How To Plan Your Relaxed Wedding Day Timeline
Planning your wedding day ahead as much as possible is the key to having a relaxed day focused on spending time with guests and celebrating. I know it contradicts itself a bit, but trust me - I have photographed lots of weddings since 2017 in Ireland and abroad and I have seen things done right and things not done at all. No matter how casual and informal your day is going to be, people should know what’s happening and where.
Planning your wedding day ahead as much as possible is the key to having a relaxed day focused on spending time with guests and celebrating.
Focus on the timeline early on. You will need this for the caterers, photographer, church, celebrant and your guests. No matter how casual and informal your day is going to be, people should know what’s happening and where.
I have been to many well-planned weddings and it makes such a difference for you to have lots of time to chat with guests and create memories, time for photos and a relaxed getting ready experience. At those weddings, you can feel the difference immediately, as a guest, vendor and as a couple. The key to success is location and ceremony time. If you want your wedding to be the most relaxed experience I recommend getting ready (whole bridal party + parents), ceremony & reception in the same place. No driving between venues, no driving away for photos. This is one of the best things you can do to have lots of time for everything. Obviously, it’s not going to be feasible for everyone, so I’m here to help you plan it all for the best possible day.
Firstly, I will give you some tips on how to improve each aspect of the day and why it’s important.
Secondly, you will find a wedding timeline for WINTER & SUMMER weddings. I will also add notes on travelling and church weddings.
The perfect morning
Running late in the morning will create a domino effect on the whole day. You might want to start getting ready a little earlier than you think necessary. Set up your hair and makeup in a well lit, clutter-free area. Have all your details ready laid out - perfume, earrings, stationery, ring, ribbons, boxes, any sentiments. Have another clutter-free room ready with a dress out of the bag and on a nice hanger. This is where you can get dressed too.
Hair, makeup and photos take time. Especially recently with Tiktoks and Reels, makeup and hair artists will try to carve out time to create their content. Make sure you let them know - if there’s any photo/video they need to take, they have to start earlier because you’re working on a strict timeline and your photographer and videographer have the priority.
Make sure you are not the last person for makeup/hair! You will be needed for photos with your bridal party, details like putting on earrings, perfume, dress and veil photos and first look. This all takes time and planning. You will need to be finished with all makeup and hair at least 1 hour before leaving. Start getting dressed at least 45 min before you’re due to leave - tags, fashion tape, corsets, underwear, it all takes time, and you want to make sure bridal party photos and family photos are captured before you leave. This applies to the groom as well, and dads too.
Reserve about 15 min before you leave for the ceremony for photos only - mum and dad, siblings, bridesmaids, pets and your own portraits.
All about your ceremony
Ideally, you’d have your ceremony at the venue. That way it’s short and sweet and also entertaining. Churches are important for many reasons (faith, tradition, family history) and getting married at the venue is not always what you want. Please keep in mind photographers are treated differently with every parish - sometimes we are welcomed to walk and take snaps, sometimes we are required to stay still. That will affect your photos too, so please have realistic expectations.
Keep things moving and don’t wait too long to arrive at the church. When you’re late for the ceremony it will mean you will have less time for the reception with your guests. It will make things way more stressful trying to play catch up on family photos, which will eat away at your reception time.
Please also note church weddings in the Republic of Ireland tend to always start late. The latest I’ve experienced was 1,5 hours! The bride and her party were ready, it was actually guests who were still arriving. It’s a good idea to put on the invites the start of the ceremony 30 min earlier than actually planned. Some guests will be late, there is no doubt about it.
Have your family photos immediately after the ceremony - nominate one person who knows them and get them to help the photographer gather the family members. Receiving line can take about an hour so keep that in mind, it’s not something I’d advise doing, especially at winter church weddings. Have your confetti as one of the first things when the ceremony is finished.
Please avoid driving for more than 1 h from the ceremony to the reception, there’s too much that can go wrong - you will get bored in the car, the drivers get lost, the traffic can be horrendous and you might waste precious time. When booking your reception venue please choose one that has some type of photo opportunities to avoid having to go elsewhere for photos.
Reception fun, speeches, cake
Having all your family photos swiftly done you can relax and chat with your guests, there’s plenty of light for the photographer to capture natural images, candid, unposed moments. Ideally, you’d cut the cake now, everyone is looking forward to eating it.
You can have your speeches during the drinks reception or while seated at the tables before the meal, but keep them short. No one likes long speeches, 10 min is an absolute max. If there are few speakers that’s an hour of your time while everyone sits at the table hungry, looking for bread and butter and needing the bathroom.
Dancing & Sparklers
Short speeches + cake cut already = less time sitting at the tables = party and dancing well underway!
Get everyone excited and start dancing as soon as the band is ready. Don’t delay the first dance, get the bridal party to join soon if you’re nervous. Everyone wants to dance, hang around with drinks and relax now that the formalities are done.
Please keep in mind bands are notorious for taking their time to set up. If your first time is scheduled for 8:30 it will happen at 9:30, because the band arrives at 8:30
I’ve put together a timeline for weddings in different seasons below.
These timelines are focused primarily on having a relaxed wedding day, spending more time celebrating with your guests and starting the party early. These are guidelines only - every venue and church have their own policy according to their own experiences.
Spring & Summer
April - end of September
Humanist (or other non-religious) ceremony at the venue. For church services start getting ready and have your ceremony an hour earlier.
8 or 9 am - Getting ready (7 or 8 am Church wedding, driving) this also depends on the number of people getting ready
1 or 1:30 pm - Ceremony (12 or 12:30 no later Church wedding, driving)
1:30 or 2 pm - Drinks reception starts, Family Photos, Portraits, Cake cutting
5 pm - Dinner call
5:30 pm - Speeches (30 min max, if longer dinner call has to be earlier)
8 pm - Evening guests arrive, Dinner finished
8/8:30 pm - Golden hour photos, Mingling, Cake cutting
9 pm-ish - First dance
Party time!
Autumn & Winter
October to March
7-8 am - Getting ready
1 pm - Ceremony (12 pm Church ceremony, no later)
1:30 pm - Drinks reception starts, Family Photos, Portraits (sun goes down at 3: 30 pm)
4:30 pm - Dinner call
5 pm - Speeches (30 min)
7:30 or 8 pm - Evening guests arrive, Cake cutting, Mingling
8:30 or 9 pm-ish - First dance
Party time!
Extra tips
The best time for portraits is in the ‘golden hour’, the sun is starting to set and the light becomes softer, warmer in colour and gives a glow. If your reception/dinner falls on this hour before sunset I recommend taking 10 minutes out of the reception to get portraits.
Winter weddings are beautiful, the light is softer and they always have this magical, Christmassy feel. Remember to plan the ceremony earlier to leave plenty of time for your photographer to capture your portraits.
Consider traffic and driving to church and venue, when planning your day. Major events, accidents, traffic jams on a Friday afternoon, country roads and diversions might give you less time for photos and enjoying the day with guests.
These timelines are focused primarily on having a relaxed wedding day, spending more time celebrating with your guests and starting the party early. These are guidelines only - every venue and church have their own policy according to their own experiences.
If you know someone who is recently engaged and may find this useful, feel free to forward them the link!
Top 10 Wedding Venues with Beautiful Gardens in Northern Ireland
I prepared this guide to help you narrow down your venue choice. The guide is split into four parts - this is the first one, Walled Garden Wedding Venues. Here you’ll find 10 amazing wedding venues in Northern Ireland (and 2 just across the border) that feature incredible gardens. Some of them are bigger, some smaller but all equally stunning for your wedding photos or drinks reception.
As a wedding photographer, I’ve experienced weddings in different locations. Below you will find some of my favourite venues to photograph if you’re looking for greenery, romantic atmosphere and elegance.
Choosing your venue will be an extremely personal decision and there are many factors to take into consideration. If having a beautiful and elegant garden for you and your guests to enjoy is one of them, this guide will help you narrow down your options.
Welcome and congratulations on your recent engagement!
I prepared this guide to help you narrow down your venue choice. The guide is split into four parts - this is the first one, Walled Garden Wedding Venues. Here you’ll find 10 amazing wedding venues in Northern Ireland (and 2 just across the border) that feature incredible gardens. Some of them are bigger, some smaller but all equally stunning for your wedding photos or drinks reception.
As a wedding photographer, I’ve experienced weddings in different locations. Below you will find some of my favourite venues to photograph if you’re looking for greenery, a romantic atmosphere and elegance.
Choosing your venue will be an extremely personal decision and there are many factors to take into consideration. If having a beautiful and elegant garden for you and your guests to enjoy is one of them, this guide will help you narrow down your options.
Hillsborough Castle
Fit for royalty with its stunning Georgian mansion, luxurious State Rooms and 100 acres of beautiful gardens. Perfect for photographs if you’re getting married nearby and have no photo opportunities at your venue.
https://www.hrp.org.uk/hillsborough-castle/hire-a-venue/weddings/
Perfect for: all year round, classic wedding & black tie
Larchfield Estate
Wonderfully relaxed and atmospheric, lots of room for guests to enjoy the day. Massive walled garden with lake and woodland, orangery, courtyard and a decorated barn. Perfect for a big party!
https://www.larchfieldestate.co.uk/
Perfect for: cosy Christmas wedding, rustic wedding, all year round
The Carriage Rooms at Montalto
I have experienced The Carriage rooms both as a guest and photographer and both times it was a memorable event. The 19th-century mill building, heritage estate, beautifully renovated outbuildings, acres and acres of land, orangery, walled garden and lake. Insane amount of photo opportunities, especially beautiful in early autumn when leaves turn orange.
https://www.thecarriagerooms.com/
Perfect for: autumnal wedding, all year round
Mount Stewart
Less known wedding option but absolutely worth considering! There’s something so magical about the gardens, so romantic and whimsical. An ideal option for photos if you’re getting married nearby and your venue doesn’t have much outdoor space. A perfect venue for a sunny summer day, outdoor wedding and marquee reception.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stewart/features/weddings-at-mount-stewart
Perfect for: outdoor summer wedding
Drenagh Country Estate
One of my absolute favourites in Northern Ireland - secluded, grand and stunning! Beautiful and airy Georgian Mansion, Moon Garden, walled garden, 1,000 acres of beautiful countryside and lots of space for a marquee. Put it on your priority list!
Perfect for: all year round & black tie
Magheramorne Estate
New addition to the wedding scene in Northern Ireland, 19th-century house & gardens makes for the most romantic and elegant affair. Looking forward to photographing my first wedding at the Estate this year!
https://magheramorneestate.com/
Perfect for: all year round & black tie
Glenarm Castle
The beautiful walled garden makes for a perfect backdrop to a relaxed, outdoor summer wedding. I photographed a lockdown wedding there with 14 guests and it was just perfect. Ideal for couples planning a fuss-free but elegant wedding!
https://www.glenarmcastle.com/weddings
Perfect for: outdoor summer wedding, autumn wedding
The Ivory Pavilion
The smallest walled garden on the list, the venue makes up for it with exclusive hire of Galgorm Castle, countryside and woodland. Perfect for relaxed and elegant wedding day photographs.
Perfect for: cosy Christmas wedding, summer outdoor wedding
Castle Leslie Estate & Hilton Park
Two absolutely stunning venues short drive from the border. Technically they aren’t Northern Ireland, but who could resist having such jaw-dropping locations so close by?
Castle Leslie needs no introduction, breath-taking venue nestled on 1,000 acres of the Irish countryside, dotted with ancient woodlands and lakes. Massive estate, marquee and lots of space for an outdoor wedding. All-round stunning and worth every penny!
https://www.castleleslie.com/castle-weddings-ireland/
Perfect for: all year round & black tie
Hilton Park, on the other hand, is a little less known but equally charming and grand. Idyllic estate set amidst hundreds of acres of natural lakes, heritage woodlands, meadows, thriving kitchen gardens and grounds. I photographed a small family lockdown wedding and it was a surreal experience. Beautiful in every way!
Perfect for: all year round & black tie
If you’d like to get in touch about your wedding photography at any of the venues above, please drop me a message HERE.
Paula
Best of 2019 / Hello Sugar Photography
Welcome to another year crazy cats! So many of you can now say ‘‘we are getting married this year!’’ and I’m delighted for you, can’t wait to capture your wedding and give you the best memories. Honestly, 2019 was a crazy one in a good way, with so many weddings abroad, editorials organised, miles driven, French pastries consumed, workshops attended, cameras fried... Wedding photography is such a fulfilling job and those who say ‘‘it must be amazing to travel and capture the best day of peoples life's'' I say it is! I feel so blessed and grateful to be a part of your journey.
Welcome to another year crazy cats! So many of you can now say ‘‘we are getting married this year!’’ and I’m delighted for you, can’t wait to capture your wedding and give you the best memories. Honestly, 2019 was a crazy one in a good way, with so many weddings abroad, editorials organised, miles driven, French pastries consumed, workshops attended, cameras fried... In 2019 I photographed couples and weddings in Malta, Spain, France and the Azores. Wedding photography is such a fulfilling job and those who say ‘‘it must be amazing to travel and capture the best day of peoples life's'' I say it is! I feel so blessed and grateful to be a part of your journey.
Today I wanted to share with you a little slideshow (above) with some of my favourite moments from each 2019 wedding. You can also view the images below - it’s a combination of documentary work, some epic moments & lovely portraits. Take a look and feel free to pass it on to someone who’s getting married.
If you're getting married yourself and still haven’t booked a photographer, please get in touch by submitting a form in the CONTACT section. Let’s chat about your day!
Wedding Venues Northern Ireland - Orange Tree House Greyabbey Wedding
From the excitement in the morning through the romantic ceremony, funny speeches & lots of personal touches Sarah & Mark made sure their wedding was relaxed & fun. This wedding gallery is full of documentary images reflectic on their happy day, lots of details of the venue, amazing decor and it’s a perfect inspiration for those planning a spring & summer weddings in Northern Ireland. If you’re getting married soon and looking for understated luxury venues in Northern Ireland or barn wedding venues check out The Orange Tree for it’s airy, non-traditional and elegant feel.
The Orange Tree House is located in the charming, idyllic setting of Greyabbey village and it’s consistently named one of Northern Ireland's best rustic & barn wedding venues. From the excitement in the morning through the romantic ceremony, funny speeches & lots of personal touches Sarah & Mark made sure their wedding was relaxed & fun. This wedding gallery is full of documentary images reflectic on their happy day, lots of details of the venue, amazing decor and it’s a perfect inspiration for those planning a spring & summer weddings in Northern Ireland. If you’re getting married soon and looking for understated luxury venues in Northern Ireland or barn wedding venues check out The Orange Tree for it’s airy, non-traditional and elegant feel.
Planning your wedding photos for Golden Hour
Golden hour light looks magical in any place whether it’s a wedding in the Irish countryside or in Morocco. It’s often called ‘magic hour’ because of its ability to create stunning portraits and makes a whole lot of difference to any images. It’s when the light is the softest, the most flattering and the most romantic and super easy to work with.
Golden Hour is a term used to describe the light during the last
hour before the sunset.
Golden hour light looks magical in any place whether it’s a wedding in the Irish countryside or in Morocco. It’s often called ‘magic hour’ because of its ability to create stunning portraits and makes a whole lot of difference to any images. It’s when the light is the softest, the most flattering and the most romantic and super easy to work with. Planning your wedding day timeline for Golden Hour Photos is vital - many couples wouldn’t realise this and arrange their timeline around cake cutting and first dance in the middle of the best light of the day.
Golden Hour can be tricky. UK and Ireland are very specific when it comes to sunsets - sometimes on a cloudy or rainy day, a golden hour isn’t guaranteed. I always check sunset times for all my weddings and engagements online at www.golden-hour.com or Google ‘golden hour’. I make sure to let my couples know there’s a good chance for sunset on their wedding day and make them aware of possible photos during that time.
Another thing is how different sunset happens at different times of the year. In January Golden Hour will come at 3 pm while in May it will be closer to 8 pm. Keep that in mind while planning out your timeline.
On the wedding day, Golden Hour portraits wouldn’t take longer than 30 min. I encourage my couples to have their engagement photos during that time and take a little longer than that - usually an hour, just in case we’re unlucky on the wedding day ;)
Take a look at some examples of Golden Hour wedding photography below.
An example of Golden Hour during sunrise at 7 am in New York City on the Brooklyn Bridge
Dunluce Castle Elopement in Sage and White / Northern Ireland Wedding Photographers
Wedding or elopement photography in Northern Ireland usually falls into one of 2 categories - it’s pouring all over and we need to get family photos done indoors, or it’s cloudy and windy and we just need to roll on with it. The Irish coast definitely sets the mood for any shoot and dictates the overall aesthetic - just look at this engagement photos taken at exact same place 2 months earlier featuring lush greens and sunset! Nonetheless, here in Ireland, we are blessed with amazing castles, cliffs, and Celtic sea and that’s the set up for today's fine art editorial elopement with this gorgeous couple (see blog post for their engagement photos).
Elopements are such a great option for couples traveling to Ireland all year round. You’re guaranteed a breathtaking scenery, no-frills ceremony with only a few close family and friends present — or perhaps no one at all. Elopements have an overall better flexibility, budgeting options and of course, it’s just utterly romantic and special to read your private vows in a faraway land. One choice isn’t inherently better than the other; it’s an intensely personal decision, but I’m always glad couples stay true to themselves and trust me in photographing such a big moment.
Today's fine art wedding shoot at Dunluce Castle, Northern Ireland is an amazingly creative mixture of Charlotte’s vision combined with a set of skilled vendors, perfectly stylish Irish cottage, cliffs of North Coast, centuries-old castle and of course, a little help with planning from the photographer and a stunning couple. Beautifully flawless makeup by my favorite Sinead (Maid by Sinead), whom I trusted so many times and can’t recommend enough (Instagram @maidbysineadbridalmakeup). The dresses come from a local bridal shop in Lisburn (Instagram @ivyandwhitebride) which stocks the most amazing editorial and modern pieces you could ever dream of finding in Ireland. This one was designed by Bo & Luca (Instagram @boandluca), a luxury, an Australian brand. You can see every detail on Charlotte’s hair thanks to KellyAnn (Instagram @hairbykellyannjackson) and her skills in creating textured, relaxed hairstyles, absolutely perfect for a non-traditional and laid-back wedding. Beautiful, locally grown flowers created by Emma from Honeybee Blooms (Instagram @honeybee_blooms), always a pleasure to work with her in creating bespoke posies with attention to every detail. The kimono comes from the brad I had a pleasure to work with before in France, This Modern Love (Instagram @this_modern_love_bridal) which was my recommendation. It’s simply stunning, so delicate, handmade and perfect for the bridal preparation morning. The shoes were Charlotte’s something old, the veil came from Hello Precious Veils (Instagram @hellopreciousveils) and stationery from Ollies Studio (Instagram @olliesstudio). Photography, Paula from @hellosugar_photography
Dunluce Castle sunset engagement shoot / Northern Ireland Wedding Photographers
Sunset engagement pre-wedding photoshoot at Dunluce Castle, Northern Ireland.
Hi, lovelies! Wedding season is in full swing and I'm finding it hard to believe we're approaching September! Not to mention there are so many beautiful engagements and weddings to hit the blog in the next few months - the season has been crazy busy and I'm looking forward to showing you all my beautiful couples.
Today's photos are a bit different from my usual bright and airy style of editing, mostly because sunset shoots during summer heatwave are full of lush greens and golden warmth. I'm not the one to desaturate them completely, especially if my couple is getting married in December! There will be plenty of grey and white on the ground for Lucy & Sam's wedding later on this year, so let's keep the engagement photos warm and glowing.
I'm so very happy with this year's adventures and all the couples willing to go an extra mile to the place like Dunluce Castle to have their engagement photos taken. North Coast has a very special place in my heart, as discovering it was my first proper task when I started my scholarship at Queens nearly 4 years ago. It was also my first step to becoming a wedding photographer in Northern Ireland! I'm always up for meeting on the coast - if not for the photos, then for a lovely cup of tea and catch up before your big day :)
Click here to see more places for engagement or wedding photos in Northern Ireland.
Charlotte & Michael Islandmagee Sunset Engagement Shoot/ Northern Ireland Wedding Photographers
For the past 3 years, I have been pretty committed to exploring Northern Ireland and it's raw coastline, forests and hidden gems, but I somehow managed to miss Islandmagee. It just never occurred to me it exists. It was a total blind spot until I heard about Rob's Heart & Soul workshop from my friends Sheena & Christin. They were raving about the workshop itself, the energy and fuel it gives, about the couples they were photographing and the location.
Fast forward to late May when I attend it, not only learned a thing or two about having a wedding photography business in Northern Ireland (and destination in my case!:)) but most of all met some amazing people. The couple that we were photographing on the island, Charlotte and Michael, are getting married in July and I'm more than sure they will make a wonderful bride and groom. I'm a huge fan of natural, sweet and candid photography focusing on the couple and their loved ones, and I always express how important it is to have your pre-wedding shoot. Not only because it's a great chance to bond a bit with your photographer, but also because on your wedding day you can focus on the moment, on being present and not on the fact that you are being photographed.
Islandmagee will be definitely joining my list of places to elope in Northern Ireland and I'm just delighted I was able to attend the workshop and make some new friends. Keep your eyes peeled for more of Charlotte and Michael, as they have agreed to help me with the secret project I'm planning for August.
For the past 3 years, I have been pretty committed to exploring Northern Ireland and it's raw coastline, forests and hidden gems, but I somehow managed to miss Islandmagee. It just never occurred to me it exists. It was a total blind spot until I heard about Rob's Heart & Soul workshop from my friends Sheena & Christin. They were raving about the workshop itself, the energy and fuel it gives, about the couples they were photographing and the location.
Fast forward to late May when I attend it, not only learned a thing or two about having a wedding photography business in Northern Ireland (and destination in my case!:)) but most of all met some amazing people. The couple that we were photographing on the island, Charlotte and Michael, are getting married in July and I'm more than sure they will make a wonderful bride and groom. I'm a huge fan of natural, sweet and candid photography focusing on the couple and their loved ones, and I always express how important it is to have your pre-wedding shoot. Not only because it's a great chance to bond a bit with your photographer, but also because on your wedding day you can focus on the moment, on being present and not on the fact that you are being photographed.
Islandmagee will be definitely joining my list of places to elope in Northern Ireland and I'm just delighted I was able to attend the workshop and make some new friends. Keep your eyes peeled for more of Charlotte and Michael, as they have agreed to help me with the secret project I'm planning for August.
