Wedding Planning Guide
More than just a photographer…
With over 300 weddings and elopements under my belt, I’ve seen it all—from the tiniest details to the grandest moments. On top of that, I also got married in 2021, so I understand the planning stress and joy from both the professional and personal sides.
This guide is designed to offer you insights, tips, and resources to help you feel confident and organized as you navigate the journey to your wedding day. Let’s make this process as smooth and enjoyable as possible!
Table of contents
Timeline assistance
Building a wedding day timeline is one of the most crucial steps in planning because it sets the framework for how everything will unfold. While it doesn’t need to be rigid or minute-by-minute, having a clear timeline ensures that every part of your day is accounted for—from the getting ready moments to the final send-off. It also gives guidance to your vendors, allowing us to do our jobs smoothly and efficiently. When everyone knows what to expect and when, it allows you to focus on what really matters: being present, soaking in the moments, and enjoying all the hard work and love that went into creating your special day. A well-thought-out timeline helps everything flow effortlessly, so you can just relax and celebrate!
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Building your timeline
- How many hours of photography did you book?
- Will you be getting ready at your ceremony location or somewhere else (like a hotel with a room block reserved for you and your guests)?
- Will you be providing transportation for your wedding party members and/or guests? If so, this can make travel a bit smoother and quicker.
- Are you planning to go offsite for your photographs/portraits?
- Are you planning on having a “first look” and doing photos before the ceremony? Or would you rather wait until cocktail hour to do couple and group portraits?
- How long will your ceremony be? This will require a discussion with your officiant
- Does your venue require a room flip time?
- Are you doing a first dance or other ceremonial dances at your reception? How much time is included in your vendors’ contracts?
- Will you have a receiving line?
- How many toasts or special dances will you have?
- Does your reception venue have a curfew, meaning you’ll have to end the reception at a specific time? Your wedding reception timeline will be tighter if you have to end the party at a predetermined time.
- Are you hosting an after-party or parties?
How much time for each part of the day do you need?
Allocating the right amount of time for each part of your wedding day is one of the easiest ways to keep stress low and the experience enjoyable. A well-paced timeline means you’re never rushed, your vendors can do their best work, and your photographer has the space to create beautiful, intentional images. When everything flows smoothly, you get to be fully present—and actually enjoy your day. I have listed all the common parts of a wedding day below, with guidelines on how much time you need for each and why!
Details and flatlays
20 – 40 minutes
A flatlay is more than just a photo of your wedding details—it’s a curated moment that captures the essence of your style, personality, and all the thoughtful touches you’ve put into your day. However, creating a beautiful flatlay does take time. We carefully arrange your rings, invitation suite, jewelry, shoes, and other special items to tell a cohesive story. This process requires patience and attention to detail, as the composition has to be just right to create that stunning, cohesive image.
Ladies Getting Ready
60 – 90 minutes for every bride
15 minutes to cover any detail shots (Dress, Bouquet, Shoes, Rings, Jewellery, Perfume, Stationary) is ideal. This usually happens before the bride is in the final touches of hair and make up so I can capture those moments separately. 30 minutes to cover interactions between yourself and your bridesmaids and any posed photos in robes etc. Sometimes it makes sense for me to do some details and leave to go photograph the other partner and come back for the final touches. Dress being put on takes about 5 minutes. * Remember to factor in time for a first look with any important family members like Dad or gift exchanges with your future spouse! Your total getting ready time will depend on the number of people getting hair and make up
Guys Getting Ready
30 – 45 minutes for every groom
Typically men do not take as long as women to get ready – therefore don’t need as much time. 10 Minutes for detail shots (Tie, Boutonnière, Shoes, Rings, Watch, Cologne) is ideal. I do like to take photos of the groom doing final touches of hair etc in the mirror. 20 minutes for any interactions with groomsmen and “cheers”-ing of drinks. Its nice for groomsmen to be together for the final touches of getting ready – putting on jackets, shoes, boutonierres. Encourage a family member (Mom or Dad or Brother) or a groomsman to be present to put on your boutonierre!
First Look
15 minutes
If you have chosen to do one, the actual first look is easy and not time-consuming at all. I will set you up for a successful first look and give you instructions so those photos turn out the best and most candid they can possibly be! This is an intimate moment and I encourage my couples to do this privately so they can express their true excitement and emotions without an audience.
Travel to and from a location for your first look may need to be factored in depending on where you would like it to be, some couples also choose to do a set of portraits during this time – feel free to chat with me about it!
Ceremony
20-40 minutes
Most Ceremonies are about 30 minutes – depends on readings and vows etc. This is the most important part of the whole day so do not compromise on the time for this! If you want a long ceremony then have all the readings, and enjoy your personal vows. If you want it short and to the point then keep it simple and follow the basic requirements from your officiant! Discuss with your them how long this will end up being so you can assign the appropriate amount of time!
Family Photos
30 minutes
I always recommend that we do family portraits at the ceremony site or somewhere nearby that doesn’t require any driving. Wrangling family together can be like herding cats and if you get everyone to travel in cars someone is bound to be late or get lost and you can’t do family portraits without them! I encourage you to create a detailed family photos list and assign someone to help wrangle those people – this will keep the time down and I can usually get them all done in under 30 minutes with everyones cooperation!
Bridal Party
20-40 minutes
Depending on how big your bridal party is, where you would like to go for bridal party photos, and what type of transportation they will be using (with you in limo or separate cars) needs to be factored in. Typically I only need about 30 minutes to get all your bridal party photos including some traditional poses, individual photos with each member, and some fun ones!
For driving times to locations please feel free to chat with me about it!
Couples Portraits
45-90 minutes
Your couples portraits as newly weds are some of the most precious moments you want to have photographed! You will want an adequate amount of time for this but you also don’t want to burn yourself and your spouse out with photos. The total amount of time depends on where we go for your portraits. Are we staying on site? Are we going to multiple locations? Is the bridal party coming? Some couples like to substitute in 30 minutes for photos at sunset – if you would like to do this please chat with me and I can help you with the best time and location to make that work during your reception!
For driving times to locations please feel free to chat with me about it!
Reception Details
15-30 minutes
A lot of couples don’t have the time to appreciate their reception space. I love to help them experience that by taking photos before any guests enter the main reception space. If this is important to you I only need 15 minutes to capture the basics of all your beautiful decor! If you want lots of these photos then schedule more time. Ideally, this happens after I do your couples portraits and before the cocktail hour ends.
Some wedding planners like to do a “room reveal” so please chat with them if thats something you would like in your timeline!
Dinner
60-90 minutes
Give your guests a decent amount of time to eat. Your guests and your caterers/venue kitchen staff will appreciate not being rushed and you will get some much needed down time to relax and fuel up for the rest of the night!
Some couples like to break up their coursed meals by having speeches in between courses! This is a great way to space out the meal – and you may need to allocate more time throughout dinner if you opt to go this route.
Speeches
5-10 minutes per speech
Give your speakers 5-10 minutes per speech. Some speeches will be nice and short, and some will be heartfelt and detailed. Its totally acceptable to ask your speakers to remain within a time frame. 1 – 2 written pages is usually the perfect length for a speech!
Cake cutting, First dances, Bouquet toss, etc...
5-10 minutes per event
Cake cutting really takes no time at all! Guests aren’t overly fussed about watching it – it’s a moment just for you two! Most songs are about 3-4 minutes in length so you can schedule your dances according the to length of the song! Bouquet Toss/Garter Toss – 10 Minutes. Shoe Game or other fun things – assign about 5-10 minutes for these events. Don’t overwhelm your guests with lots of activities – they want to dance and mingle!!
Dance Party
30 – ??? minutes
When it comes to capturing the energy and excitement of your dance party, I recommend planning for at least 30 minutes (but I’ll stay until my coverage ends!) of dancing photos. This window gives me enough time to capture those authentic, joyful moments as you and your guests let loose on the dance floor. It’s during this time that we can get the full range of emotions—from candid laughter to those unforgettable, high-energy group shots.
Sunset Photos
20-30 minutes
Sunset photos are one of the most magical and memorable moments of your wedding day, and I highly recommend setting aside about 20 to 30 minutes for this during the golden hour, which is typically the last hour before the sun sets. The soft, warm lighting at this time creates a romantic, flattering glow that makes for stunning photos—perfect for capturing intimate moments between you and your partner. Please ask me for the best time for your date and venue!
Vendor Recommendations
Choosing from my carefully curated vendor list is one of the best decisions you can make for your wedding day’s success. These vendors are not just trusted professionals, but people I’ve personally worked with time and time again, and who consistently deliver exceptional results. I’ve built relationships with each of them based on reliability, skill, and their ability to work seamlessly with my photography style and timeline.
When you choose vendors from my list, you’re ensuring a cohesive, well-coordinated experience for your wedding. I know how they operate, how they communicate, and how they show up to bring your vision to life. This familiarity makes it easier to align everyone’s expectations and work efficiently together, which means less stress for you and more time to focus on enjoying your day.
Restaurants for your Rehearsal or Welcome Dinner
Having a rehearsal or welcome dinner the night before your wedding is a great way to ease any pre-wedding nerves and ensure everything runs smoothly on the big day. It gives the wedding party and key family members a chance to practice the ceremony and clarify any last-minute details, helping everyone feel more confident and prepared.
Additionally, a welcome dinner provides an opportunity to thank your guests for traveling and celebrating with you in a relaxed, informal setting. It’s a wonderful way to spend quality time with loved ones before the whirlwind of the wedding day begins.
CANMORE
Murriettas
The Sensory
The Iron Goat
Crazyweed
Table Food & Drink
Bridgette Bar
BANFF
Lupo
Bluebird
The Bison
The Fat Ox
Chucks Steakhouse
High Rollers
CALGARY
Teatro
Pat & Bettys
The Nash
Oxbow
Modern Steak
Starbelly
Hotels, AirBnbs & Getting Ready Locations
Choosing the right space or hotel for getting ready is important because it provides a stylish, spacious, and well-lit environment for your pre-wedding photos, which can significantly enhance the quality of your bridal portraits. A beautiful hotel room or private suite also offers a calm, private space for you and your bridal party to relax and prepare, ensuring you look and feel your best on your special day.
CANMORE
The Malcolm Hotel Canmore
Solara Resort & Spa
Blackstone Mountain Lodge
Stoneridge Mountain Resort
The Mercer
Airbnb – Spring Creek
Canmore Together (not a hotel or airbnb)
BANFF
Fairmont Banff Springs
Moose Hotel & Suites
Rimrock Resort Hotel
The Juniper Hotel
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
Peaks Hotel
No Airbnbs in Banff
CALGARY
Hotel Arts
The Dorian
Fairmont Palliser
Le Germain Hotel Calgary
The Westley Hotel
Alt Hotel Calgary East Village
Airbnb – a house with big windows!
Wedding Websites
Creating a wedding website is a great way to keep your guests informed and organized, providing them with all the details about your big day in one convenient place. It allows you to share event schedules, travel information, registries, and RSVP options, reducing the need for multiple emails or phone calls. Most platforms like offer beautiful templates, easy customization, and user-friendly features to make the process seamless. They also offer the ability to collect RSVPs, manage your guest list, and even create a personalized wedding timeline.