Lots of couples leave their wedding timeline until late in the planning. Once the ceremony time is set, everything else will just sort itself out, right? It's a fair assumption. But getting everyone there on time is only the first hurdle. After your "I dos" there's still a lot to squeeze in, and the later your ceremony, the smaller that window gets.


That's why your timeline matters. Half an hour here or there can knock everything after it into chaos. Having been through it myself (and been to MANY weddings since), I can tell you it's all about the planning. So here are my five top tips.


1. Tell a little white lie (or two)

We all have them: the friends or family who run on their own time zone and arrive fashionably late to everything. You're thinking of someone right now, aren't you? Me too. My advice? Tell them the ceremony starts half an hour earlier than it does. Actually, tell everyone. There's nothing worse than a walk-in during your vows, and the occasional white lie never hurt anyone.


2. Assume everything takes longer than you think

If your timings are too tight, one thing overruns and the whole day tips out of order. Even the Royal Wedding ceremony overran by fifteen minutes. Once that first overrun happens, something else has to be rushed or cut, or your evening guests arrive while everyone's still on dessert. Overestimate everything. It'll save you a lot of stress when something does (inevitably) take longer.


3. Be realistic about family photos

Formal photos always look quick on paper. But they rely on several people being in the same place at the same time, and in my experience that never quite happens. Someone is always hunting for a bridesmaid, a best man or a mother-in-law. Those minutes add up, so give your formal photos proper time. Thirty photos can easily take an hour. Here are the timings I give my couples:

  • Groups of 2 to 3 people: about 3 minutes each
  • Groups of 5 to 8 people: about 4 minutes each
  • Groups of 10 or more: about 10 minutes each
  • Couple portraits: two short sessions of around 15 minutes, one at sunset


4. Know your sunset time

Golden hour is THE best time for photos of the two of you. The light is like a gift. I always try to steal my couples away for fifteen minutes as the sun starts to set, and because sunset is fixed, it needs to be in your timeline. Plan your speeches, cake and first dance around it, especially in winter when the sun goes down early. At Wickham Estate, for example, the vines look their best about twenty minutes before sunset.


5. Stay flexible

You can be the best planner in the world and something will still run late. Leave a little wiggle room so the odd hiccup doesn't throw everything off. Staying flexible doesn't mean throwing the timings out of the window, it just means having a plan B. And if things do go a bit sideways, try not to panic. It's your wedding day, and what matters is that you enjoy it.


I help all my couples plan their photo timings well before the day, and on the day I'm flexible too. If something (or someone) goes a bit squiffy, it's fine. I keep calm, carry on, and make sure your story gets told, even if it doesn't run exactly to time.