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📷 How Much Wedding Photography Coverage Do You Really Need ?

Southern Alberta & Calgary Wedding Timeline Guide:

If you're planning your Calgary wedding and wondering how many hours of wedding photography coverage you’ll need, here’s a breakdown based on experience photographing over 700 weddings.

Getting Ready

  • Bride:1 hour (minimum)
    1hr Covers finishing touches of hair & makeup, dress and shoes, candids with family or bridesmaids, and putting the dress on.

  • Groom: 30 minutes (minimum)
    30min Covers the rings, tie, jacket, shoes, and casual group photos with the guys.
     

Allow extra time if getting ready in two separate locations. Typically, I recommend starting with the groom first.

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Ceremony

  • Most ceremonies are 30 to 45 minutes

  • If it's a church ceremony, allow up to 1 hour
     

Add another 20 to 30 minutes if you're planning a receiving line, or if guests will want to congratulate you right after the ceremony. Many couples opt to receive their guests later on.

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Family Photos & Formals

For a typical Calgary wedding with 50–80 guests, a good estimate for portraits is 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on group size, how many combinations you want, and whether there’s any travel between locations.

1.5hrs would typically look like:

  • 30 minutes for quick family photos

  • 20 minutes for bridal party photos

  • 40 minutes for bride and groom portraits

2hrs would typically look like:

  • 30-40 minutes for quick family photos

  • 20 minutes for bridal party photos

  • 60 minutes for bride and groom portraits, allowing time to pause, breathe, shoot multiple locations. 

Please note this is just a guide, some locations require more time than others, ie: remote locations, downtown locations (parking), etc.

<travel time>

Reception

  • 3-4 hours usually covers dinner, speeches, cake cutting, and the first dances + a little of the reception.

  • Add more time if you're including:

    • Garter and bouquet toss

    • Late-night dancing

    • Sparkler or night shots

Things to keep in mind when budgeting time for reception:  How many speeches? Is there a time limit for speeches? (I've seen speeches last anywhere from 2-45min each), Buffet or Plated? (Buffet is faster, Plated dinners take more time) How many dances? 

⏰ I also recommend taking 20-30 minutes just before sunset for golden hour couple portraits—especially in summer! With longer packages in remote locations, aurora and milky way photos are also an option, but are shot later at night.

Coverage Options

Here are examples of typical wedding day coverage:

  • 1.5 hours: (just the basics): 30min Ceremony + 1hr Formals ( b/g + party only), all in one location

  • 3 hours: (essentials): 30-45min ceremony + formal portraits (family, b/g, wedding party)

  • 4 hours: (half day): 30-60min ceremony + formal portraits, can have more than one location...

  • 6 hours: (full day lite): 60min getting ready + 30-60min ceremony + 2hr formals + start of reception (mock up cake cutting & dances at beginning of evening)

  • 8 hours – 60-90 min getting ready + 30-60min ceremony + 2-2.5hr formals + 3-4hr reception coverage

  • Full Day, Full Day, No Limits: Please contact me with your timeline! No limits can be split over multiple days of coverage.

🌸 See my wedding photography price list here
📬 Contact me to check availability or ask a question

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© 2007-2025 Carolyn Budreski Photography Inc, Your Calgary Wedding Photographer

Best Calgary Photographer with 17 years experience. ALL photos on USB. Professional Service.  WPPI Certified.  700+ Weddings shot to date
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