Wedding Day Timelines

A midday Sydney summer ceremony means high overhead sun, air that can sit in the low-to-mid 30s, and makeup that has to survive both.

The CBD table is a starting point, not your timeline. A venue with open sky or open water to the west keeps close to it.

Rain moves or shortens outdoor portrait time and swaps harsh light for soft, even light, which flatters faces and groups.

Mid-June in Sydney has 9.91 hours of daylight, against 14.16 hours in mid-January.

An unplugged ceremony asks guests not to take photos or video while the ceremony is happening, so your photographer has a clear view and your guests actually see the moment.

A first look moves your couple portraits, and sometimes your family formals, to before the ceremony.

Add a flat 30 minutes to whatever your hair and makeup artist quotes you, and another 15 to 20 minutes for the final dress or suit and the photos before you leave.

Family formals take as long as your list, your family and your preparation make them, so there is no honest single number.

Sydney’s daylight saving runs from the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April.

In Sydney, golden hour starts between 33 and 38 minutes before sunset, depending on the month.