The timeline is the most important document for your wedding film. A rushed day leaves no space for real moments; a well-paced one gives us beautiful light and time to capture the people you love. This is how we approach a Miami wedding timeline, with two sample schedules.
Start with sunset
Everything works backwards from sunset. In Miami it falls at around 5:30–6:15 pm in winter and as late as roughly 8:15 pm in early summer. Check the exact time for your date, then:
- Plan your portrait session for the last 45–60 minutes before sunset.
- Try to finish your ceremony at least an hour before sunset, so there's still light for family photos and portraits.
- Keep 10–15 minutes free just after sunset for blue hour, when the sky turns deep blue and the skyline lights come on.
Respect the heat
Midday sun in Miami is harsh and hot. Outdoor ceremonies at noon mean squinting, shiny skin and guests looking for shade. Plan getting ready indoors during the hottest hours, and schedule outdoor moments for later in the day.
Allow for traffic
Moving between Miami Beach, Brickell and Coral Gables can take far longer than the map suggests, especially on weekday afternoons and in peak season. If your getting-ready location, ceremony and reception are in different places, build in generous buffers. It matters for your guests, and it matters for us. A camera stuck on the causeway can't film your entrance.
Sample timeline: winter wedding (sunset 5:40 pm)
| Time | Moment |
|---|---|
| 11:30 am | Filming begins: details, getting ready, letters |
| 1:45 pm | First look and couple portraits in open shade |
| 2:45 pm | Wedding party and family portraits |
| 3:45 pm | Ceremony |
| 4:20 pm | Cocktail hour |
| 4:55 pm | Golden-hour portraits (20–25 minutes) |
| 5:30 pm | Grand entrance and first dance |
| 5:50 pm | Blue hour: skyline or beach shots |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner, speeches and toasts |
| 7:30 pm | Cake, parent dances and party |
| 9:30 pm | Coverage ends after the first hours of dancing |
Sample timeline: summer wedding (sunset 8:10 pm)
| Time | Moment |
|---|---|
| 2:00 pm | Filming begins indoors: details and getting ready |
| 4:15 pm | First look indoors or in deep shade |
| 5:00 pm | Family portraits indoors or under cover |
| 6:00 pm | Ceremony, ideally after the afternoon storms have passed |
| 6:40 pm | Cocktail hour |
| 7:30 pm | Golden-hour portraits |
| 8:15 pm | Grand entrance, first dance and dinner |
| 9:30 pm | Speeches and toasts |
| 10:00 pm | Party, and coverage ends around 11:30 pm |
Small details that make a big difference
- Put speeches before the party. Speeches during dinner are easier to record cleanly than speeches after the dancing has started, and they are often the most watched part of a full-day wedding film.
- Tell us about surprises. A secret performance or a gift for a parent should be on our timeline, even if it isn't on yours.
- Keep the aisle clear. Ask guests to put their phones away during the ceremony.
- Plan a private moment. Five minutes alone together after the ceremony often becomes the most emotional part of the film.
When you book with us, we build your filming timeline with you and your planner, specific to your venue, your date and your sunset.