Free Printables & Tips to Make Your Day Stress-Free
Introduction
I know wedding planning can feel overwhelming. You have a million things on your plate, and trying to figure out how long to book your photographer can feel like just another huge decision. I’m here to help simplify it.
This post is full of tools to help you feel clear, confident, and calm — including sample timelines, a family shot list, and a wedding day checklist to keep you organized and stress-free.
What Affects Photography Coverage?
When deciding how long you want your wedding photographer there, here are a few things to consider:
- Do you want getting ready photos?
- Are you doing a first look?
- How large is your wedding party and guest count?
- How long is your ceremony and reception?
- Are you including speeches, first dances, a cake cut, or a grand exit?
Each of these plays a role in determining how many hours of coverage is ideal for your day.
Tip: Most full wedding days fall in the 6–10 hour range, with 8 hours being a popular sweet spot!
Sample Wedding Day Timelines
(Free Printable Download Below)
I’ve created two example timelines:
- One with a first look
- One without a first look
These can help you visualize what a typical 8-hour day might look like and how we can build in buffer time to keep things low-stress.
Family Photo Shot List
(Free Printable Download Below)
One of the easiest ways to reduce chaos on the day-of? Have a family photo list ready ahead of time. That way, we can move through groupings efficiently — and no one misses a photo with Grandma.
Bonus Tip: Assign a “family wrangler” to help gather people when it’s time for these photos!
Emergency Kit + Detail Checklist
(Free Printable Download Below)
To help you prep your wedding bag with the must-haves, I made a checklist that includes:
- Touch-up items
- Hair tools
- Makeup extras
- Emergency kit musts (hello, eyelash glue and safety pins!)
- Detail items to set aside for styled photos (invites, jewelry, perfume, etc.)
I also bring ring boxes, ribbons, and trays to every wedding to make sure your details are beautifully styled — no stress on your end.
Final Thoughts
Every wedding is unique — your timeline, your priorities, your people. These tools are here to guide you and take a little mental load off your shoulders.
If you ever have questions, feel free to reach out! I’m always here to help.
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