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Wedding timeline

5 PM Ceremony Wedding Timeline with a First Look

A full eight hour day around a 5 PM ceremony with a first look, so most portraits are done before you walk down the aisle. Enter your date to pull your exact sunset.

Ceremony
5:00 PM
First look
Yes
Coverage
8 hours

Spring · sunset 7:30 PM

US average, varies by latitude

  1. 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
    Detail photosPreparation

    Rings, shoes, invitation suite, florals. Set aside in a box on arrival.

  2. 2:20 PM – 3:35 PM
    Getting readyPreparation

    Bride into dress, groom prep, parent and party candids.

  3. 3:40 PM – 4:25 PM
    First look and couple portraitsPre-ceremony

    The reason to do a first look is time. Most couple portraits land here.

  4. 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
    Wedding party portraitsPre-ceremony

    Only when a first look is done. Otherwise this moves after the ceremony.

  5. 5:05 PM – 5:20 PM
    Immediate family formalsPre-ceremony

    Immediate family before the ceremony, larger groups after.

  6. 5:25 PM – 5:55 PM
    CeremonyCeremony

    Allow 60 to 90 minutes for a full Mass or a longer service.

  7. 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    ReceptionReception

    Entrances, first dance, toasts, cake, open dancing.

  8. 6:50 PM – 7:10 PM
    Golden hour portraitsGolden hour

    Anchored to sunset, not the ceremony. Pull earlier for tree lines or hills.

Summer · sunset 8:25 PM

longest golden hour of the year

  1. 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
    Detail photosPreparation

    Rings, shoes, invitation suite, florals. Set aside in a box on arrival.

  2. 2:20 PM – 3:35 PM
    Getting readyPreparation

    Bride into dress, groom prep, parent and party candids.

  3. 3:40 PM – 4:25 PM
    First look and couple portraitsPre-ceremony

    The reason to do a first look is time. Most couple portraits land here.

  4. 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
    Wedding party portraitsPre-ceremony

    Only when a first look is done. Otherwise this moves after the ceremony.

  5. 5:05 PM – 5:20 PM
    Immediate family formalsPre-ceremony

    Immediate family before the ceremony, larger groups after.

  6. 5:25 PM – 5:55 PM
    CeremonyCeremony

    Allow 60 to 90 minutes for a full Mass or a longer service.

  7. 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    ReceptionReception

    Entrances, first dance, toasts, cake, open dancing.

  8. 7:45 PM – 8:05 PM
    Golden hour portraitsGolden hour

    Anchored to sunset, not the ceremony. Pull earlier for tree lines or hills.

Fall · sunset 6:20 PM

popular season, light fades fast

  1. 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
    Detail photosPreparation

    Rings, shoes, invitation suite, florals. Set aside in a box on arrival.

  2. 2:20 PM – 3:35 PM
    Getting readyPreparation

    Bride into dress, groom prep, parent and party candids.

  3. 3:40 PM – 4:25 PM
    First look and couple portraitsPre-ceremony

    The reason to do a first look is time. Most couple portraits land here.

  4. 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
    Wedding party portraitsPre-ceremony

    Only when a first look is done. Otherwise this moves after the ceremony.

  5. 5:05 PM – 5:20 PM
    Immediate family formalsPre-ceremony

    Immediate family before the ceremony, larger groups after.

  6. 5:25 PM – 5:55 PM
    CeremonyCeremony

    Allow 60 to 90 minutes for a full Mass or a longer service.

  7. 5:40 PM – 6:00 PM
    Golden hour portraitsGolden hour

    Anchored to sunset, not the ceremony. Pull earlier for tree lines or hills.

  8. 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    ReceptionReception

    Entrances, first dance, toasts, cake, open dancing.

Winter · sunset 4:45 PM

sun sets early, prioritize daylight or a first look

  1. 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
    Detail photosPreparation

    Rings, shoes, invitation suite, florals. Set aside in a box on arrival.

  2. 2:20 PM – 3:35 PM
    Getting readyPreparation

    Bride into dress, groom prep, parent and party candids.

  3. 3:40 PM – 4:25 PM
    First look and couple portraitsPre-ceremony

    The reason to do a first look is time. Most couple portraits land here.

  4. 4:05 PM – 4:25 PM
    Golden hour portraitsGolden hour

    Anchored to sunset, not the ceremony. Pull earlier for tree lines or hills.

  5. 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
    Wedding party portraitsPre-ceremony

    Only when a first look is done. Otherwise this moves after the ceremony.

  6. 5:05 PM – 5:20 PM
    Immediate family formalsPre-ceremony

    Immediate family before the ceremony, larger groups after.

  7. 5:25 PM – 5:55 PM
    CeremonyCeremony

    Allow 60 to 90 minutes for a full Mass or a longer service.

  8. 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    ReceptionReception

    Entrances, first dance, toasts, cake, open dancing.

Match a shot list to this day

Wedding shot lists

Order the ceremony itself

Ceremony orders

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