Mark Thomas Films · Wedding Planning Guide

A Little Breathing Room Goes a Long Way

A wedding morning can feel like there’s plenty of time—right up until there isn’t. A little room in your plans lets you enjoy the people around you and gives us time to capture the moments you’ll want to remember.

1. Aim to be completely ready 1–2 hours before the ceremony.

  • Hair and makeup finished, dressed, and available for photos and video.
  • For a 4 PM ceremony, aim for 2–3 PM, depending on travel and your plans.
  • Set separate times for finishing hair and makeup and being dressed and ready.

2. Give bride prep and groom prep room to happen.

  • Allow time for pajama photos, gifts, reveals, getting dressed, and moments with your parents.
  • Give parents and the wedding party ready times too.
  • Gather rings, invitations, and other details before we arrive so we can start there while everyone finishes prep.

3. Leave a quiet window for your film.

  • Allow uninterrupted time for interviews, personal messages, and vow recordings.
  • Choose a quiet space away from music and conversations.
  • Coordinate with both your photographer and videographer so one isn’t borrowing time from the other.

4. Plan for the minutes between things.

  • Eating and bathroom breaks.
  • Finding people and gathering belongings.
  • Walking across the venue, loading cars, and traveling.
  • Leave space between activities instead of stacking everything back-to-back.

5. Keep the final 30 minutes clear.

  • Wrap up pre-ceremony photos and interviews before that final half hour.
  • Allow time for cameras, audio checks, microphones, and getting into position.

6. Make a plan for family photographs.

  • Treat 30 minutes as a starting point, not a guarantee. The number and size of your groupings determine how much time you need.
  • Make a family group list in advance. More combinations need extra time, rather than minutes borrowed from couple portraits.
  • Tell everyone in family photos ahead of time to stay nearby after the ceremony.
  • Choose a wrangler from each side of the family to gather people and have the next group ready.
  • Keep the photo area clear so phone-picture crowding doesn’t slow things down.
  • Add a buffer between family formals and couple portraits so delays don’t eat into your time together.

7. Protect time for the two of you afterward.

  • Reserve at least 15 minutes specifically for romantic couple photos.

8. Getting to the reception.

  • Protect a transition window for your photo and video team to move cameras, flashes, and audio equipment.
  • Allow time for setup before the grand entrance, so everyone is ready when you walk in.
  • Then enjoy your reception and let the candid moments happen.

Share this with your planner. The goal is enough room to actually enjoy the day you’ve spent so much time planning.