What Does a 5-Hour Wedding Photography timeline Look Like?
When couples first see my 5-hour package, the biggest question is: what can we actually fit into that time?
The short answer… more than you might think. A thoughtfully planned 5-hour window covers the parts of the day you’ll remember most - the vows, portraits with family and wedding party, candid guest moments and even the energy of your first dance.
And here’s the key: you don’t need a camera following you from sunrise to midnight for the story to feel complete. Sometimes, less coverage creates more space for the day to unfold naturally - where you’re completely present - without the pressure of being “on” all day.
Why Less Can Feel Like More
Your wedding day flies by. With marathon coverage, it’s easy for the celebration to start feeling more like an all-day production. What matters most isn’t filling every hour with Instagram bangers - it’s being present with your people. That’s where five hours shines… relaxed, genuine and focused on the heart of your day.
Your vows
Family & wedding party portraits
Photos together as a couple
Candid moments with guests during cocktails
The energy of your reception entrance into your first dance
That’s the heart of your wedding day - and it fits beautifully in five hours.
Sample Timelines
There’s no one-size-fits-all. Five hours can be shaped around your priorities, but here are a few popular approaches couples love because they maximize the time so well.
Afternoon Ceremony & Cocktails | 1:30 pm - 6:30 pm
1:30 pm - Light prep & detail shots
2:30 pm - First Look
2:40 pm - Wedding Party shots
3:10 pm - Couples photos
3:30 pm - Freshen up
4:00 pm - Ceremony
4:30 pm - Family portraits
5:00 pm - Couples photos
5:30 pm - Cocktail hour candids with guests
6:15 pm - Grand entrance + first dance before dinner
6:30 pm - Coverage ends
This flow keeps your ceremony and dinner times closer together since we’re able to do a large portion of your photos before the ceremony - including your first look. It also gives you a little more time at cocktail hour which is always a good thing :)
Afternoon Ceremony & Cocktails | 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
2:00 pm - Light prep & detail shots
3:00 pm - First Look
3:10 pm - Wedding Party shots
3:30 pm - Freshen up
4:00 pm - Ceremony
4:30 pm - Family portraits
5:00 pm - Couples photos
6:00 pm - Cocktail hour candids with guests
6:30 pm - Grand entrance + first dance before dinner
7:00 pm - Coverage ends
This is the more common itinerary I see during the 5 hour coverage - it covers all of the important bits of the day and trims out the shoulder items where you can be truly present ie. morning and later at dinner and dancing.
Including Reception Speech Photos | 3:30 pm - 8:30 pm
3:30 pm – Arrivals and Details photos
4:00 pm – Ceremony
4:30 pm – Family portraits
5:00 pm – Wedding party photos
5:30 pm – Couples photos
6:15 pm – Grand entrance & first dance
6:30 pm – Dinner & Speeches
8:30 pm – Coverage ends
This timeline is great if you’re not planning to do a First Look and want to slide your coverage more into the evening.
Why the First Dance Before Dinner Works So Well
About 80% of my couples choose to do their first dance right after their grand entrance. The room is buzzing - everyone’s on their feet, cheering and clapping - and the energy is sky-high. It makes for some of the most incredible photos of the day, and with a 5-hour package, it’s perfectly timed to be included.
When couples wait until after dinner, the atmosphere is often more relaxed. Guests are moving around - grabbing a drink, stepping outside, or chatting - which can mean people trickle back in partway through. By dancing early, you capture that electric moment.
And the best part? You’re one step closer to the bar opening and the party kicking off after dinner.
The Takeaway
Five hours isn’t about squeezing your wedding into a tight box. It’s about focusing on what matters most: your ceremony, your portraits and the time you spend with the people closest to you.
It’s intentional, it’s relaxed, and it gives you the best of your wedding day without the drag of a marathon timeline. And if you want every moment from sunrise to midnight covered, that’s okay too - but for many couples, five hours is the sweet spot.
