Why I Stopped Rebuilding My Wedding Timeline from Scratch

For way too long, every new inquiry meant starting from zero. I’d open a blank doc, stare at my notes, scroll through old emails trying to remember what I did last time, and piece together a wedding timeline sans-template like it was my first wedding all over again.

It was fine—until it wasn’t. Until my chronic illness started really impacting my life. Those days where I couldn’t remember if I was halfway through editing or halfway through planning. When “just wing it” started costing me time, energy, and professionalism.

If you’re a wedding photographer still rebuilding timelines from scratch every time, I promise: there’s an easier way. And this one change didn’t just save me hours—it saved me from burnout.

Repeating the Same Tasks Over and Over? That’s Not Strategy

I didn’t realize how much time I was wasting until I tracked it. Between gathering details, deciding how to structure the day, and customizing the flow for each couple, timelines were eating up hours I didn’t have—especially on flare-up days when my brain fog was in full force.

The truth? When you’re running a business and managing chronic illness, anything that drains your energy needs to be reevaluated. Rebuilding timelines might feel “custom” and “personalized,” but it was really just disorganized.

That’s when I knew I needed a system. Something that let me customize without restarting from scratch.

I Built a Wedding Timeline Template That Could Flex With Me

The first version was basic: just a spreadsheet with times and event names. Then I started tweaking it—adding dropdowns, drag-and-drop sections, buffer reminders, and space to note specific vendor or couple needs.

What I ended up with was a wedding timeline template for photographers that felt like a game-changer:

1. Pre-written events I could easily rearrange
2. Built-in prompts for transitions, breaks, and light
3. Tabs for family formals, vendors, and notes
4. The freedom to make each timeline feel custom—without the chaos

Whether you’re comfortable in spreadsheets or not, it’s designed to be user-friendly—and if you’re new to Google Sheets, this beginner guide will make you feel like a pro in no time.

More Professional. Less Overwhelming. Still Personal.

The fear I had was that using a template would make me seem less hands-on. But the opposite happened. My couples felt more supported. Planners and coordinators were impressed by how thorough it was. And I wasn’t wasting spoons on timeline math anymore.

It helped me run my business like someone who valued her time and her body—not someone trying to do everything from scratch for the sake of “perfection.”

Because when your systems support you, you show up more present, more prepared, and way more powerful behind the camera.

And Now… I’m Sharing It With You

After 12 years of shooting weddings and years of living with chronic illness, I’ve taken everything I’ve learned and built a photographer timeline freebie that you can start using right now.

This wedding timeline spreadsheet is ready for you to drag, drop, tweak, and totally make your own. It’s what I wish I had years ago—because custom shouldn’t mean starting from zero.

Launching May 26!

If you’re done reinventing the wheel and ready to make timeline planning actually simple, stay tuned. You’re going to want this.

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More blog posts I know you’ll love:

The Wedding Photography Timeline Mistakes Photographers Make (and How to Fix Them)

Planning a Wedding Day Timeline That Actually Works for Everyone

{FREE DOWNLOAD!} Wedding Shot List For Photographers