Wedding Timeline Examples: How to Create Your Timeline

Planning your North Carolina wedding timeline is key to ensuring a smooth and stress-free wedding day. From getting ready to the final dance, I’m here with my photography-friendly wedding timeline examples to give you an idea of how to craft a timeline that keeps things relaxed and fun. 

I’m Jena and I’m a Raleigh wedding photographer and videographer who truly enjoys capturing your entire day! I’m a romantic, heartfelt photographer rooted in connection and creativity. I serve the kind of people who light up a room with their joy and energy. They’re affectionate, sentimental, and unapologetically in love—not just with each other but with life itself. 

My couples book me for 8-10 hours because they don’t want to feel rushed to get all the important moments throughout the day. They want to enjoy all the laughs and spontaneous moments, and not have to worry about making sure there is enough time for the day to flow naturally. If you value connection and believe that your wedding day is about celebrating each other and the people who mean the most to you, be sure to inquire about your dream wedding photography and videography packages here. 

Below I have listed out wedding timeline examples, both covering 8 hours of coverage with a first look. Please know that as your North Carolina wedding photographer, I’m here to assist as you craft your timeline with your wedding planner. For fall and winter weddings, I’d recommend a 4:30pm or earlier start time, and for spring and summer weddings, I’d recommend a 5:30pm-6pm ceremony. Always consult with your wedding planner for their exact expertise relevant to your venue, time of year, and desires for your overall wedding day. If you reach out to Southern Skies or Raleigh Weddings, let them know I sent you and they’ll take amazing care of you!

Sample North Carolina Wedding Day Timelines

8 Hour Fall Day With A First Look

• 1:00pm: Photographer and videographer arrive, getting ready photos, detail photos
• 2:00 PM: Get into dress, bridal portraits
• 2:30 PM: First look & portraits
• 3:00pm: Wedding party portraits
• 4:00 PM: Ceremony
• 4:30 PM: Cocktail hour; family portraits
• 6:00 PM: Grand entrance; first dance
• 6:15pm: speeches
• 6:30pm: dinner
• 7:00pm: dances
• 7:15pm: open dance floor
• 7:30pm: sneak out for sunset portraits
• 9:00 pm: Faux exit

Full summer wedding day timeline with a first look:

• 1:00pm: photographer arrives
• 1:00pm-2:00pm: detail shots; getting ready images of bride
• 2:00-2:30pm: matching pj’s shots; getting into dress
• 3:00pm: groom getting ready  photos
• 4:00pm: first look, portraits
• 4:30pm: wedding party photos
• 5:30pm: guest arrive, wedding party relax
• 6:00pm: ceremony
• 6:30pm : cocktail hour, family portraits
• 7:00pm: Sunset portrairs
• 7:15pm: sunset
• 7:20pm: every seated for dinner
• 7:30pm: grand entrance into first dance
• 7:35pm: dinner
• 8:15pm: speeches, cake cutting, dances
• 8:45pm: open dancing
• 11:00pm: exit

Things to consider about your wedding day that can affect your North Carolina wedding day timeline

Your wedding day photography timeline is meant to work with all your goals for the day, the vendors, and the environment around you. Your wedding planner is going to be great about coordinating the catering staff, decorations, rentals, and hair and makeup artists, but the most important thing to consider in my opinion is the season in which you get married. 

Ceremony start time largely depends on if it is indoors or outdoors, and what time of year you are getting married. Spring and summer weddings more often than not begin later in the day, meaning more time for fun portraits with your bridesmaids and partner (if you’re doing a first look). Fall and winter weddings begin earlier in the day as the sun goes down much earlier in the day. If you’re getting married indoors, the start time of your ceremony can be flexible as you’re not depending on the light of the sun for your ceremony. The flip side of this is if you want any portraits outdoors, you must remember to factor that in to your wedding day timeline.

 Every couple’s day is unique, so let’s work together to create a timeline that fits your vision!

Thinking of working together?

If you found this blog post on wedding timeline examples helpful and are thinking of working together, you can read through my North Carolina wedding photography packages and fill out my inquiry form so we can discuss all your dreams for your big day!