Hi friends! I’m Kayce Clary, a wedding photographer based in Biloxi, Mississippi. For this week’s Wedding Tip Tuesday, a brand new series I am launching, I want to share one of those small but really important parts of your wedding day timeline. Though it sounds basic, it’s really important! It’s giving your photographer about 20 minutes before guests enter the reception space to capture it in all its glory.

After photographing so many beautiful weddings across the Gulf Coast for over ten years, I can tell you that those quiet moments before the doors open are some of my favorites. The candles are glowing, the tables are perfectly set, the florals are fresh, and every detail looks exactly the way you envisioned it. This is the time when I can truly highlight all the hard work you and your vendor team put into creating your dream celebration.

Why do this?

Once guests enter, even just a few minutes later, things start to shift. Drinks get set down, chairs move, and the energy of the night takes over, which is wonderful! But before that happens, it’s so important to take a few moments to document the reception space exactly as it was designed.

Having those photos allows you to look back and remember every little touch, the table numbers you picked out, your carefully chosen linens, your floral arrangements, the cake display, and how it all came together as the perfect backdrop for the night. These images are also some of your vendors’ favorites to see and share, since they showcase their artistry beautifully.

I always do my best to plan ahead with your coordinator or planner to make sure there’s a small window of time before guests enter. Even just 15–20 minutes makes such a difference. It’s one of those timeline details that truly elevates your final wedding gallery and helps tell the full story of your day, from the quiet beauty before the party begins to the laughter and dancing that follow.

So when we talk about your timeline, don’t be surprised if I ask for that little bit of extra time before the reception kicks off. I promise it’s worth it! Those photos are always some of the most loved and timeless images from the entire wedding day.

What if we don’t have the space?

What if the venue won’t have a space for cocktail hour to allow this in the timeline? No problem! Have the space ready a few minutes earlier than the ceremony start time and I will find a place on our timeline to allow for this.

I’ve got you, friend! I have photographed reception designs before the ceremony (like the photos you’ll see below), during cocktail hours and even early in the morning before starting detail photos/pre-ceremony portraits.

I love to help my couples create a photography timeline that ensures every beautiful detail is captured. At Kayce Stork Photography, I am passionate about documenting the big moments and the small, meaningful details that make your day uniquely yours.

Want to see more tips from me? Visit my blog archives right here!

Venue: The Beau Rivage

Planner: Matt Washburn with The Wedding Collection

Cakes: The Beau Rivage

Florals and Design: The Wedding Collection

Custom dance floor: Southern Event Productions

Marquee letters: Alpha-Lit

This is also a PERFECT time for the couple to see the finished area!