How Much Coverage Do You REALLY Need?

So you've made it to the point where you have your venue for the ceremony and reception, and now you're ready to pull the trigger and hire a photographer; good for you! You've done most of the hard part, and you're moving right along!

A question brides always ask is, "how much time do I really need for photos?" That my dear, is truly up to you, and how much footage from the day you'd like. But, I'm here to help you along the way and give you ALL the advice! The long and short answer is: you need more than you think. And I'm not saying that because I'm the photographer. I'm saying that because I don't want you to miss out on your memories.

Here are some questions to ask yourself, and really think about:

-How important are the details of the day to you?

(These are the photos you see of your rings, your dress hanging up, your shoes, jewelry, and more. You've spent HOURS finalizing these details, is it important to have them captured professionally?)

-Do you want photos of you and your bridal party preparing for the wedding?

(These are photos of you and your mother, or whoever is helping you to get your dress on. These are photos of you and your best friends in the world celebrating before the big moment.)

-How long of a gap in time do you have between your ceremony and your reception? Are you having a party bus?

(Your photographer will be shooting consecutive hours. So, even if you decide to take a break and visit a bar for some fun, your photographer is still on the clock, and will be capturing these moments.If you're having a bus, do you want your photographer on the bus with you?)

-Do you plan to visit multiple places for photos before making your entrance to the reception?

(If you're planning to go off-site to one or more locations, make sure to include your drive time!)

-Do you want lots of photos of your guests enjoying themselves at your reception?

(Depending on the length of time your photographer is there, you may not get more than 20-30 minutes of extra dancing photos showcasing all of the fun you and your guests are having!)

To truly gauge how much coverage you need, I've provided a sample timeline for each package I offer. For each scenario, let's assume the ceremony is at 3, and the reception starts at 6.

Silver Package: 7 Hours

-2:00 Getting wedding dress on

-2:40 Photographs of guests arriving

-3:00 Ceremony

-3:45 Receiving Line

-4:00 Family Formal Photos

-4:40 Travel to secondary site for bridal party and bride and groom photos

-5:00 Bridal party and bride and groom photos

-5:40 Travel to reception

-5:50 Set up for grand entrance, photograph cake and table settings

-6:00 Grand Entrance

-6:15 Toasts, Speeches, Prayer

-6:30 Dinner

-7:45 First dance

-7:55 Mother daughter/Father son dances

-8:10 Cake Cutting

-8:20 Dancing

-8:40 Garter and bouquet toss

-9:00 Photographer wrap up and pack up

Gold Package: 8 Hours

-1:00 Detail Photographs

-1:30 Bridesmaids getting ready

-2:00 Groomsmen

-2:20 Putting wedding dress on

-2:40 Photos of guests arriving

-3:00 Ceremony

-3:45 Receiving Line

-4:00 Family Formal Photos

-4:40 Travel to secondary site for bridal party and bride and groom photos

-5:00 Bridal party and bride and groom photos

-5:40 Travel to reception

-5:50 Set up for grand entrance, photograph cake and table settings

-6:00 Grand Entrance

-6:15 Toasts, Speeches, Prayer

-6:30 Dinner

-7:45 First dance

-7:55 Mother daughter/Father son dances

-8:10 Cake Cutting

-8:20 Dancing

-8:40 Garter and bouquet toss

-9:00 Photographer wrap up and pack up

Platinum Package: 9 Hours

-1:00 Detail Photographs

-1:30 Bridesmaids getting ready

-2:00 Groomsmen

-2:20 Putting wedding dress on

-2:40 Photos of guests arriving

-3:00 Ceremony

-3:45 Receiving Line

-4:00 Family Formal Photos

-4:40 Travel to secondary site for bridal party and bride and groom photos

-5:00 Bridal party and bride and groom photos

-5:40 Travel to reception

-5:50 Set up for grand entrance, photograph cake and table settings

-6:00 Grand Entrance

-6:15 Toasts, Speeches, Prayer

-6:30 Dinner

-7:45 First dance

-7:55 Mother daughter/Father son dances

-8:10 Cake Cutting

-8:20 Dancing

-9:00 Garter and bouquet toss

-9:15 General dancing

-10:00 Photographer wrap up and pack up

Hopefully this has been a helpful guide as you plan your day! Please keep in mind each wedding is different, with different events, religious beliefs, and plans. A wedding day timeline is not a one-size fits all. I'll help you to customize your timeline for your day. To book your wedding, or for more information, please contact Looking Glass Photography.