What time should a wedding ceremony start?

Most UK wedding ceremonies start between 12:00 and 14:00. Earlier ceremonies (12:00-13:00) give you more daylight for portraits and a more relaxed afternoon. Later ceremonies (14:00+) work well for intimate weddings with shorter days. Consider sunset time when choosing your ceremony start.

How long should couple portraits take?

We recommend at least 45 minutes for couple portraits. This gives enough time for you to relax, explore different locations, and for us to capture a variety of natural, unposed moments. Rushed portraits always show in the final gallery.

When is golden hour for wedding photos?

Golden hour is the hour before sunset. In the UK, this varies dramatically by season. In June it can be as late as 21:00, while in December it can be as early as 15:30. A mid-afternoon ceremony in summer gives the best chance of catching golden hour light.

How many group photos should we have?

We recommend 6 to 8 group combinations maximum. This keeps the group photo session to around 20-30 minutes and means you spend more time enjoying your day. Long group photo lists eat into couple portrait time and drain everyone's energy.

Should speeches be before or after the meal?

After the meal is the most popular choice. Everyone is relaxed, fed, and the drinks are flowing. Before the meal works too but speakers tend to be more nervous. Between courses is a great middle ground. There is no wrong answer.

Wedding Day Timeline Builder

Build the running order for your day, including portraits and golden hour.

Related planning resources

Wedding Supplier Contact Sheet
Keep supplier contacts, arrival notes, balances and delegated owners in one printable handover sheet.
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Printable Wedding Supplier Schedule
Turn final timings into a clean, printable handover for your venue and suppliers.
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Wedding Morning Timeline Calculator
Work backwards from your ceremony to plan preparation, travel and calm contingency time.
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