Start with a timeline template

What this article covers

Use a starter timeline template when you want a practical first draft instead of an empty timeline.

A template is a reusable Timeline: the moments of the day in order, a suggested duration per moment, and the shots linked to each moment. Templates contain no clock times. After applying one, you enter the real start and end times for the actual wedding.

The six built-in templates are:

• Full day with first look: full-day coverage with all portraits before the ceremony, so the couple is free during the drinks reception.
• Full day no first look: traditional full-day coverage with family photos, wedding party and couple portraits after the ceremony.
• Church ceremony: a full day around a longer church service, with travel blocks and portraits after the ceremony.
• Civil ceremony: compact coverage around a short civil ceremony, ending after the cake during the drinks reception.
• Half day coverage: one-location coverage from the final getting ready until the first part of the party.
• Multi-location wedding: a full day across separate ceremony, portrait and party locations, with travel blocks and night portraits.

Every photographic moment comes with a compact professional set of linked shots. Family photos deliberately has no preset shots because the real groups are project-specific. Add the actual family groups for this wedding to the Shot List and link them to the Family photos moment. Travel and buffer moments are planning blocks without shots, and travel has no preset duration because the real route decides it.

Steps

1. Open the project.
2. Go to Wedding Timeline.
3. Click Use starter template.
4. Review the template choices and preview the moments and shots.
5. Pick the closest structure, not a perfect match.
6. Apply the template.
7. Enter the real start and end times, locations and notes for the wedding.

What happens after applying a template

Wedding Desk adds the template's moments to the project Timeline in order, with their suggested durations, and creates the linked Shot List. Every moment is marked Needs time until you enter its real time. You can edit, move, link and share everything freely.

What to always review after applying a template

Always check:

• ceremony time
• coverage start and end
• location changes and travel
• the actual family groups in Shot List
• portrait time
• dinner and speeches
• any moments that do not apply to this wedding

Then run Share / Print checks before sharing the plan.

What to add next

After applying a template, review the linked shots in Shot List, link important people from Vendors, and prepare equipment in Gear Preparation.