When it comes to planning your wedding, your next stop after securing your wedding venue is finding your wedding photographer. Most photographers offer different photography packages with a different number of hours of coverage. As a photographer, once of the most asked questions I receive is ” How many hours of wedding photography do I need?”. This is a great question, but also one that has to take several factors into consideration. This is where a personalized consult with your photographer is crucial. Picking a package with too few hours will leave you feeling rushed and missing key moments, while a package with too many hours is time that you don’t need to spend your wedding budget on.

Important Wedding Timeline Considerations

Before diving into the most popular wedding photography coverage packages, here are some factors that will require more coverage.

Location, Location. This is a huge factor in determining wedding day coverage. Here in Tucson, Arizona many venues do not offer all-day access. This means, that you often will need to get ready at a location that is different than your wedding venue. Are you having your ceremony at a church or a different location? If so, you will need to plan for travel time, loading and unloading cars, coordination with your wedding party, and unexpected delays.

Another consideration is if you are doing a First Look. If so, most of your formal photos will take place before your ceremony.  This may mean that I need to be there earlier and if you are wanting coverage till the end of your reception you will need to make sure that extra time is allotted to cover that.

Next we will go over the most popular photography coverage options offered by wedding photographers- 6, 8 ,10 hours.

10 Hours Of Wedding Day Coverage

For couples who love the details, the 10-hour collection is the second most popular choice. This package is perfect if you want styled flat lays of your invitations, jewelry, and other meaningful items. It’s also great if you envision getting ready photos in matching robes or have multiple location changes throughout the day. The extra time provides the flexibility to capture those beautifully curated details without compromising on the candid, in-the-moment shots. This option ensures that every element, from the quiet moments to the grand celebrations, is documented with care. This option is best if you will be traveling between multiple locations or will be having a full mass ceremony.

Example 10 Hour Timeline

Best For: Guest Count over 100. Full Day Coverage With Multiple Locations

11:00 Photographer arrives to photograph Details

12:00 Getting Ready Portraits

12:30 First Look

1:15 Load up/ Drive To Church

2:00 Ceremony Begins 

3:15 Ceremony Ends

3:15 Sign Marriage Licensce

3:30 Portraits at the church

4:00 Drive to the venue

5:00 Family Formals/ Extended Cocktail Hour Begins

5:30 Wedding Party Portraits

6:00 Sunset Portraits

6:30 Grand Entrance/Dinner

7:30 Toasts

7:50 First Dance/Parent Dances

8:00 Cake Cutting

8:10 Open Dancing

8:50 Faux Sparkler Exit

9:00 Photographer Departs

8 Hours Of Wedding Day Coverage

Best For: Guest count of 100 or less and almost full-day coverage

An 8 hour timeline beautifully captures the full story of your day, starting with the getting ready moments—think laughter with your bridal party, final touches on your attire, and heartfelt details. It continues through the ceremony, family formals, romantic couple portraits, and flows into the reception, covering toasts, dinner, and the beginning of dancing with your friends and family. This works best if you will be holding your getting ready, ceremony, and reception at one location.

Example of 8-Hour Timeline

1:00 Photographer arrives for the end of getting ready and detail photos

2:00 Bride gets in dress

2:30 First Look 

3:00 Wedding party photos

3:30 Family Formals

4:00 Hide away 

4:30 Ceremony Begins

5:00 Ceremony Ends Finish Family Formals

5:30 Cocktail Hour/Portraits of Couple

6:15 Grand Entrance right into first dances

6:30 Dinner is served

7:30 Toasts start

8:00 Cake cutting

8:05 Open Dancing

8:50 Faux Sparkler Exit

9:00 Photographer Leaves

6 Hours Of Wedding Day Coverage

Best For: Smaller weddings/elopments or partial day coverage

If you’re looking to cover the essentials of your wedding day, the 6-hour collection is a fantastic option. This package focuses on the key moments: your ceremony, family formals, couple portraits, and the beginning of your reception. It’s ideal for intimate weddings or couples who prefer a streamlined timeline. There is not as much time to capture couple’s portraits, or time for a first look, or time to capture reception details with this option. While it doesn’t cover the entire evening, it ensures that the most meaningful parts of your day are captured beautifully.

Example of 6-Hour Timeline

2:30 Photographer arrives for getting ready photos

3:00 Wedding Party Photos

3:30 Everyone is hidden away for guest arrival

4:00 Ceremony

4:30 Family formals and Full Wedding Party photos take place

5:30 Portraits of the Couple

6:00 Dinner 

6:20 Grand Entrance into First Dances

6:30 Dinner

7:20 Parent Dances

7:30 Toasts ( 2 max)

8:00 Cake Cutting

8:15 Open Dancing

8:30 Photographer Leaves

Tucson Wedding Photographer

No matter which package you choose, having a thoughtfully planned wedding day timeline helps create a stress-free, joyful experience. Drawing on the expertise of your wedding photographer ensures that every important moment is documented, leaving you with memories to cherish for a lifetime. I work with each of my couples to create a timeline that will factor in lighting and create a stress-free pace for their Big Day!

If you are still looking for a wedding photographer, let’s see if we are a good fit! I’d love to help you plan your big day! Please reach out HERE.