you did.
“Wow, Haley that seems a little harsh–how would you know?” Because I did this as a bride. In fact, I don’t even have a photograph of Ronny and I’s first kiss, Ronny getting ready, family formals on Ronny’s side, a picture with my mom or photos of our grand exit. Our day was crammed and I wasn’t able to truly embrace the day. Thank God, for my wedding coordinator. She saw me fixing items on the reception tables before ceremony and told me to stop. I was very meticulous on all the details that I didn’t pay attention to the biggest detail of all for my day, wedding photography.
Okay… Let me hear the rundown of a 8 hour day verses a 10 hour day, Hales!
An 8 hour day seems like the ultimate route to go, right?! Even when planning a wedding for the first time we’re unaware how much a Wedding Photographer does on a wedding day. Keep in mind they have to check lighting, set up their lighting, check lighting again, change lenses, guide everyone where to stand and then pose the couple all together. It’s a lot more than a “click and done”, right?!? If you’re rushing your Wedding Photographer chances are your photos will looked rushed and forced. Let me say that again, but in another way… If you are rushing your Wedding Photographer, you may not love your photos in the end and have regrets.
Imagine a chef. You went to this very nice restaurant. They took time and prepared your meal. It was a beautiful presentation when they served it to you and everything tasted delicious! How did they do that? They still were extremely busy in the kitchen, but were able to pay attention to all the details of the presentation and the overall of the taste before it headed out of the kitchen. They made sure there wasn’t too much of this or too little of that. Would you regret ever stepping foot in that restaurant again? Absolutely not. Now imagine a chef who didn’t do that. The presentation was not the very best to say the least, the food tasted not seasoned enough and the overall dining experience wasn’t the best. In fact, everything seemed a little rushed like they wanted us to eat quickly and get out. The same thing goes for a Wedding Photographer. As your day starts to take shape—from hair & makeup, ceremony time, to a sparkler exit—you might be surprised how fast the hours and time slots for everything really adds up.
I always hear from my couples:
- On their wedding night, they’ll say before they are about to do their exit that it “flew by” so quickly.
- After their wedding day, they’ll say they are still trying to remember everything that took place because the day felt like a whirlwind.
- When they receive their photos, they’ll tell me that some of things I captured they didn’t even know it had happened and are so super grateful I was able to capture them.
Okay Haley, break it down for me! Let’s do it, hun!
An 8-hour coverage window often includes:
- Details
- Getting ready (but just the final touches)
- One first look or having more getting ready candids
- Full ceremony
- Shorter amount of time for couple’s portraits and bridal portraits
- Family and wedding party photos
- Reception coverage basics
- Mock exit shot or a real exit if timeline is precise
Sounds great when it’s spelled out, right?!? But here’s the kicker and where things can get a little dicey:
- Full getting ready moments are tight (those tearful robe reveals, dad’s first look, bridesmaids first look, or mimosas with your girls are crunched)
- Hardly any or none golden hour portraits if your timeline runs behind because of ceremony or family formals ran a little late or not on time (which we all want these photos if it’s gorgeous weather outside) – most of the time this is the time for your couple’s portraits
- A rushed dinner for the two of you
- Reception dance floor energy photos limited on time frame for dancing
- Cake cutting too close after dinner
- No real exit, but a mock exit unless timeline is running smoothly or very precise
- Hardly any/no buffer time when the day runs late (and it always does)
Here’s The Timeline Trap
Many couples don’t notice their 8-hour coverage starts when the photographer arrives on site, not when the ceremony begins. By the time hair and makeup is done, and the final boutonniere is pinned, you’ve already burned through 2+ hours and with one first look with immediate family formals before ceremony that’s 3 hours of crunch time before ceremony starts. Also, this includes capturing all the detail you put into your ceremony and reception before ceremony. Let alone, you have two photographers that can juggle these to do’s and cover more ground, but it’s still a very fast paced environment. Oh, and the “hey photographer, can you take a picture of us?” is hard to do when the photographer only has 15 minutes of time to capture reception details before ceremony starts because “getting ready” didn’t start on time. If you’re undecided about having two photographers read my latest blog on why it’s valuable to have two Wedding Photographers here.
Now add that extra two hours of coverage. That time can mean the world of a difference between a precise timeline with no buffers and a beautifully captured story timeline from start to finish. With having 10 hours, your coverage feels more like a documentary—intentional, relaxed, and feels a little loose: (win, win!) Plus, if things are running ahead of schedule that just means more portraits of the two of you. When adding those two extra hours you have breathing room—not only for more photos, but for less anxiety throughout the whole day. More time means you’re not cramming memories into a tight timeline. You’re actually living them.
A couple with 10 hours of coverage time will have:
- Candid getting-ready moments for bride and groom
- Robe and champagne photos, bridal photos alone in robe and bridal dress photos
- No rushing through first looks or vow readings before ceremony
- More than one first look is very doable
- Full golden hour portraits with space to breathe and soak everything in
- Enjoy some cocktail hour with all your guests or have a private dinner
- Reception photos of just the two of you alone with your changed outfit or with all your guests
- Private last dance photos
- Option for a mock or real grand exit—captured in full
Here’s what a 6 hour, 8 hour and a 10 hour side-by-side looks like:
| What’s Covered | 6 Hours | 8 Hours | 10 Hours |
| Getting Ready + Robe Shots, Details | Yes, but very tight on final touches only | Final touches only, minimum robe shots, tight on details | Full moments for both partners, robe shots, candids, fully capture details |
| Pre-Ceremony: Bridal Party Fully Dressed Photos | After ceremony only | If time allows | Full moments for groomsmen and bridesmaids |
| Vow Reading Pre-Ceremony | Nope, not recommend | If time allows | Guaranteed time with intention |
| First Looks (more than one) | Nope, not recommend | Only one | Can have more than one |
| Ceremony | ✅ tight | ✅ moderate | ✅ relaxed |
| Couples Portraits | Yes, but very tight on time | Yes, tight on time | Relaxed with golden hour |
| Cocktail Hour | Nonexistent | Nonexistent unless there’s a first look | Can enjoy, if you have a first look or don’t have large amount of family formals all at once |
| Reception | Basics-Early toasts, dances, early cake cutting Tight on timeline and rushed to eat dinner | Minimum-Early toasts, dances, tight on timeline, enjoy your dinner, possible photos for outfit change/late night snack photos | Full Reception-sneak peek of reception, toasts, dancing, late night snack photos, outfit change photos, talk and mingle with your guests, fully enjoy your dinner or better yet have a private dinner together |
| Couple’s End Of The Night Reception Photos | Nonexistent | Maybe, but crunched on time | Can enjoy the moment and get pictures in your new outfit/dress two |
| Private Last Dance + Mock/Grand Exit | Private Last Dance is tight and Mock Exit is preferred | Mock Exit or Real Exit | Can enjoy the moment for either of them or do them both |
| Buffer Time | None at all | Very, very minimal | Built-in timeframes for late starts or extras, guaranteed, well thought out with intention |
Having thoughts about, “Isn’t my wedding just a checklist?”
Your wedding day isn’t just a checklist love—it’s a collection of moments you’ll want to be able to relive over again years later down the road. Trust me on this. If telling the full story of your day matters to you (and I think it does), investing in and having the 10 hours of coverage verses the 8 hours of coverage will be the best ideal timeline decision you will ever make. When I’ve suggested to our couples they should add on at least another hour of coverage time because their timeline became more in depth with new things they wanted last minute, they tell me after their wedding night is over, “you were right” or better yet, “Haley, how would we have done this without it”.
The worst thing you can say years down the road is “I wish I had this…” or “remember this” and yet there’s NO PICTURES OF IT, eeekk! From my personal experience, it’s the worst gut feeling to have that regret from your wedding day because I didn’t do my own research when I was a young bride. If I could redo my wedding planning, it would be to have hired a professional Wedding Photographer, sign a contract, do my due diligence to search in the in’s and out’s beforehand, looked at full wedding galleries, sat down with my Wedding Photographer beforehand, dedicated a good budget towards a Wedding Photographer and went with a longer amount of coverage time. Not being able to reminisce on those pivotal moments that fleeted by so quickly is the absolute worst feeling. Especially when you look back on your photos to see your loved ones who are no longer present with you, but they are all dolled up on your wedding day and you have no pictures with them. I say all that to say, don’t sacrifice the Wedding Photographer based around budget and coverage time. Whatever you do. Time is valuable.
Don’t let your planner dictate this for you either nor sacrifice quality over budget.
Don’t let other line items get in the way of selecting your coverage time nor let your planner dictate your budget over quality. If budget is a real concern for your wedding then prioritise wedding photography first and everything after that – venue, coordinator, florals, etc. Also, only look at Wedding Photographer’s in that price range and not go above it if your budget is a huge factor. However, how much you invest in your Wedding Photographer will result in the overall outcome of your photos. If anything, check a full wedding gallery before booking them even if you really love the photos from a certain part of the wedding day over another photographer, then do the one you love. I can’t stress this enough.
Being a former Wedding Planner and Coordinator when starting out in the wedding industry before photographing, I can easily say this that Wedding Planners and Coordinators aren’t aware how much time a Wedding Photographer will need for certain parts of your day. It’s based on the couples’ desires, needs and wants. Also, if the couple loves a Wedding Photographer’s style, which is based around using a lot of flash, the photographer may have different things they need to do to set up prior before each shot to portray that look. In fact, a good and understanding Wedding Planner and Wedding Coordinator will ask your Wedding Photographer how much allotted time they will need for each part of the day and not dictate it their “own way” unless they have had many years of experience. Instead, they work with your Wedding Photographer as a team. Majority of planners I have worked with understand the importance of their clients having a one on one relationship with their Wedding Photographer and try to stay out of the way when it comes to it as much as possible even with their selection process. They understand whom the couple hires is the person they will be with the most on wedding day as well as after wedding day, period. Also, in some cases for the rest of their lives especially if the photographer does maternity or family portraits as well.
A Wedding Coordinator who have the “my way or the highway” type of attitude ends up having your wedding day crammed and/or rushed if they don’t listen to your Wedding Photographer’s guidance. Let’s just say this… On wedding day, they’ll come to your Wedding Photographer asking, “how much more time you need for this” or “have you gotten the first look, bridal portraits, robe shots, etc. yet?” The day ultimately revolves around the Bride, but for photos it’s your Wedding Photographer’s time as well. A good Wedding Photographer will do this and give it to the Coordinator beforehand.
Now, if your coordinator builds your timeline around their own preference on time and not listen to the Wedding Photographer’s advice that they needed “this amount of time for this“, things may go a little haywire on wedding day and ultimately look bad on the Coordinator’s part for not listening from the get go. So if the Wedding Photographer says they need an hour window for details then it’s a solid hour. Sorry, Aunt Susie (who’s first wedding they ever coordinated is your nieces wedding). Don’t come at me when I suggested 25 minutes for family formals and you’re thinking it’s only going to take 10 minutes.
My Final Thoughts.
I’ll leave this final point…
If you can picture this. At the end of your wedding night when everyone is going home… The only thing you’ll say to yourself is that you’re looking forward to your photos, right??? You won’t be going to any other vendor, but directly to your Wedding Photographer after your wedding. When you’re on your honeymoon you and your spouse will exchange memories you each remember during parts of the day and when you finally receive your photos weeks or even months after your honeymoon, they may or may not be there. How would you honestly feel not seeing some of those things you deeply remember took place, but weren’t captured or better yet the Wedding Photographer didn’t give to you because they were rushed, but you remember they took a picture of it? Don’t you want to be able to relive and look back on those moments for the rest of your life? Don’t you want your future children to see your granny and pop who are no longer present with you having a good ole’ time at your wedding all decked out and shedding a tear or two on the front row at ceremony or better yet laughing so hard during a toast at your reception? You can’t redo those moments so why not invest in the most important chapter of your life. Time is valuable. More coverage time means you’re not cramming memories into a tight timeline. You’re actually living them.
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