Wedding timeline - Planning 101 {Auckland weddings photographers}

Wedding timeline is one of the most important things on the wedding day and many clients ask us how better to plan photography events and how many hours of coverage do they need for capture all important moments. As wedding photogpraher who captured many weddings around New Zealand & International Im happy to share my experience and give some time frames for orientation.

Of course each wedding and their timelines are unique. Following information just something what can be considered for make your wedding day more enjoyable and create perfect conditions for stunning photos. Take on only those points what suits your situation!

Getting ready

Getting ready: Maya

1. Getting ready - 1.5-2 hours. Minimum time for getting ready photos is 1 hour {we usually start shooting when make-up, hair half way through. If you would like us to capture some special events as first look with dad, family portraits, lots of pictures with bridesmaids, many details shots etc you need to add on time. Better prepared beforehand all special for you items what you want us to capture {it will save the time and make morning less stressful for you}. Groom getting ready photos usually faster ones {as there no make-up and hair done :)}, but if groom planned something special with his groomsmen {as play golf on the morning, fishing, shooting etc.} definitely let us know, we would love to capture a complete story of your wedding day.

First look

First look: Madeline & Barry

2. First look - 30 min - 1.5 hours. First look is a special event which became more popular lately {not for traditional couples}. Its a moment when groom seen his bride before the ceremony {turn back to her walking towards him and then turn around}. First look is emotional moment and flow into the bridal party and couples photo shoot {thats why its up to 1.5 hours long}. This event allow to save some time between ceremony and reception when couple traditionally doing photo shoot on location, or add on extra location and variety for images.

Wedding Ceremony

Wedding ceremony: Ilinke & Shaun

3. Ceremony - 30 min {outdoor} to 1 hour {traditional church ceremony}. Ceremony usually take between 30 min and 1 hour. We need to arrive on site 20-30 min before ceremony starts to capture details, guests arriving, groom waiting etc. Also allow yourself at least 10-15 min after ceremony for greetings, relax and hug your family and friends.

Family Formals

Family formals: Kara & David's wedding

4. Family photos - 20-40 min {depending on amount of groups}. Something to consider: big group with all guests can take up to 10 min, each small group up to 3 min. We usually recommend to have up to 10 groupings as its can be exhausting for couple to wait for everyone and keep tuned {they are usually starving and thirsty at this moment {needed provide some drinks and snacks}. Also good idea to have a shepherd - a person who know well the family and can gather people together {which save a time}. Good to have a little breath after family photos {drink and snacks} to refresh.

Bridal party + Bride & Groom session

Bridal party: Kathleen & Steve wedding

Bridal party: Hana & Aidan wedding

5. Bridal party and Bride & Groom intimate session - 1.5-2 hours. Minimum time for photo shoot is one hour {20 min - tidal party photos and minimum 30 min bride & groom photos with basic amount of photos}. Extra time give more opportunity to be creative, walk and talk, relax and go with the flow. Also allow extra time if there few locations or travelling involved. Many couples worried about their guests waiting for them, but believe me your guests are fine, they talking, enjoying outdoor games and other activities, snacks and drinks. If you would like to mix & mingle with your guests its a good idea to arrive to reception 30 min before its starts and have a good chat with all family members and guests.

Bride & Groom session: Georjarna & Gareth

Best time for photos: morning or during two hours before the sunset. Placing couple photo shoot in this time frame can be ideal but often impossible at the wedding day. We used to work with different lighting conditions. Solutions can be: moving ceremony to later time during summer as 3.30-5 pm {later is better for outdoor ceremonies, otherwise there can be tricky lighting situation with light and shade and hot spots on the faces}. Winter weddings usually scheduled with 1-3 pm ceremonies. 

Sunset Bride & Groom intimate session: Jenny & Andrew

Other option: have a separate photo shoot just before the sunset during summer time - sneak out of reception while guests eating their dinner, relaxing, chatting.

One more option for night lovers - get creative photos when sun go down, at late evening with dark and moody atmosphere:

Night time photos: Ellise & Wasim

Reception

Reception: Megan & Chris wedding

6. Reception {coverage depending on amount of events planned, usually its around 3-4 hours, including speeches, dinner, cake cutting, first dance, father-daughter dance, mother-son, guests dancing + any more cultural traditions}. You can move these events around to suit your needs and what you like to do, its your time to enjoy rest of the day.

First dance: Chauntelle & Jayden

Full day coverage {from getting ready till guests dancing usually around 9-10 hours {if there late evening events planned its comes to 11-12 hours which is rare}. Small weddings, elopements usually take around 3-5 hours. 

Hope this orientation and tips with wedding timeline will help your planning. Let me know if you have any questions! As I said each situation is unique, just allow yourself time to breath and move from one part of the day to another without rush and enjoy every moment!

Sony & Ryan

Its your time, time of your life!

{Other thing to consider - having a wedding planner can make you life so much easier and save lots of hours planning, putting things together, looking for wedding vendors and communicating with everyone. Experienced wedding planners know exactly how make your day run smoothly and allow you fully enjoy your time}.

Wedding reception

We will help you with everything run smoothly!

x Warmly, 

Olga & Matt

Guests dancing {Langham}

First look with dad {Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty wedding photographer}

Its not a secret first look with groom became more and more popular lately {the moment when groom see the bride for a first time before the ceremony}. Im as wedding photographer capturing a lot of these beautiful moments on weddings all around New Zealand {mostly Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas} and overseas. 

But for traditional couples who prefer to see each other when bride walking down the aisle, there a great alternative and such a special moment: first look for bride and her dad. Its such a treasured moments and memories. I always exited to see happy tears and lots of emotions around {even if Im a photographer and observer I still can get teary as well :)

If you looking for tips to organise this moment, here they are:

1. Keep dad away from bride's getting ready location for some time {so he don't had a chance to see his daughter-bride accidentally before the curtail moment}.

2. Let dad take the best position turning back to the bride's location {can be great to set this scene at the getting ready place or just next to it where plenty of space for photographer to walk and shoot around the moment and bride have space to walk towards her dad}.

3. Let dad wait for a few minutes {its can make the anticipation and emotions even sharper and photographer had a chance to let know the bride her dad is ready and she can start walking and grab his attention when she close}.

4. Make sure mum + bridesmaids {or other family members} can observe the scene nearby. Its really special moment for them as well. Quit often then family members hug each other, cry or laughing.

5. Turn around! To make this moment happen Bride can call her dad, touch the shoulder or close his eyes when she comes closer {all depends from personalities and what feels right to do at this moment}. Make sure its not too early, but just next to the dad.

6. Let moment happening unfold {bride, dad, family and bridesmaids just enjoying the moment and photographer capturing all the emotions, moments and details from far and close.

Illustrating this moments I just want to showcase these amazing emotional event with first look {bride and her dad} from my two recent weddings {second wedding gallery not even ready yet, but these moments with dad was so treasured and emotional}.

Enjoy it!

Kara and her dad {wedding highlights in the Blog}

Ilinke and her dad {final gallery in progress :)}

and Juliette with her dad {this capture won NZIPP Iris Award in Wedding Classic category}

I just this morning been catching up with Juliette after in cafe and it was so nice to chat about her and Jonny and her amazing family. {one year after their wedding gone so fast! time just flying!}

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR SESSION}

Roselvale - Hamilton Gardens wedding {Waikato weddings photographers} Shantelle and Kelly

Shantelle & Kelly

Amazing day with Shantelle & Kelly, their little one and close friends, families, started in their farm house outskirts of Hamilton, first look in Hamilton Gardens and wedding ceremony and reception in Rosenvale, such a beautiful Waikato venue nearby Te Awamutu {New Zealand}.

There was so many special moments!

Couple met each other "through an online dating site. We have been together since early Jan 2015 and have a son, Brayden, who will be 1yrs old in March. Kelly said from the first time he met me he knew i was going to be the mother of his future children. ", Shantelle shared their couples romantic story.

Im so excited for this couple, congratulations and happy future together! Hope you had a great honey moon in Rarotonga :)

Enjoy this video highlights and gallery!

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

Great creative team:

Dresses: Thalia - Boutique. Suits: Dorset Suites. Flowers: Yvette Jackson - Petite Posy Florist. Hair: @Rebecca Hooper- Mint Hair Design. Make-up: Lillybeth: A Beautiful Education. Celebrant: Sue Collins. MC: @Warren Willmot (brother in law). Caterers: Classique Caterers.  Rosenvale wedding venue owners: Mr & Mrs Diprose. Naked cake: BJ's Cake Decor. Cake Flowers: Florabunda & Cake
and Waikato-Aukland-Bay of Plenty wedding photographers - Levien & Lens Photography with Olga Levien

Classic Maketu Beach backyard wedding {Tauranga - Bay of Plenty weddings photographers} Sonya and Ryan

Amazing way to meet a New Year - wedding on New Year's Eve :) Sonya & Ryan celebrated this special day with their families and friends in Maketu on the top of the cliff with views to Mt Maunganui and beach {near Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand}, with relaxed, fun and warm atmosphere.

Couple shared their romantic proposal story: "During a trip to Colorado we went for a hike in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Ryan managed to convince Me to go off the track to a river where he went down in one knee, opened a ring box and proposed. We looked at the map on return to the car and it turned out the river was called the "Thompson" river." Such a great memories! Couple together for 10 years and their feelings only getting stronger with their two little ones. :)

Thank you Sonya & Ryan for sharing with me special moments of your wedding day! Happy future together!

Great Creative Team:

Wedding Dress - Corina Snow Bridal Couture
Suit - Mohan's Custom Tailors, Singapore
Boys suits - Next.
Wedding Cake - Spongedrop
Catering - Good things kitchen
Flowers - Te Puke Florist
Music for ceremony - Fletcher Oxford - Musician and Song Writer
Band - Adam and Kyle; Tent - Stretch Tents Bay of Plenty ; Celebrant - Carol Rickard
and your Tauranga - Bay of Plenty wedding photographers - Levien & Lens Photography

Enjoy this slideshow and gallery!

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First Look - Bride and Groom pre-ceremony photo session {Auckland NZ wedding photographer}

You know a lot of couples prefer to not spend much time away from the guests between ceremony and reception as they want to have a quality time with friends and family. First Look is a great solution for have pre-ceremony photo session right after getting ready moments and save the time in between of important for newly weds events. As an Auckland wedding photographer I captured a lot of traditional weddings when bride and groom prefer to see each other at the ceremony site when bride walking down the aisle and groom waiting to meet her. I understand this special tradition and meaning behind it.

But if you not mind to see each other before the ceremony First Look can be a great option for make your timeline special and flawless. You still get those special emotions as groom will be waiting for you turning back to you {he usually wait for quit a long time, so all emotions became really intense and ready to explored with happy laugh or tears at moment when bride gently touch groom's shoulder or close his eyes, or maybe even give a little kiss - whatever feels more natural to your couple}.

Its amazing moments to captured, so much mystery, intrigue, waiting moments, expectations and then happy positive emotions with smiles and tears in the eyes. Im as photographer and romantic person in love in this tradition {so popular in USA, Canada and Europe}.

Right after the first look we can do a family shots (if they are around}, bridal party and bride and groom intimate session and then with no pressure move to ceremony and reception. 

Some couples also considering to do first look and intimate session between ceremony and reception as they want to do pictures in different location and change atmosphere. Its still save the time between ceremony and reception. 

Usually bride and groom session can take between one and two hours {depends on location), so sometimes guests waiting for couple been back to reception after few hours {including family formals and bridal party shoot}; with first look option with time go down to 30 min - 1 hours {depends on amount of extra images required by couple}.

So as we mentioned first look worth to consider if you want to:

1. save the time between ceremony and reception;

2. not make guests wait for a long time; 

3. get interesting experience with non-traditional wedding timeline;

4. make the best out of such emotional moments along with bride and groom {and their close family, without all ceremony guests}

5. get all intimate photos done before the ceremony and move it out of the way.

Consider:

1. First look not suit traditional couples who prefer to see each other on the ceremony site.

2. Sometimes time before the ceremony not best for pictures as light not so soft as at late afternoon {but if its scheduled at morning you can still get beautiful photographs; and also good photographer can take pictures even at noon bright sunny weather}.

3. you can always entertain the guest with  games on the grass, cocktail hour, snacks and positive things. Most of the time they are enjoying each others compony and happily laughing {if you have a second photographer on site he can capture these happy moments what you are missing being on location bride & groom photo session}.

4. obviously first look will be an intimate moment so all guests can't see bride's and groom's first reaction when they seen each other after getting ready.

So its your call what traditions closer to your couple and what can perfectly fit in your wedding day timeline. Its great to know all options and consider some other ways of wedding planning!

For photographers I would suggest to have a second shooter / assistant who can capture the moments from different angles and with different focal length for give a gallery variety. {thank you Matt and Fengjin for assistance on Langham Hotel wedding!}

Also note: you can make a similar idea first look with bride's dad. Its unforgettable memories!

Less words more images! Have a look at firsts look from our recent wedding in Langham Hotel with Basma and Mohamad. Such amazing and emotional moments! Love is all around :)

Enjoy it and contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}

First look with Dad {Auckland-Hamilton wedding-engagement-couples photographer}

First Look is becoming more popular last few years. Its a great way to create a special moment for couples on their wedding day, moment when bride and groom see each other very first time before the ceremony on their wedding day. If couple is more traditional and prefer to see each other right on the ceremony when bride walking down the aisle another option is first look with Brides Dad.

Dads have a special place in each girl's heart so it's a treasured and emotional moment when Dad takes the bride walking down the aisle, but especially when he sees her for the first time right after getting ready before the ceremony. These moments are always full of love and special connection. 

I love to capture all these raw emotions and feelings! It's even more emotional when one person is standing back to walking forward another person (its could be either bride or her father) and they can't see each others faces, but then one turned around it's a magic moment happened, often with some tears (so tense emotions when you waiting for it:).

Enjoy this gallery from Juliette & Jonny's wedding in Castaways Resort, Auckland:

Contact me with any questions!

{BOOK YOUR WEDDING}