Planning Guide

We want to help make your day fun & relaxed while capturing the special moments you’ll look back on and remember for years to come. Over the years, we’ve attended hundreds of weddings and have learned some ways to help your day go smoothly. In this guide, we’d like to share our experience with you including wedding day tips, time planning & FAQs.

Who We are

All photographers have their own style, not only with the look of their images but also in how they work with their clients. Our style is relaxed, efficient, fun and focused on you.
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It’s important to us that you’re able to relax and enjoy your day. We know that if you’re stressed it will come through in the photos. It may be running an errand, reminding you to bring your rings (they’re surprisingly easy to forget!) or even stepping back to give you a breather. Whatever it is, we are ready to help so you can focus on enjoying your day while we capture some beautiful photos.

We hope to help make the photography process fun for you. We’ll joke around and chat with you as we go, but we’re also very efficient. We know that with everything going on that we need to move quickly and efficiently so that we can capture all the photos you want.

We like to capture a variety of shots: both posed and unposed. Often, this really depends on your personality - some couples are more comfortable goofing around while others are a little more camera-shy. If you’re a fun goofy couple, we’ll be silly. If you’re all about the romance then let’s cuddle up… well you guys can cuddle, we’ll just be over here taking the photos. If you don’t know what you want (or if you want it all) then we’ll mix it up and get a little of everything. We’re flexible - we just want you to be comfortable and enjoy the day!

Ashley

Owner & primary photographer.
Has photographed 500+ weddings over the last 13 years.

Matthew

Assistant & second shooter.
10 years experience photographing weddings.

Taco

Not a photographer.
Will preside over your photos being edited.
Adorable.

How much time is enough?

Example Timeline

Some parts of your day might take more or less time than you would expect. Below, you’ll find an example timeline for our 8 hour package. Every wedding is different and we are happy to work with you to build a timeline that works best for you.

Reception Set-up

This allows us to take overview photos of the reception venue and some photos of all the decor before guests arrive and will only take around 15 minutes.

2:00 – 2:15

2:15 – 3:00

getting ready
(Full coverage)

This depends on on how much coverage you are wanting. We can start at the beginning, but we usually suggest starting in the last hour to 30 minutes. This allows plenty of time to get photos of a variety of things such as- hair, make-up, details of accessories & attire, putting on your attire, candids getting ready and with family or friends.

getting ready
(Minimal coverage )

This only takes 15 to 30 minutes and is great if one or both of you only wants a few detail photos of accessories & attire and putting on your attire and maybe a few candids.

2:45 – 3:00

3:00 – 3:15

First Look

We will coordinate a private spot for you both to lay eyes on each other for the first time that day. It’s pretty quick and only takes around 10 to 15 minutes.

Wedding Party

Whether you take these before or after the ceremony (or both) we would allow 15 minutes each time. It could be shorter or a little longer depending on how many variations you would like.

3:15 – 3:30

5:00 – 5:15

Ceremony

With only a few exceptions, most ceremonies only lasts around 15 minutes.

Family & Wedding Party Portraits

If we weren't able to capture all of these photos before the ceremony, we should allow 15-30 minutes after the ceremony.

5:15 – 5:30

5:30 – 6:30

Wedding Couple Portraits

In our opinion, these are some of the most important. They can also vary greatly in time depending on your priorities. We may take some portraits before the ceremony, after & possibly before the reception or even in separate locations from your venues. In total, we suggest allowing 1 to 2 hours or less depending on what package you select.

Grand Entrance

If possible, we would like to arrive before you so that we're ready to take photos when you are announced into the room.

6:45 – 7:00

7:30 – 8:00

Cake Cutting,
Toasts and Speeches

The cake cutting and toast photos are generally pretty quick: about 15 minutes. Speeches can vary and take up to an additional 10 to 20 minutes.

First dance, Parent dances, or other special Dances

We would allow about 5 minutes per dance depending on the length of your songs.

8:00 – 8:20

8:20 – 8:30

Bouquet and/or Garter Toss

Generally, allow about 10 minutes for both.

Party & Dancing

Some groups dance more than others, but usually around 1 hour provides plenty of time for these photos.

8:30 – 9:45

9:45 - 10:00

Grand Exit

We would suggest having guests start moving out to the grand exit location 15 minutes prior to the exit time. The actual exit only takes a few minutes.

Wedding Day

TIPs

We wanted to share a few tips with you that we have picked up on through the years that you may not have thought about. Hopefully these will be helpful when planning out your day.

Engagement photos are a great way for us to get to know each other and break the ice so you are more comfortable before the wedding. It’s also great to have those images for your wedding announcements, wedding websites, and reception decor.

Timelines are really important to keep the day running smoothly and we love to help our clients figure out the best plan for the day. There are many things to consider such as the time of events and how long they take, sunset time, or best lighting for photos. Also, allowing enough time for photos but still making sure there is plenty of time for the two of you to enjoy your day. Before the wedding we can plan a timeline that will work best for your day.

Getting ready photos can be great to capture candid and special moments. We can start at the beginning to get full coverage of you getting ready but If you’re short on time, consider having us start just before you get dressed. It’s not always necessary for us to start at the very beginning of hair and make-up. We can still get some detail shots, getting dressed , and any last minute touch-ups. If one of you prefers not to have full coverage of getting ready we can always just stop in for a few quick photos of you getting dressed and maybe a few candid photos.

Keep it clean! To get the best photos while getting ready be sure to keep the space tidy otherwise you will end up with a bunch of undesirable things in your photos. Consider designating a friend or family member before hand to be in charge of keeping things picked up.

Hair and make up can take longer than expected, so be sure to plan plenty of time for this. Most wedding timelines are delayed because not enough time was allotted for getting ready. Doing a trial run with your stylist before the wedding is a great way to decide what look you want and also how long it will take.

It's all in the details. We suggest before the wedding that you both gather any items you want us to photograph into one box each. On your wedding day you can quickly hand it over to us to photograph without having to search around for everything when you are trying to get ready. Some examples of items you may want to include are- full invitation set, flowers, dresses or suites, non-plastic hangers for you and attendants, hair accessories, shoes, jewelry, cufflinks, watch, perfume or cologne, handkerchiefs, keepsake items from family members, letters to each other or anything else!

If you wear glasses you know there is potential for glare. I will keep a look out for this and usually we can avoid major glare. I suggest that you do not wear transition lenses. With changing light conditions this can be difficult. If we are outside and they transition to sunglasses we will not be able to see your eyes and in other lighting they make look tinted. I would also consider this for anyone that will be in your photos such as wedding party or family members.

A first look can be a great option to maximize time. It may not be on the aisle, but having that moment together beforehand can make for intimate photos and show some real emotion in a more private, personal setting. Plus, we can complete some of the photos ahead of time so you can get to your party faster!

We know that you don’t always have the option to schedule your ceremony during the ideal time of day for lighting. If possible, consider taking photos before the ceremony or maybe stepping out of the reception for a few minutes to get that beautiful golden-hour lighting.

Unplugged weddings are becoming a popular option for couples. Guests love to snap photos and videos during the ceremony but sometimes that can cause some undesirable results. Consider asking your guests to be present with you in the moment and leave the photos to us. Otherwise, you may end up with images of guests blocking an important moment.

Once the reception has started, it’s time for some dancing! We love photographing those fun dancers but we also want to be respectful of your time. Instead of booking us to photograph several hours of dancing, consider using that time toward the beginning of the day instead.

Depending on the package you choose, your photography coverage might not last until the end of the reception. You may want to consider moving the “exit” up for photos. We can all go outside for a fun photo send-off & then you and the guests can return to the party. Also, be sure to check with your venue if you plan to use sparklers, some places do not allow them.

Frequently asked

Questions

What is required to reserve my wedding date?

Just a $100 deposit & a signed contract.

How can I pay?

Cash, check, credit, PayPal, Venmo or Apple Pay.

How soon will I receive my photos?

3 weeks or sooner.

How many photos will I receive?

It depends on your wedding day and package but it could be anywhere from 100 images for a 1 hour package to as many as 1,200 images for an 8 hour package.

Do you travel?

Yes! We love traveling and shooting in new places. Anything more than a couple of hours away will require a travel fee.

Do you edit all the photos?

After narrowing down to your best photos we will edit each image. We do not retouch all images, but can touch up specific photos upon request for an additional cost.

How do we get started?

Just contact me with your (and your fiance’s) contact information and what package you’re interested in. I’ll follow up via email with a contract that can be signed digitally.

How long will our photos be available?

I back up all my photos and will have them indefinitely. You can also purchase prints or digital copies at any time. We don’t have a deadline for viewing & ordering.

THank you

We appreciate you taking the time to consider Ashley Kimbrough Photography to capture your wedding day. It’s an important decision since photographs are the main way you will remember all the meaningful moments & this is very important to us. We love being photographers and we are so thankful to work with amazing couples during such an important moment in their lives. We can’t wait to work with you!