Design your own wedding day timeline with confidence 🕒✨

If wedding timelines feel overwhelming, confusing, or like they were made for someone else’s wedding… this episode is for you.

In this solo episode of Hitched & Happy, I’m walking you through **exactly how I design wedding day timelines** as a professional wedding photographer who has seen it *all*—from calm, seamless days to timelines that completely fall apart.

We’re talking:

- How to decide if a first look is right for you

- Why your ceremony time matters more than you think

- How to work backwards to build a timeline that actually works

- Real, example-driven timelines from weddings I have captured (not Pinterest fluff)

- How to make your day feel calm, intentional, and efficient—no matter what kind of wedding you’re planning

And because I don’t gatekeep, you can download my **FREE Wedding Day Timeline Guide**, which includes:

* Multiple real sample timelines

* A breakdown of the three-step process we talked about in this podcast

* A timeline cheat sheet so you don't underestimate the amount of time things take

👇 Download it here:

https://jessieraefilms.com/timeline-guide

Whether you’re planning a mountain wedding, a traditional church ceremony, a big celebration, or a small elopement—this episode will help you design a day that feels supported, not rushed.

Follow along on Instagram for more wedding planning advice:

📸 @Jessieraefilms

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

02:10 - Why you need a timeline

03:50 - Ask yourself these questions

06:50 - My three step method to designing a perfect timeline

13:25 - Timeline Walkthrough #1 (First Look)

20:30 - Timeline Walkthrough #2 (No First Look)

26:40 - Summary & Final Tips

#weddingplanning #weddingphotographer

Planning an elopement in Banff National Park? 🌲 In this episode, I’m joined by expert Banff elopement photographer Solana Crowe to walk you through the 10 essential steps to make your elopement not only magical but also 100% legal.Whether you’re dreaming of saying “I do” on a mountain peak or beside a turquoise lake, this guide will help you navigate the paperwork, permits, and planning so you can focus on the fun parts of your special day.✨Follow Solana on Instagram: @solanacrowecreationsCheck out her Website: https://www.solanacrowecreations.comStay Connected:Instagram:  @jessieraefilms   Website: https://www.jessieraefilms.com

Skip the surface-level stuff—this episode dives into the real questions you should be asking your wedding photographer. I team up with Joel from canadianweddingphotographers.com to break down 12 unexpected, tell-all questions that reveal if a photographer is truly the right fit for your day. No tech talk—just honest insights that go beyond the portfolio.

Follow Canadian Wedding Photographers on Instagram: @canadianweddingphotographersCheck out their website: www.candianweddingphotographers.com

Follow Black & Gold Photography on Instagram: @⁠blackandgoldphotography⁠Check out their website: ⁠www.blackandgoldphotography.com⁠Follow me on Instagram: @jessieraefilms Website: jessieraefilms.com

The 12 Questions to Ask your Wedding Photographer Blog Post: https://canadianweddingphotographers.com/blog/real-questions-ask-your-wedding-photographer

Thinking about skipping the traditional wedding and opting for an elopement instead? In this episode, I’m joined by Solana Crowe, a Banff Elopement Photographer, to discuss everything you need to know before making this decision. We dive into what an elopement truly is, the pros and cons of eloping, and what the entire process looks like for you!

Today we are reading wedding day horror stories and I give my advice on how to avoid these situations at your own wedding.

Insta: @hitchedandhappypod

I talk about the 6 things I see that get overlooked at a wedding as a wedding photographer. As someone who has captured over 100 weddings I have seen a few key details get missed. These are things to keep in mind for your wedding.