Usually it comes from couples who have a lower budget/ trying to be intentional with their budget, or who just don’t want their entire day to feel like it’s being documented nonstop (sometimes people can be anxious around cameras, I totally get that!)

I can sense the hesistation while I'm on calls with my couples.

“Are we going to regret not booking more time?”

Short answer? No… not if your day is structured in a way that actually makes sense for 5 hours.

What It Actually Looks Like

Here’s what a 5-hour day usually ends up looking like in real life (using a general timeline):

• I’ll show up a little before everything starts to grab pictures of details, snippets of getting ready, and whatever’s naturally happening, nothing super staged. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on how organized you want to be! (30mins-1hr)
• Then, if you’re doing a first look, we’ll do that pretty early. That’s usually one of the most emotional parts of the day anyway, and it gives you a second to just… be together before everything starts moving fast. (5-30mins, depending on how much time you want before the ceremony, touch ups usually happen after because.. tears)
• Next up! Wedding party photos. We'll have fun and capturing the more formal shots and then do some personality pictures too- without dragging it out forever. Assuming a smaller wedding party size: (30mins)
• Ceremony happens + lining up and letting people get settled. This is always faster than people expect. The biggest and most iconic moment of the wedding day is often over in under 15 minutes! (1 hr)
• Family photos (quick, organized, I promise I don’t let this spiral). (30 mins)
• And then I’ll stay through the start of the reception. This includes entrances, first dance, some of the energy there. (1 hr)
• Then we usually sneak away for portraits again when the light is better, this part is always slower, more relaxed, and honestly where a lot of my favorite images come from. (3o mins)

Just keep in mind, this is BEST case scenario for this timeline. Sometimes the makeup needs to retouched because of tears or lashes fell off, sometimes someone will slip and stain their pants or there is a late family member (happens more than it should). All that to say, with longer coverage, we build in time to breathe, be, and make time for flexibility and mishaps.