Using a list can assist wedding photographers in keeping organized and guiding them through the day of the wedding. Coming up with a list together with the bride and groom can be helpful in identifying expectations, important people and any must-have photo ideas. The following wedding photography checklist for a traditional wedding can be a starting point for brainstorming.
This wedding photography checklist is based on our typical wedding timeline:
Getting Ready Before the Wedding
Groom's House
- Groom's tuxedo
- Groom putting on and checking tie
- Father or best man pinning boutonniere on groom
- Groom pinning boutonniere on his father and corsage on his mother
Bride's House
- Getting hair and makeup done
- Bouquets
- Wedding dress
- Bride's accessories
- Bride putting on her wedding dress and accessories
- Mother putting veil on the bride
- Bride looking in the mirror
- Bride putting on and adjusting garter
- Bride pinning boutonniere on her father and corsage on her mother
- Father helping bride into the car
Photos of the Wedding Party
Traditionally, the bride and groom shouldn't see each other before the wedding ceremony, but you can still take advantage of the time before the wedding ceremony to take photos of the bride with her bridal party separately from the groom with the groom's party. These could be outdoor shots that finish up about half an hour before the ceremony begins.
Ceremony
- Guests arriving and being seated by ushers
- Groom and best man interacting
- Bride arriving
- Processional
- Groom waiting for the bride at the altar
- Bride walking down the aisle accompanied by her father
- Groom's reaction upon seeing the bride
- Father giving bride to the groom
- Bridal and groom's party at the altar
- Bride and groom exchanging vows and rings
- Newlywed kiss
- Wedding guests applauding
- Recessional
- Bride and groom signing marriage license
- Newlyweds leaving in the wedding car or limousine
Formal Photos at the Church
Newlyweds with…
- Groom's parents
- Bride's parents
- Both sets of parents
- Groom's immediate family
- Bride's immediate family
- Groom's party
- Bridal party
- Groom's grandparents
- Bride's grandparents
- Groom's immediate and extended family
- Bride's immediate and extended family
- Both families
- Close friends and/or work colleagues
- All the guests from a high vantage point
Outdoor Portraits of the Bride and Groom
Use your creativity here to capture all the emotions and natural beauty of the newlyweds.
Reception
- Venue decorations
- Table settings and centerpieces
- Guests signing the guestbook
- Newlyweds arriving and being announced
- Receiving line
- Newlyweds at the head table
- Newlyweds and family at the head table
- Dinner being served or the buffet table
- Wedding cake
- Cake cutting
- Newlyweds interlocking arms and taking a sip of champagne
- Newlyweds feeding each other pieces of wedding cake
- Wedding toasts/speeches and reactions from newlyweds
- Newlyweds toasting
- Wedding gifts
- Newlyweds' first dance
- Groom dancing with his mother
- Bride dancing with her father
- Other special dances with family members and friends
- Bouquet and garter toss
- Open dancing
