Photography/videography

Try to put together a tentative timeline and that will help you figure it out. All the photographers I talked to (that had hourly packages) like to get there as you’re finishing getting your hair/makeup done and then stay through maybe an hour of the actual dance. So if you figure out somewhat of a timeline, you can see that maybe 8 hours is plenty, or maybe you need them for 10 instead.

Tentative timeline and what is important that they capture. I have no desire to have photos of myself getting hair and makeup done. So I'm only asking that my photographer show up 2 hours before the ceremony. And probably allowing her to leave somewhere around an hour after first dance.

My photographer is doing 6-7 hours of shooting. We will probably start 2 hours before the wedding start time. We are doing photos of groomsmen with groom, and me with my bridesmaids. Plus me alone, and hubby alone. I would also like some getting ready photos.

Daughter had her main photographer for 11+ hours (getting ready photos, in two locations, began at 11, and he and the B&G were the last out of the venue about 10:15, when he took photos of them alone just after everyone had gone -- they didn't want to do an "exit," because they didn't want to miss a second of the party, those final photos of the night are stunning). His second shooter was with them about 9 hours (she left after cake cutting). She had her videographers (2 person team) for 7 hours, first look through cake cutting/early dancing. Her videography package included all raw footage and a 6-7 minute highlight film. She received over 1100 fully edited photos from the photographer. She was extremely happy with the coverage of both and can't imagine there is anything they missed.

It depends on your preference.

I didn't really care that much about pictures (did not have a videographer) and had her come an hour before the wedding and left an hour before the reception ended. If you want pictures of you and your bridesmaids getting ready, you'd have them sooner.

It's going to depend on what you want at the end of the day. Sit down and think about the kind of pictures you want, work on a tentative timeline (like others have suggested) and go from there.