The question that decides most photography budgets is not which photographer but how many hours. Most weddings need between 5 and 10 hours of coverage, and the right number is set by three things: how many locations you have, whether you want getting-ready photos, and how much of the reception you want documented. Below are the timelines we actually run, so you can match your day to a half-day or full-day booking.
The rule of thumb
| Your day | Hours | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Courthouse or elopement, portraits after | 1–3 | Short session, quoted |
| Ceremony and reception at one venue, no getting-ready | 4–5 | Half day ($1,500) |
| Ceremony and reception at one venue, with getting-ready | 6–8 | Full day ($3,000) |
| Church ceremony, separate reception venue, getting-ready | 8–10 | Full day ($3,000) |
| Multi-day or cultural weddings with several events | 10+ | Full day plus overtime or a second day |
VIDART’s half day is up to 5 hours and the full day is up to 10, for photography, videography, or both as one crew. Overtime is $300 per hour per crew member and is agreed in advance.
A half-day timeline (5 hours)
This covers a single-venue wedding where getting-ready photos are not a priority. It is the most common booking for weddings under 100 guests and for second weddings and vow renewals.
- 2:30 pm — Photographer arrives; details, venue, guests arriving, a few portraits of each partner.
- 3:30 pm — Ceremony (30–45 minutes).
- 4:15 pm — Family formals (20 minutes with a list), wedding party, couple portraits (30–40 minutes).
- 5:30 pm — Cocktail hour candids, reception room details before guests enter.
- 6:15 pm — Entrance, first dance, toasts, cake.
- 7:30 pm — Coverage ends after the key reception moments.
The trade-off: no getting-ready coverage and no late-night dance floor. Ask your DJ to run the first dance, parent dances, toasts and cake in the first hour of the reception so they all land inside coverage.
A full-day timeline (10 hours)
This is the standard for a wedding with getting-ready coverage, a ceremony at one location and a reception at another, or any wedding where you want the dance floor documented.
- 12:00 pm — Getting ready: details (dress, rings, invitations), hair and makeup finishing, both partners dressing.
- 1:30 pm — First look and couple portraits (optional; it frees up the evening).
- 2:30 pm — Wedding party portraits; travel to ceremony.
- 4:00 pm — Ceremony.
- 4:45 pm — Family formals, remaining portraits; travel to reception.
- 6:00 pm — Cocktail hour, reception details.
- 7:00 pm — Entrance, dinner, toasts, first dances, cake.
- 8:30 pm — Golden-hour or night portraits (10 minutes, worth it).
- 9:00–10:00 pm — Open dancing, a staged exit if you want one; coverage ends.
Things that add hours
- Travel between locations. Each move costs 30–60 minutes of coverage once you include loading the wedding party into cars.
- A receiving line. Thirty minutes for 150 guests, and it eats portrait time right after the ceremony.
- Large family formals. Each grouping is about two minutes; 25 groupings is nearly an hour. A written list and a designated family wrangler halve it.
- Sunset. If you want golden-hour portraits in June in Wisconsin, sunset is around 8:40 pm; in October it is around 6:15 pm. Plan the timeline around it, not the other way round.
- Cultural and religious ceremonies. A full Catholic Mass runs about an hour; multi-event weddings (sangeet, tea ceremony, second reception) are usually best covered as separate bookings.
Things that save hours
- A first look. It moves most portraits before the ceremony and lets you attend your own cocktail hour.
- One venue for ceremony and reception.
- Front-loading reception events into the first hour.
- A short, specific family formals list.
- Getting ready at or near the venue.
Does video change the math?
No, when it is the same crew. VIDART books photography and videography on one timeline, so a 10-hour full day gives you both an edited gallery and an edited highlight film plus the full ceremony and toasts, without the two vendors negotiating over the same ten minutes of portrait light. Pricing for both together is $3,000 for a half day and $6,000 for a full day.
Not sure which fits? Send us your draft timeline and we will tell you honestly whether a half day covers it.
Frequently asked questions
Is 6 hours of wedding photography enough?
Six hours is enough for a single-venue wedding with a short getting-ready window, the ceremony, portraits and the first hour of the reception. It is not enough if you have two locations or want open dancing covered. In VIDART’s pricing, six hours is a full-day booking.
Is 8 hours of wedding photography enough?
For most weddings, yes. Eight hours covers getting ready from about an hour before departure, the ceremony, portraits and the reception through the first dances and toasts, with time left for some open dancing. Two-location weddings with a long gap may need the full ten.
Do I need getting-ready photos?
They are optional, but they are where the details (dress, rings, letters) and the quietest emotional moments of the day are photographed. If you want them, plan on a full day; if not, a half day usually covers the rest.
What if the reception runs long?
Agree the overtime rate before the wedding. VIDART charges $300 per hour per crew member, and we will ask you on the day before staying rather than billing you afterwards.
Should the photographer stay until the end?
Usually not. After the first hour of open dancing the photos repeat. A staged exit (sparklers, a getaway car) at a set time gives you the final image without paying for two more hours of dancing.
