Hey, I'm Andy, a Wellington wedding photographer. One of the first questions couples ask me is how many hours of photography they need. The honest answer depends on what you want photographed, not on a magic number. This guide breaks the day into parts, shows how long each one takes, and gives you two sample timelines based on my collections.
The short answer
My two collections are built around the two answers most couples land on:
- Essential, $3,250, 8 hours: covers the last part of getting ready, the ceremony, family photos, photos of the two of you, speeches and the first dance. Your full gallery arrives within 72 hours.
- Complete, $5,500, 14+ hours: covers the whole day, from the first coffee to the last song on the dance floor, with an extended pre-wedding shoot, a venue scouting session and a sneak peek within 24 hours.
Planning something shorter, like a small ceremony or an elopement? Have a look at my elopement photography page and I'll quote for what you need. You can compare the two collections on my pricing page.
How long each part of the day takes
These are the ranges I plan with. Every wedding is different, so treat them as a starting point:
- Getting ready: 1 to 2 hours covers the dress, the details, the final touches and the nervous laughs.
- Travel: whatever the drive is, plus 15 minutes. Wellington traffic and parking rarely go to plan.
- Ceremony: 20 to 40 minutes for most. Religious and cultural ceremonies can run much longer, and my Indian wedding photography post covers multi-part days.
- Family and group photos: 20 to 30 minutes, if you give me a list in advance.
- Photos of the two of you: 30 to 45 minutes in total, often split in two.
- Drinks and canapés: 1 to 1.5 hours. Group photos usually happen during this time.
- Entrance, dinner and speeches: 2 to 3 hours.
- First dance and party: the first 30 to 60 minutes of dancing gets you the big moments. Staying later gets you the wild ones.
Sample timeline: 8 hours (Essential)
Here's how 8 hours might look for a 2pm summer ceremony with the reception at the same venue or nearby:
- 12:30pm: I arrive for the last of getting ready, the dress and the details
- 1:30pm: Travel to the ceremony
- 2:00pm: Ceremony
- 2:40pm: Congratulations, then family and group photos
- 3:15pm: Photos of the two of you nearby
- 4:00pm: Drinks and candids with your guests
- 5:30pm: Reception entrance and dinner
- 7:00pm: Speeches and cake
- 7:45pm: A 10-minute sunset stop outside
- 8:00pm: First dance and the start of the party
- 8:30pm: Coverage ends
That's a full, relaxed day. In midsummer the sun doesn't set until after 8.30pm, so the light is lovely for that short stop between speeches and the first dance.
Sample timeline: 14+ hours (Complete)
With 14 or more hours, nothing gets squeezed. Here's how a longer day might look for a 2pm ceremony:
- 10:30am: Getting ready starts, both of you
- 12:30pm: An optional first look, before the nerves take over
- 2:00pm: Ceremony
- 2:40pm: Family and group photos
- 3:15pm: Photos of the two of you
- 4:00pm: Drinks, lawn games and candids
- 5:30pm: Reception entrance and dinner
- 7:00pm: Speeches
- 8:00pm: Golden hour photos of the two of you
- 8:45pm: First dance
- 9:00pm onwards: The party, through to the last song and your exit
The Complete collection also includes a venue scouting session. We walk your venue together beforehand, find the portrait spots and a sheltered backup for the wind, and build the timeline around the light. Then you get a sneak peek within 24 hours to share with family the next morning.
Winter weddings
In winter it's dark not long after 5pm, which changes the plan. Photos of the two of you need to happen before the ceremony or straight after it, and a first look makes that much easier. Winter receptions often start earlier too, so 8 hours can cover more of the evening than it would in summer.
When 8 hours is enough
- Your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, or close together
- You're getting ready near the venue
- You don't need the very start of getting ready
- You're happy for me to leave once the first dance is done
When you need more than 8 hours
- You're getting ready in two places, or a long drive from the venue
- Your day includes travel out to the Wairarapa or the Kapiti Coast
- You're having a multi-part or cultural ceremony
- You want the whole party, the late-night moments and your exit
- Your guests are staying on site and the celebrations run late
Adding a second shooter
A second shooter is $650 on either collection. It's worth it for 80+ guests, when you're both getting ready at the same time in different places, or when the ceremony and reception are in different places. You get two angles on the big moments and more candids of your guests.
Travel
Travel around greater Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Porirua is included. Weddings outside Wellington have a $1,500 travel add-on. Send me your venue and I'll confirm what applies before you book. See the areas I cover.
Tips for building your timeline
- Add buffers. Ten or fifteen minutes between each part saves a lot of stress.
- Send me your family photo list early. It's the part of the day most likely to run over.
- Check the sunset time for your date. Then plan the photos of the two of you around it.
- Share one timeline with everyone. Your venue, celebrant, hair stylist and photographer should all work from the same version.
- Plan it with me. Every collection includes a pre-wedding consultation, and we build the timeline together there. Your pre-wedding shoot doubles as your engagement photos.
If cost is the deciding factor, my guide to how much a wedding photographer costs in NZ breaks down the per-hour maths. Still choosing a photographer? Here's how to choose your Wellington wedding photographer.
Not sure how many hours you need? Get in touch with your date and venue, and I'll suggest a timeline for your day.
Frequently asked questions
- How many hours of wedding photography do I need?
- Most weddings are well covered by 8 hours, from the end of getting ready through to the first dance. If you want everything from the first coffee to the last song, or your day involves a lot of travel, 14 or more hours is the better fit.
- Is 8 hours enough for a wedding photographer?
- For most Wellington weddings, yes, especially when the ceremony and reception are at the same venue or close together. My Essential collection ($3,250) covers 8 hours with your full gallery within 72 hours.
- How long do photos take after the ceremony?
- Allow 20 to 30 minutes for family and group photos and 30 to 45 minutes for photos of the two of you, usually while your guests enjoy drinks. Splitting the couple photos into a short session after the ceremony and another at sunset works well.
- When should the wedding photographer arrive?
- With 8 hours, I usually arrive for the last hour or so of getting ready, so I catch the dress, the details and the final touches. With 14+ hours, I can be there from the start of the morning.
- Do I need a second photographer?
- A second shooter ($650) is worth it for 80+ guests, when you are getting ready in two places at the same time, or when your ceremony and reception are in different places.
