How Many Photography Hours Do I Need for My Elopement or Intimate Wedding?
How Many Photography Hours Do I Need for My Elopement or Intimate Wedding?
How Many Photography Hours Do I Need for My Elopement or Intimate Wedding?
A wedding day timeline is one of the most important things you can plan ahead of time to help ensure you have a smooth wedding day. Your timeline will also help you determine how much photography coverage you need. But what types of things should you include and how do you know how much photography coverage you actually need? In this blog, I’ll go over how to start planning your elopement or intimate wedding timeline.
Elopement vs Intimate Wedding Photography Coverage Breakdown
The Difference Between Elopements and Intimate Weddings
Before you decide how much time you will need to allot for photography coverage, you first need to decide what type of wedding day is best for you.
If you already know that a traditional wedding is not for you, then you may be deciding whether or not you want to plan an elopement or an intimate wedding. I have an entire blog post highlighting the difference between the two, which you can check out here, but the main difference between an elopement and an intimate wedding all comes down to the details and the intention for the day.
An elopement often just includes the couple while an intimate wedding is a small wedding with family and friends. Elopements tend to focus more on experiences, while intimate weddings place more emphasis on the details of the day. Neither option is better than the other. It just simply comes down to what you envision and value.
How to Decide Between an Elopement and an Intimate Wedding
When deciding which type of wedding is right for you, one of the main things to consider between the two is what kind of role you want your guests to play in your day. Are you interested in doing any hosting or entertaining? Where will your guests stay? What type of role do you want them to take (ie - attending the ceremony only or having them be involved in all aspects throughout the day)?
Your guests (if present) play a large part in how your wedding day takes place and this is often the main choice couples make when deciding whether to elope or plan an intimate wedding.
Another option to consider that allows you to experience the best parts of an elopement and an intimate wedding is to plan a pre or post-wedding session. Many of my couples choose to go with a 2-day coverage option as this allows them to have the best of both worlds and visit more locations. This is also a great option for couples who want to spend time with their loved ones but also want to spend time alone without feeling like they are leaving their family and friends behind.
No matter which option you choose, or if you are dreaming up something entirely different, I offer different hours and types of photography coverage to make it easy for you to plan your dream wedding day. If you are having trouble deciding which type of event is right for you or you don’t know what works best, I am happy to help!
How to Utilize Your Elopement Photography Coverage Time
Of course, how much time you need for photography coverage will depend on what you have planned for the day. Because intimate weddings often follow a similar, but unique structure to traditional weddings, I am going to focus on ideas for adventure elopements. But while the hours of coverage for elopements and intimate weddings can vary, this is something that comes back to how you want to spend your day and the approach you plan on taking to capture this special time. On average, most couples book:
6 - 8 hours of photography coverage for local elopements.
8 hours or multi-day coverage for destination elopements.
Half-day (8 hours) or multi-day coverage for intimate weddings.
12+ hours for full-day coverage on one day including multi-locations & activities.
Keep reading for things to consider as well as a list of ideas to include in your adventure session.
Things to Consider When Planning Your Elopement and Intimate Wedding Timeline:
LOCATION
Your location sets the tone for your elopement day. Having everything take place in one location can be ideal as it helps cut down on travel time and allows for more time for activities or photos. However, having everything take place at one location is not always an option. Sometimes, due to availability or accessibility issues, couples choose multiple locations. When this happens, I usually suggest 2 to 4 locations as they offer a great variety of photos, which are the getting-ready location, ceremony location, and 1 or 2 portrait locations.
One thing to remember is that traveling from one location to another does take time. Often, the more locations you include, the more your elopement day will feel like a photo shoot and less than your special wedding day. It takes time to drive, park, and get to each spot which greatly affects how much you are able to experience. Choosing fewer locations means that not only will you get to spend more time enjoying the places you choose but you’ll get to spend more time creating memories as well.
Coverage Time: Varies
GETTING READY, DETAILS AND PREPARATION PHOTOS
Preparation photos are some of the best ways to help you feel more relaxed in front of the camera. As you and your partner get ready, I like to capture little moments and details of this time that will remind you of the anticipation and excitement you felt. They are also a great way to tell your full story, from beginning to end.
Getting ready and preparation photos are also a great way to “set the scene” for your wedding gallery. These photos will come in handy and tell your full story when printing your photos in an album.
Detail photos such as a flatlay of all the accessories or your wedding attire (dress/suit/shoes/etc.) are worth capturing as well. Keep in mind that you’ve taken time to incorporate them and meticulously thought of them during the planning process - so might as well capture them as well!! Oftentimes, those details can include heirloom jewelry, special personalized notes, vow books, wedding rings, and bands, and these detail photos not only elevate your gallery but also can capture the memory of what you’ve accessorized with on your wedding day. Those detailed photos, while they may seem that they can be captured quickly, oftentimes take longer to set up and make look balanced and cohesive. Giving at least 1 hour of coverage time for this part can make a huge difference in the creative outcome of those photos.
Getting ready Coverage Time: ~2 hours
Detail photos Coverage Time: ~1 hour
FIRST LOOK
Generally speaking, a first look is a great option for couples who want to spend the majority of the day together without having to wait till your ceremony time to see each other.
Wondering what exactly is a first look? A first look doesn't have to be a big surprise. While many times it is considered to be a moment where the couple sees each other in their wedding outfits for the first time, that does not always have to be the case. Oftentimes, it can simply be the time you spend getting ready together. I have photographed all sorts of intimate weddings and elopements where the couple decided to do one or the other. It all simply comes down to preference and how you want to feel about your day.
First looks can be private or semi-private. During first looks, some couples choose to read personal vows/letters to each other, saving their more formal vows for their ceremony with guests. Your first look is also a great time to get some couple portraits so I often recommend adding a little extra time to this portion of the day.
First looks can be more than just between the couple themselves; sometimes it can be with parents such as a father-daughter first look, mother-son first look, or even with friends if you plan a wedding attire reveal, in which more time is needed to make sure they are well organized on the timeline so that they are executed well and captured as planned.
Coverage Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour
CEREMONY + FORMALS FOR INTIMATE WEDDINGS
Typically, a wedding ceremony is one of the shortest parts of the day but it’s also the most important. Most ceremonies last 10-15 minutes, but because this is the big moment, you will want to make sure to plan appropriately so as not to rush or stress beforehand.
Elopement ceremonies tend to be simpler in terms of getting situated but you will want to consider the location of the ceremony and how much time is needed to get everything prepared. Make sure you plan for enough time to get there as well as plan time for any decorations that need to be set up. Of course, you’ll also want to build in plenty of time for personal vows, ring exchange, letter reading, and any other traditions or aspects that are important to you or anyone who’s involved.
After the ceremony, couples typically spend time taking photos with their family, friends, and other guests. How long this takes can depend on how many people you invite but I typically recommend at least 15 to 30 minutes. I always recommend adding in some buffer time just in case anyone is running behind or the ceremony goes a little longer than planned. Having a list of formals will help expedite the process as well as inform your guests as to when it’s their turn for photos.
This is the highlight moment of your day, so give this part the most emphasis to enjoy the moment as much as possible. There’s nothing better than taking your time and letting the ceremony events naturally unfold.
Coverage Time: 1 - 1.5 hours
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
This part of the wedding day can be completely customized to you and depending on what you choose will play a big part in how much coverage you will need. For elopements or post-wedding sessions, having special activities or something fun to do is a great way to add to your wedding day story. Feel free to get creative. What kinds of things do you and your partner enjoy doing together? Or, what have you always wanted to do together? Your wedding day is the perfect time to try something new!
Some wedding day activities can be…
Hike - 2-4 hours (out and back)
Helicopter tour - 3+ hours
Picnic - 1.5 hours (including setup)
Astro couples photography - 2 hours
Off-roading/ATVs - 2-4 hours depending on the location
Boat tour - 2-3 hours
…and more! The sky truly is the limit here.
It’s important to also keep in mind the timing of your activities. Typically, couple portraits and activity photos are the ones you will look back on the most so when you take these photos is very important. While photography takes place at all points throughout the day, there is a small period of time just before and after sunset that provides the best light for photos. This time is called Golden Hour and Blue Hour. During this time the light is soft, beautiful, and perfect for photos.
Coverage Time: Varies depending on activity
Whether you are planning an elopement or an intimate wedding, it’s important to allow yourself enough time for photography coverage throughout the day. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, so give yourself enough time to soak in the moments and breathe. Take time to enjoy the locations you choose and celebrate your love your way!