Indian Wedding Timeline

Organization is wonderful! I think we can all agree that it’s a great feeling when you arrive at a big event and know that every single detail has been taken care of- right down to the letter. All the stress can just float away and fun can take center stage! 

When it comes to a multicultural wedding, timing is even more important (if that’s even possible) because there are so many special ceremonies to be celebrated. From grand entrances to delicious dinner parties, an Indian wedding is something that deserves every single minute of the day, and we’ve done our best to outline the events to make things as clear as possible. Take a look at the example timeline below and get a brief overview of how a typical Indian Wedding day may look (can vary depending on each couple’s preference). 

5:00 am – Bridal Party Preparation Begins | 2-3 Hours

It may seem a bit wild to start a timeline at 5 in the morning, but we know just how important it is to get an early start to any wedding day! With hair and makeup to do, henna to touch up, and stunning outfits to piece together, preparing the bride and her ladies is no small task. Allow for at least 2 hours to prepare (depending on the style of bridal attire) and expect your photographer to show up closer to the end of this session in order to capture the completed details. 

7:00 am – Photographer Arrives to Capture the Details | 45 Minutes

Once everyone has been put together and the bridal room is full of immaculate ladies, the photographer can go to work capturing each beautiful moment. From flowers and shoes, to cute robes on hangers, this is the perfect time to showcase all the little details you want to remember. Make sure the groom is also ready to set some things out as well, such as a watch, shoes, and any other accessories he may fancy. 

7:45 am – Hair and Makeup Complete

7:45 am – Last Minute Portraits | 30 Minutes

Before individual photos, the photographer will capture last minute details that revolve around completed hair, makeup, and the exchanging of gifts for the wedding party (if there are any). This part of the day is a great introduction to the wedding celebrations as everyone is all dressed up and ready to go! 

8:15 am – Individual Portraits | 45 Minutes

While we know the bride and groom are dying to see each other, we love to snag a few photos of the bride and groom individually before they come together. This is the perfect time to capture those gorgeous elements of the bride’s dress, flowers, and jewelry along with the groom’s attire, accessories, and finished appearance. 

8:45 am – Leave for the First Look Location 

8:50 am – First look/ Couple’s Daytime Session | 30 Minutes (At Least)

The moment has arrived and it’s time for the bride and groom to get that first glimpse of each other on their big day. This is an extremely precious event and should be given at least 30 minutes of time in order to capture as many photos as possible. Once the first look has been shot, the photographer can melt into the couple’s daytime session. This allows the best utilization of time in getting as many well-lit photos of the couple as possible. 

9:20 am – Bridal Party Portraits | 50 Minutes (At Least)

Although it may seem surprising to schedule more time for the bridal party session than the first look, the 50 minutes is to account for around 6 bridesmaids and 6 groomsmen. Remember that not only will the entire party be photographed together, there will also be individual sessions for just the groom and his men and the bride and her ladies. This is a fun and playful time designed for capturing wonderful group photos while also letting some of those nervous butterflies fly free! 

9:30 am – Ceremony Site Completed

At this point in the day, the ceremony site shouldn’t need any more touch ups. All the chairs should be set, the tables decorated, and any last minute decorations finalized. It’s almost time for the ceremony to begin! 

9:40 am – Photographs of Ceremony Details | 30 Minutes

If there is a 2nd photographer present, they will likely be capturing the finalized details of the ceremony location while the 1st photographer is capturing the bridal party portraits. 

10:10 am – Bride Hides Away 

While the bride returns to her room or another hidden location for the Baraat, the photographer may take the opportunity to grab a few more cute individual photos of the bride while she waits. 

10:15 am – Baraat, Procession Begins | 30 Minutes

During this ceremony, the groom traditionally rides a horse down the street while being accompanied by elaborate music and dancers! As can be imagined, there are hundreds of amazing photo opportunities to be had here, so the photographers will follow along behind while snapping shots as the procession heads to the wedding venue. 

10:45 am – Baraat Arrival At Venue

10:45 am – Milni | 20 Minutes

When the groom reaches the wedding venue, the bride’s family will greet him in what’s known as the milni ceremony. You can read more about this particular ceremony in our Indian Wedding Guide! During this time, the photographers will capture fun photos of the groom greeting his soon-to-be family and attempting to get his shoes back from them in a playful ceremony called Joota Chupai. 

11:10 am – Groom walks into the Mandap

Upon the groom’s arrival, the priest will pray to Lord Ganesh in order to ask for blessings and the removal of any obstacles on this important wedding day. You can read more about this ceremony in our Indian Wedding Guide. 

11:20 am – Bridal Grand Entrance

Known as the Kanya Aagaman, meaning “arrival of the bride”, the maternal uncle (or other relatives/bridesmaids) will bring the bride down the aisle in order to meet the groom at the Mandap. Capturing photos of the Bride’s entrance is just as important as highlighting the Baraat so you can be sure many amazing photos will be snapped during this time! 

11:30 am – Ceremony Begins | 1 Hour

There are many wonderful ceremonies that take place during an Indian Wedding. You can read all about them in our in-depth guide! 

12:45 pm – Ceremony Ends

12:45 pm – Vidaai | 5-10 Minutes

At this time, the bride’s family will say their happy, tearful goodbyes in a beautiful ceremony that sends the bride off with her new husband. 

1:00 pm – Lunch | 1 Hour

12:50 pm – Family Formals| 45 Minutes (At Least)

While the guests are eating lunch, it’s time to get the family together for formal photos. This will include both immediate and extended family, so be sure to have a list of all the individuals you’d like to be part of this particular photo session. The time of this session will vary based on how many family members are included. 

1:30 pm – Couple’s Session | 45 Minutes

This is such an exciting item on the list because these will be the first photos taken of the bride and groom as a married couple! While 45 minutes is the amount of time listed, it will vary greatly on the couple and whether or not multiple outfits/locations are utilized. 

2:15 pm – Bride and Groom Downtime

2:45 pm – Reception Preparation | 1 Hour and 15 Minutes

For those couples who need to change into a second outfit or just want a bit of a touch-up before the reception, this is the time to do so. This time is set aside to refresh, take a breather, and prepare for the big party! 

4:00 pm – Get Dressed for Reception | 15 Minutes

4:15 pm – Family Portraits | 45 Minutes

If you would like to get a few more photos with family in formal attire, this is the best time to do it. Be sure to keep things quick, however, as it’s important to avoid cutting into the couple’s evening/reception session. 

5:00 pm – Photographs of Cocktail Details and Guests Mingling | 45 Minutes

5:30 pm – Cocktail Hour | 1 Hour

While the bride and groom are out taking their evening/reception attire photos, the 2nd photographer can grab some shots of the guests mingling and enjoying themselves. These will be fun to have later on since the bride and groom aren’t present during this time! 

5:00 pm Nighttime/Reception Couple’s Session | 1 Hour (At Least)

In order to get photos of the bride and groom in the reception hall before guests enter, along with capturing those breathtaking sunset shots we all love, at least an hour of time will be needed for this particular list item. Everything that happens during this session is pure magic as the newlyweds are soaking up their special day and totally, deeply in love. No one should feel rushed during this time, so be sure to have plenty of time scheduled to get as many photos in as your heart desires. 

5:45 pm – Photographs of Reception Details | 45 Minutes

6:45pm – Doors Open to Reception

Guests can now come into the reception hall and begin to find their seats for dinner, dancing, and speeches! 

7:00 pm – Grand Entrance

There is no doubt everyone will be on their feet and cheering their hearts out as the bride and groom come in from their photo session to join family and friends in the reception hall! Once they have arrived, the food and fun can begin. 

7:00-9:30 Reception Celebration 

Over the course of the reception, photos of delicious food, special performances, first dances, and heartfelt speeches prepared by loved ones can be captured. These are all precious memories that the bride and groom will definitely want to have later on to look over, as all the details will fly by in a blur! 

9:30 – Time to Dance 

Whether the first dance is choreographed or freestyle, there is no doubt everyone looks forward to getting on the dance floor! Especially when it comes to an Indian Wedding celebration. Many dances and dance battles are sure to be had before moving on to the more traditional wedding day numbers. Once the bride and groom have had their dance, along with any other special dances (such as father/daughter and mother/son), it’s time for the rest of the wedding guests to get their groove on. 

10:00 pm – Sneak Away Session | 20 Minutes

The last couple’s session of the day has finally arrived and while it may be a bit bittersweet that the day is coming to an end, this is an excellent opportunity to get those final photos with the bride and groom. Use this time to find locations that are unique, have special lighting, or are cozy corners where a few kisses can be stolen in a moment of romantic bliss. Bring the fairytail to life through photos that capture the unique elements of your wedding venue, whether that’s water features, landscape, or architecture!  

10:30 pm – Cake Cutting Ceremony/Dessert

The cake cutting is a great way to let your guests know that the celebration is coming to an end. Gather around to have some fun getting cute photos of the bride and groom cutting into their gorgeous dessert. Cake, pie, muffins, and more are lovely wedding day treats, and each one of them adds that special bit of sweetness to the big day. 

10:45 Dancing continues

This event will vary for everyone. Some couples may want to dance the night away with their friends long after the official wedding day has come to a close. Others may want to drive off into the night and onto their next big adventure! 

Wedding Reception Concludes

For some, a grand exit of lights, cheers, and thrown confetti are a great way to send off the newlyweds! Others may find a quick and meaningful goodbye to be the best course of action. Either way, the end of the wedding reception is a sweet one as family members and friends gather around in a final celebration of the new union. As the bride and groom drive away from the venue, photographers can get those final photos of their vehicle and the venue as guests begin to leave as well.