Wedding Day Photography Checklist

Your wedding day will be filled with special moments and you’ll want to capture them all on film. If you’re worried that your wedding photographer is going to miss getting all the coveted venue photos, special moments and candids, have them go through this wedding day photography checklist. Remember to ask for a mix of close-ups and longshots to keep your wedding album varied!

Here is your go-to wedding day photography checklist.

General pre-wedding photo list

• Wedding invitation
• Engagement ring(s)
• Wedding bands

Bride preparation shots

• The dress (before it’s put on by the bride, on a hanger or laid out)
• The close ups of the bridal accessories (veil, shoes, hair accessories, etc.)
• Bride and bridesmaids getting their hair done
• Bride and bridesmaids getting their makeup done
• Putting on the dress (buttoning, zipping or lacing it)
• Putting on the veil
• Bridal party helping the bride
• Accessorizing
• Bride looking at herself in the mirror
• Bride putting boutonniere on her father’s suit
• Bride putting corsage on her mother
• Bridesmaids bouquets
• Bridal bouquet
• Bride hugging friends and family members before the ceremony
• Bride leaving for the ceremony

Groom preparation shots

• Groom putting on his tie and suit jacket
• Groom with his groomsmen
• Groom putting boutonniere on his father’s suit
• Father putting boutonniere on the groom’s suit
• Groom leaving for the ceremony

Ceremony venue

• Outside the ceremony venue
• Glimpses at focal points around the ceremony venue
• Inside of the ceremony venue
• Decorations (like aisle markers, floral arrangements and wedding signage should be included on your wedding day photography checklist)
• Wedding altar

Wedding ceremony photo list

• Guests arriving
• Groom greeting guests
• Parents arriving at the venue
• Guests being escorted to their seats
• Bridesmaids 
• Maid of honour 
• Flower girls
• Groom at the altar
• Groomsmen
• Guests in their seats
• Officiant
• Bride entering
• Groom seeing the bride for the first time
• Bride walking down the aisle (front and back shots should be included on your wedding day photography checklist)
• Giving away the bride
• Ceremony
• Ring bearer
• Vows
• Exchanging of rings
• First kiss
• The recessional
• Bride and groom leaving ceremony venue

Wedding reception venue

• Outside of the reception venue
• Inside the reception venue
• Table settings
• Centerpieces
• Sweetheart table/head table
• Place cards
• Wedding cake/dessert table
• Decorations (garlands, arrangements, lighting, etc.)

Wedding reception photo list

• Band or DJ
• Wedding party entrance
• Bride and groom entrance
• Bride and groom talking to guests
• Dinner
• First dance
• Parental dance
• Guests dancing
• Cutting the cake
• Newlyweds feeding each other cake
• Bouquet toss
• Garter toss
• Toasts
• The marriage license
• Bride and groom leaving the reception

Bridal party portraits

• First look
• Bride
• Groom
• Bride and groom
• Bride, groom and bridesmaids
• Bride, groom and groomsmen
• Bride and maid of honour
• Bride and bridesmaids
• Groom and best man
• Groom and groomsmen
• Flower girls/ring bearers
• Bride and groom with pet

Parent portraits

• Bride, groom and bride’s parents
• Bride and bride’s parents
• Bride and bride’s mother
• Bride and bride’s father
• Bride, groom and groom’s parents
• Groom and groom’s parents
• Groom and groom’s mother
• Groom and groom’s father

Sibling portraits

• Bride, groom and bride’s siblings
• Bride and bride’s sister(s)
• Bride and bride’s brother(s)
• Bride, groom, bride’s parents and bride’s sibling(s)
• Bride, bride’s mother and bride’s sisters
• Groom, bride’s father and bride’s brothers
• Bride, groom and groom’s sibling(s)
• Groom and groom’s sisters
• Groom and groom’s brothers
• Bride, groom, groom’s parents and groom’s sibling(s)
• Bride, groom’s mother and groom’s sister(s)
• Groom, groom’s father and groom’s brother(s)
• Bride, groom, bride’s parents, bride’s sibling(s), groom’s parent and groom’s siblings

Grandparent portraits

• Bride, groom and bride’s grandparents
• Bride and bride’s grandmother
• Bride and bride’s grandfather
• Bride, groom and groom’s grandparents
• Groom and groom’s grandmother
• Groom and groom’s grandfather
• Bride, groom, bride’s grandparents and groom’s grandparents
• Bride, groom, bride’s parents, bride’s sibling(s) and bride’s grandparents
• Bride, bride’s mother, bride’s sister(s) and bride’s grandmother
• Groom, bride’s father, bride’s brothers and bride’s grandfather
• Bride, groom’s mother, groom’s sister(s) and groom’s grandmother
• Groom, groom’s father, groom’s brother(s) and groom’s grandfather
• Bride, groom, groom’s parents, groom’s sibling(s) and groom’s grandparents
• Bride, groom, bride’s parents, bride’s sibling(s), bride’s grandparents, groom’s parents, groom’s siblings, groom’s grandparents

Additional family portraits

• Bride, groom, bride’s parents, bride’s sibling(s), bride’s grandparents, bride’s aunt(s), bride’s uncle(s) and bride’s cousin(s)
• Bride, groom, groom’s parents, groom’s sibling(s), groom’s grandparents, groom’s aunt(s), groom’s uncle(s) and groom’s cousin(s)

Images: Joy and Amando’s wedding in Toronto's Distillery District; photography by Birch and Lace Weddings.

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