How to Create a Wedding Timeline With a First Look

What a first look can change

When the people in your portraits are available before the ceremony, a first look lets you move some or all of those portraits earlier. That can leave more of the cocktail hour for time with your guests or with each other. It is not guaranteed, and it is not the better choice for everyone — it simply shifts when certain parts of the day happen.

Work backward from your ceremony time

Your ceremony start is usually the fixed point. Start there and plan earlier blocks in reverse:

• Protect a short quiet tuck-away before the ceremony so you are out of sight as guests arrive.
• Give each portrait group — couple, wedding party, family — its own block.
• Leave time for travel and a buffer if any part of the day is in a different place.
• Arrange for hair, makeup and getting dressed to finish by the time your photographer and venue access allow the first look to begin.

An illustrative first look schedule

This is an illustration, not a required or guaranteed schedule, and it is not exact output from our timeline builder. The durations are starting assumptions to review, not universal requirements. It assumes:

• A 5:00 PM ceremony lasting 30 minutes.
• Getting ready, first look, ceremony and reception all at one venue, with no driving.
• Hair and makeup arranged to finish by 2:40 PM. When services start depends on your vendors and how many people they are working on — not everyone can be finished in a short window.
• Everyone in the portraits is available before the ceremony.
• Your venue and photographer approve the access times and durations.

1. 2:40 PM – 3:10 PMFinal preparation and getting dressed · 30 min
2. 3:10 PM – 3:25 PMFirst look · 15 min
3. 3:25 PM – 3:45 PMCouple portraits · 20 min
4. 3:45 PM – 4:15 PMWedding party portraits · 30 min
5. 4:15 PM – 4:45 PMFamily portraits · 30 min
6. 4:45 PM – 5:00 PMQuiet tuck-away before the ceremony · 15 min
7. 5:00 PM – 5:30 PMCeremony · 30 min
8. 5:30 PM – 6:30 PMCocktail hour · 60 min
9. 6:30 PMReception begins

The rest of the evening is left open in this example.

If getting ready, the first look, the ceremony or the reception happen in separate places, add the actual travel time between them plus a 10-minute buffer, and review loading, parking and any other needs. This example has no driving, so it needs adjusting for any day that does.

If you decide not to have a first look

Many couples prefer to see each other for the first time at the aisle — for tradition, personal preference, or because of the location or a vendor's constraints. Those are all valid reasons, and there is no wrong choice. Leave time after the ceremony for portraits, and decide how much of the cocktail hour you are comfortable spending on them.

Review before you finalize

Before you settle on times, go over these with your photographer and venue:

• Your portrait list and the available light.
• When preparation services end and when you have access to each space.
• Travel time and the length of your ceremony.