Wedding Day Timeline: A Photographer's Schedule and Sunset Times in Patras

Insights · A guide for your wedding

Your wedding day goes by faster than you imagine. A good timeline doesn't box you in. It gives you room for everything you want to enjoy, without rushing and without running late.

This guide covers how we plan the wedding day from the photographer's side, how the day usually runs for the groom and the bride, and why hair and make-up can make or break the morning. It also includes a full table of sunset times in Patras for every day of the year.

Contents (11)

1. Start with the ceremony time and the sunset
2. A timeline, not a mould
3. The most critical hour of the day: hair and make-up
4. The preparations: what to have ready
5. Arriving at the church
6. The ceremony
7. After the ceremony: family photos
8. Photos of the couple and the sunset light
9. At the reception
10. Small tips for your day
11. Frequently asked questions about the wedding day timeline

Start with the ceremony time and the sunset

The whole timeline is built around the time of the ceremony. From there we count backwards for the preparations and forwards for the reception.

The second time worth knowing is sunset. In summer, a ceremony at 19:00 or 20:00 ends close to the most beautiful light of the day. In winter the sun sets before 17:30, and an afternoon ceremony is already in the dark. That isn't a problem; it simply changes where and how your photos will be taken.

A timeline, not a mould

The timeline we prepare for each couple comes from years of photographing weddings. It is there to take the stress out of the day, so you always know what comes next. It isn't rigid: it keeps the day on track and still leaves room for the unplanned.

All you need to do on the day is relax and enjoy it. That only works if the planning is done beforehand. Roughly, the day runs like this:

The groom	The bride
Detail photos: suit, rings, watch, perfume	Detail photos: dress, shoes, jewellery, perfume
The groom gets dressed	Hair and make-up are finished, and the bride gets dressed
Portraits of the groom	Moments with her friends and portraits of the bride
Photos with friends and family	Photos with the family
Leaving for the church; he arrives a little before the bride	Leaving for the church on time

We set the exact times for each wedding separately, depending on the ceremony time, the distances and the light of the season. The time that matters most is when you leave for the church. Stick to it and the rest of the day runs smoothly. Group and family photos are quick and relaxed, so they won't hold you up.

The most critical hour of the day: hair and make-up

If anything throws the bride's timeline off, it is usually hair and make-up. A half-hour delay there means less time for getting dressed, for her friends, for portraits and for family. And in the end, a bride who rushes off to the church.

• Give them the day's timeline. They should know in advance when the team arrives and when the bride needs to be ready to get dressed.
• When dressing begins, the bride should be almost ready. Hair and make-up should be finished before the bride puts on her dress.
• Plan for everyone else too. If the mother, sisters or friends will have their hair or make-up done in the same space, build that into the timeline as well, so the bride isn't pushed to the end of the queue.

The same goes for everyone else involved, friends and family included: the sooner they know the preparation timeline, the fewer the delays.

The preparations: what to have ready

What slows the preparations down most is usually hunting for things. Gather the following in one place before the team arrives, so we can start straight away.

For the bride

• Wedding dress, shoes and perfume.
• Engagement ring, jewellery and accessories, such as the veil.
• Two invitations.
• Something from the wedding decorations: a flower, a sprig of greenery, a ribbon.

For the groom

• Suit, shoes and perfume.
• The wedding rings, the watch and an invitation.
• Tie or bow tie, cufflinks, belt.
• Something from the decorations.

We photograph the details first, so it helps to have them all together before we arrive.

• A bright room. Ideally with natural light from a window or balcony door, and plain walls.
• A little tidiness. Clear away coffee cups, empty glasses and bags. A tidy room shows in the photos.
• Only the people who need to be there. Fewer people in the room means a calmer morning for you.
• For the groom: before dressing begins, he should already be wearing his trousers, shirt and socks. The shirt can be slightly open.

Arriving at the church

The groom usually arrives a little earlier to welcome the guests. For the bride, a few small things help a lot:

• Drive once or twice around the church, so your escorts have time to find a parking space.
• You can wait a few minutes in the car until everything is ready for your entrance.
• At the entrance, walk at a natural, steady pace. There is no need to hurry.

The ceremony

During the ceremony we want you to let go and be in it, without giving us a second thought. From the moment you first see each other until the very end, don't try to manage anything. We move quietly in the background and photograph what happens, as it happens.

After the ceremony: family photos

Family photos are taken at one set spot, quickly and in order. Tell your relatives beforehand that they're happening, and ask one person who knows the family to round everyone up. That way they're done fast and the guests can head to the reception.

Photos of the couple and the sunset light

If you would like photos of the two of you in the sunset light, look at the table above. Depending on the season and the ceremony time, that light may fall before, during or after the ceremony. These photos can also be taken on a separate day, at your own pace, in a next-day session. We'll talk it through when we plan your timeline.

At the reception

After the ceremony comes the most carefree part of the day. Before the reception, it helps us a lot to know what you have planned:

• Will there be live music or a DJ?
• Will you have a first dance?
• Will there be a cake cutting?
• Is there a special entrance or idea?
• Will there be fireworks or sparklers?
• Is there a moment that is especially important to you?

Shortly before your entrance we have a quick catch-up with you to confirm the details. We stay at the reception for as long as it takes to make sure nothing is missed. Once everything has been photographed, we slip away and you carry on with the evening among your own people.

Small tips for your day

• Wake up early and have a good breakfast. You will need the energy.
• Let friends and family know the preparation timeline, so they can organise themselves too.
• Eat something light and drink water throughout the day.
• In the middle of all the excitement, take a few minutes just for the two of you.
• And don't forget your smile. It is the most genuine “accessory” in every photo.

And for the wishes of the day, see our wedding wishes: for a card, from the best man, parents and friends.