eventrundown.com
A 3-day photographer schedule covering rehearsal dinner, full wedding day, and farewell brunch. Plan every shot across the entire weekend.
3-day wedding weekend — rehearsal, ceremony, brunch
Arrive at River House, check lighting for toasts and candids
Capture guest arrivals, signage, florals, drink details
Candids during dinner, toast reactions, family interactions
S'mores by the fire pit, late-night guest moments
Scout ceremony lawn, test equipment, charge batteries
Hair, makeup, dress hanging, jewelry details, emotional moments
Rehearsal dinner toasts, getting-ready details, farewell hugs — the full story lives in the moments between the big ones.
Share the schedule so both photographers know who covers what — no duplicate shots, no missed angles.
A multi-day shoot is a marathon. Plan your energy, meals, and gear management so day 2 doesn't suffer from day 1 fatigue.
Day 1 — Rehearsal Dinner (4-6 hours)
Arrive early to scout the venue. Cover welcome cocktails, dinner, toasts, and late-night moments. Light, editorial coverage — not every-second documentation.
Day 2 — Wedding Day (12-14 hours)
The main event. Getting ready, first look, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, dancing, and send-off. This is where the second shooter earns their fee.
Day 3 — Farewell Brunch (2-3 hours)
Light, relaxed coverage. Family candids, goodbye hugs, venue details. Often the most genuine, unguarded moments of the weekend.
Start with this 3-day template or create a custom schedule for your specific venue and client needs.
DescribeRequest the family formals list from the planner or couple at least 2 weeks before. Formals go 3x faster when you have every grouping written down instead of asking "who else?" between shots.
You're shooting 12+ hours on Day 2. Confirm vendor meals for yourself and your second shooter at both the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception. Low blood sugar shows in your work.
At the end of each day: charge all batteries, back up all cards to laptop and external drive, format cards for the next day. This 30-minute routine prevents catastrophic losses.
Walk through the timeline together the night before. Assign who covers bride vs. groom during getting ready, who shoots ceremony from front vs. back, and hand-off points during reception.
Day 1 is a warm-up. Day 2 is a sprint. Day 3 is a cooldown. Don't stay up editing Day 1 photos when you have a 7 AM call time on Day 2.
Why photographers use EventRundown for wedding weekends:
A typical three-day wedding weekend needs 6-8 hours on the rehearsal dinner day, 12-14 hours on the wedding day, and 2-3 hours for the farewell brunch. Total: roughly 22-25 hours across three days.
A second shooter is essential for the wedding day but optional for the rehearsal dinner and brunch. Many photographers bring an associate for Day 2 only and handle Days 1 and 3 solo.
Use dual card slots writing to both cards simultaneously. At the end of each day, back up to a laptop and a portable SSD. Never format a card until you've verified at least two backups.
Rehearsal dinner: 150-250 edited images. Wedding day: 600-900. Farewell brunch: 50-100. Total: 800-1,250. Set this expectation in the contract upfront.
A complete guide to scheduling wedding photos — first look, family formals, golden hour portraits — without losing hours of your day. Includes sample timelines.
What Pro unlocks and how to set up your account.
A complete hour-by-hour wedding day timeline from getting ready through the grand exit. Sample schedules for 4 PM and 6 PM ceremonies with timing tips.
The most common causes of wedding day delays and how to prevent them. Practical buffer strategies, vendor coordination tips, and a free timeline template.