Wedding Day Time Busters

We know that in spite of all your efforts planning your wedding day, there are wedding day time busters that can make it run off the rails schedule-wise. Hopefully our list of wedding day time busters can help you plan accordingly!

• Putting on your wedding dress/bustling the dress. Most brides are surprised how long it can take to dress. Consider doing a trial run with a couple of your bridesmaids nearby to not only practice some of the more complicated tie-ups or fasteners, but also to set a time on how long it should take you. On that note appoint more than one person/bridesmaid to bustle your skirt at the reception and take the time to practice doing it a few times. Make sure you leave your photographers 5 minutes to grab some portraits of you in your dress at the end!
• Getting out the door for your ceremony. Plan a few extra moments to double check your lists and make sure you have everything. We have often left for the ceremony with the bride “right behind us” only to wait 20 minutes as they rushed around trying to gather things last minute. Pack as much as you can the night before and put a friend who isn’t involved in your wedding party in charge of your list. They can grab your stuff and be out the door while you are getting your 5 minutes of bridal portraits with your photographer.

• Receiving Lines. If you choose to have a receiving line at your wedding, add an additional 30 – 45 minutes to your time table. Couples are moving away from receiving lines these days in lieu of more personal table to table greetings at their reception. One of the great things about this is you can grab one of your photographers to come along and capture you with each table as well. If you forego the receiving line make sure you have a plan for disappearing immediately after your ceremony (or an impromptu receiving line will form).

• Family Formals.They can really knock a well planned day off the rails if they get out of control. However, well-planned family formals are efficient and everyone is generally happy at the end. We recommend making up a list of names and groupings in advance for your photographer to follow.   Appoint an outgoing family member or two from each side to help your photographers keep track of your list and gather people. Work through all the groupings on one side of the family, add the two families together and then dismiss that side and work with the other side. Try to group elderly grandparents and young children in the first groupings so they can go have a rest before the reception. Each grouping should take 2-5 minutes depending on size. If your list is getting too long consider connecting with extended family members at the reception for group photos.

• Photos at your favourite Pub/Restaurant.Couples love to work in a quick photo stop at their favourite pub or restaurant to kill two birds – pictures and a drink with their bridal party. If you plan to do this make sure you plan for at least double the time you think it will take. It’s hard to drink and eat on a timeline, but if you plan enough time for the stop, it’s a great way to enjoy your bridal party and get some great pictures.