We always tell our couples: give yourself more time than you think you will need.

For you, to enjoy your wedding day to the fullest and not to feel rushed during the day. You will want to feel the day, take it all in, without the stress that this important day might easily give you. Therefore the planning of a well-paced timeline is very important and one of the easiest ways to protect your energy and your presence. When the day flows naturally, there’s room for real emotion and space for deep breaths and for all the little things you will want to remember.

So here are a few thoughts that might help you plan a wedding day that feels like yours.

Start earlier than you expect

Hair and makeup always take longer than expected. That’s just how it is. You might be surrounded during hair and makeup also by your bridesmaids and have a glass of champagne. Time will even pass faster than you think.

If possible, plan to be completely finished with hair and makeup at least 30 to 45 minutes before you actually need to leave or get dressed. That way, you’re not rushing to step into your dress. You have time to sit down. Breathe. Let the moment land.

If you want to have the complete story told, you should strongly consider having a second photographer (second shooter) to capture your wedding from different perspectives. This may be very usefull also to cover the getting ready of both the brides and the groom.

Add extra time between everything

Every part of a wedding takes time. And every part of it is better when you don’t feel like you’re chasing the clock.

We always suggest leaving extra time between moments. Not because something will go wrong, but because having that space changes everything. You’re calmer and more relaxed. You’re able to be in the moment. You’re not thinking about the next thing—you’re just living this one.

Even 15 minutes here and there can make a big difference.

Think about the light

Light shapes the mood of your photos more than anything else. If possible you should avoid hard light over noon and seek for softer light and shadows a bit later in day, especially on a fully sunny day in Luxembourg.
If possible, plan your couple portraits for late afternoon or early evening (golden hour). If the timing doesn’t work, that’s completely fine. We can always find a possibility for couple photos at a moment that fits better to your schedule.

Keep group photos simple

Formal family and group photos are important. But they don’t need to take forever.

Stick to close family and the wedding party. That keeps things flowing and keeps everyone happy. For the rest, we’ll catch them naturally—laughing during reception hour, diner or dancing later. Those moments are real, and they often say more than any posed group photo ever could.

Make room for the in-between

Some of the most meaningful photos we’ve ever taken weren’t planned. They happened in the private moments between everything else. A glance. A breath. The way your partner looks at you when you don’t even realize it.

Those moments can’t be scheduled. But they do need space.

If your day is rushed, they disappear. But if there’s time… they happen. And they stay with you.

A timeline that actually feels good

Every wedding is different, but here’s a proposition for a wedding timeline that tends to work well. Not as a rule, but as a starting point which can be adapted to your own planning and ideas. Of course in case you celebrate in locations/venues more far away you should not forget to add extra time for the way by car.

11:00 Getting ready begins
13:15 Hair and makeup wraps up, you start getting dressed
13:45 First look or some private couple portraits
15:00 Ceremony
17:00 Reception (Cocktail hour) inclduing group photos and couple portraits (45-60 min. for couple portraits)
19:30 Dinner
21:30 First dance, party, hugs, laughter, whatever the night brings

Again, your wedding doesn’t need to fit into a box. This is just one way to let the day breathe.

Final thoughts

The timeline isn’t just about being organized. It’s about making space for the things that matter.

When your day has room to breathe, so do you. And that’s when the good stuff happens. Not just the pretty photos, but the real memories. The ones that stay.

If you’re feeling unsure about how your schedule should look, We are always happy to help you shape it. Not to control the day, but to protect it so you can live it, fully and honestly.

Because that’s what your wedding day deserves.