If you've looked into hiring a wedding photographer you've already seen that many photographers offer packages with different time limits. That may lead you to wonder how many hours of photography coverage you really need.

First of all let me say that as part of our first meeting, this is one of the most important things that I find myself covering with my couples - that is I help and guide my couples in establishing a timeline for their wedding day. In this way while we are discussing their photography needs and my couples can fully understand the number of hours they really need for their special day. In reality, I am flexible with my couples as I can understand that there can be unexpected delays during the reception.

On the other hand, that is why it is always important to discuss the timeline with your photographer as choosing too few hours could mean missing out on pictures you would have treasured for a lifetime or enter in unplanned costs which are better to be aware of before!

What is the normal duration for a typical wedding?

Normally, most couples with a standard five-to-six-hour wedding reception will need about 10 to 12 hours of coverage.

In general from my experience, I have found that typical weddings require around this amount of hours to include all the day. While there is also the possibility of going for a shorter timeframe (such as 8 hours of coverage) I would not choose that option as it not only hinders the creativity but also creates a certain feeling of rush, which you do not want your photographer or anyone in your special day to have.

I would normally break the wedding day into 5 chapters:

(1) Details & Getting Ready,

(2) Pre-Ceremony Photos (which include family & wedding party as well as any first looks),

(3) Ceremony,

(4) Post ceremony (both of you with each family and all wedding party),

(5) Reception.

Based on this we can now venture deeper on the timeline.

Do you want to captured getting-ready images?

If photos of your makeup being applied and your dress being zipped up are on your must-have list, then I would sincerely recommend setting aside at least 45 mins for the groom and around 2hours for the bride… for these photos alone. Obviously if you and your partner are getting ready in different venue locations this will have an affect of the amount of time needed.

Also if one wants to also capture the first look and group photos with the bridal team and groomsmen, this will mean adding extra time before your ceremony for photos.

How much travel will be involved?

Is your wedding all at one location? Or are you getting ready at a hotel, having the ceremony at one location, and then the reception at another? Travel time adds up, and it's something you have to account for when deciding on the hours you'll need your photographers. I also have to get from one place to the other and often I need some extra time to make sure that I can show up before the guests to capture details.

How many group photos and time for romantic portraits?

One of the question which needs to be considered, in order to ensure that you are not let down is to have an idea of the number of different group configurations you want to capture during your wedding day. If you have large number of groups you wish to be photographed it would be wise to have a list of the different groups and have the list given to the bestman or the wedding organiser. In this way you can make sure that no one is skipped and also ensure that the time is minimized.

Also, if you are planning to have some romantic photos before the wedding reception, it would be wise to have these near the church or near the reception venue to reduce additional travel time. Usually there is only around 30 to 45mins for such photos, in view that guests are waiting at the venue.

How long is your wedding reception?

Look at your wedding reception schedule: If you have three hours of dancing slated for the end of the night, your photographer likely doesn't need to be there for all of it, however he needs to cover the essence of each moment. Check that you have cake cutting done before any after party so that the photographer can then leave and you can therefore shave off time from the end and put the extra time towards something else like getting ready. Although not usually necessary, if you're having a send-off, however, you'll need to book your photographer to the very end.

Below is a sample of a timeline for a typical Maltese evening wedding over a 11 Hour wedding coverage

(1) Details & Getting Ready, (2) Pre-Ceremony Photos

12:00 Groom and Groomsmen Getting Ready

13:30 Bride and Bridesmaids Getting Ready

15:30 Ceremony Details/Guests Arriving (Photographer leaves for Venue)

(3) Ceremony,

16:00 Wedding Ceremony

(4) Post ceremony (both of you with each family and all wedding party),

17:10 Couple Portraits

(5) Reception.

18:00 Reception Grand Entrance

18:10 Toasts