How Much Time for First Look and Photos Before Wedding?

Well, my HMU artist said I'll take about 1.5 hours, my mom will probably take 30-45 minutes.

All my BMs elected to do their own hair and makeup, so I'm thinking they'll all take about an hour too. I want at least my mom and maybe my MOH there before the first look so the photographer can get pictures of them helping me into my dress.

Our ceremony starts at 4:30, but I put 4:15 on the invitations so I want to be out of the spotlight by 4:00 at the latest!

So, what I'm doing is:

-Photographer at hotel at noon to take getting ready pictures

-Bride, mother, MOH, and anyone else who is ready, and photographer heads back to venue at 2:30

-2:45 Help bride into dress

-2:50 First look with dad

-3:00 First look with FH

-3:10-3:50 Photos

-4:00 Bride and everyone hidden as guests arrive

-4:30 Ceremony start

This is super tentative, I want to look up exactly how long it takes to get from the hotel to the ceremony and make adjustments as necessary, but this is the general plan for me.

Try working backwards from the ceremony time listed on the invites. For example:

6pm ceremony

5:30pm arrival at ceremony location, done with everything, to relax prior to ceremony

5:15pm leave from X location to ceremony location 15 minutes away

4:45-5:15pm: 30 minutes for first look

4-4:45pm: 45 minutes for bridal portraits, bridesmaid portraits, and and brides family portraits

3:45pm: leave for photo location, 15 minutes away

3:30pm: photographer arrives to go with bridal party to location

2-3:30pm: 90 minutes for brides hair and makeup

12-2pm: 2 hours for 2 bridesmaids hair and makeup

etc...

I'll just ask my photographer what time he wants us. We are doing our e-pics on Sunday so that will be a good time. I figure that I can get done first,, and the HMUA can finish up with the mom's and flower girls and whoever else is getting stuff done while I am off at the first look.

Our ceremony was at 3 p.m. and was about 10 minutes away from the hotel where we got ready. The photographer arrived at 12:30 p.m. to take detail shots and "getting ready" shots. Our first look was 1-1:30 p.m. Then we had VIP/wedding party pictures from 1:30-2:40 p.m.

Here is mine:

1:00pm First Look/Individual/Couple Photos

2:00pm Immediate Family arrive for Family Photos

2:45pm Drive to Venue (above photos are in a nearby park)

3:00pm Arrive at Venue: Take Couple Photos/Detail shots in Venue

3:45pm Bride and FH to wait for ceremony away from arriving guests & prep with Officiant

4:30pm Ceremony Start

My goal is to really minimize photos after the ceremony so I can enjoy cocktail hour with my guests as much as possible.

Our ceremony is at 5, and my planner has penciled in photography starting at 2:30. This is also based on the assumption that people will show up around 4:30 and we'll be done by then.