This is the question I get most, usually right after pricing, and the honest answer is that it depends entirely on your timeline rather than on some universal rule.
So instead of guessing, here is what each block actually covers.
Six Hours
Realistic coverage: the last hour of getting ready, ceremony, family photos, portraits, and the first hour or so of the reception.
What you get: the whole middle of the day. Everything that is structured and scheduled.
What you miss: the early getting ready hours, and the back half of the party. You will likely have first dance and toasts, but not the packed dance floor at 10pm and definitely not an exit.
This works if: you are having a smaller wedding, everything happens at one venue, or you genuinely do not care about late night reception photos. It also works well for morning or early afternoon weddings.
Eight Hours
Realistic coverage: getting ready with details, ceremony, family, portraits, golden hour, reception through first dances, toasts, cake, and a chunk of open dancing.
What you get: the full arc of the day. This is the package most couples book, and for good reason.
What you miss: typically a formal exit, unless your night ends early.
This works if: you have a fairly standard timeline and one or two locations. If you are unsure, this is the safe answer.
Ten Hours
Realistic coverage: everything. Early getting ready through the sparkler exit.
What you get: the full day with breathing room, which matters more than people expect. Weddings run late. Ten hours absorbs that without anyone watching a clock.
This works if: you are getting ready at a separate location, you have a large wedding party, there is a first look plus extended portraits, or you want an exit photographed.
The Math That Actually Decides It
Work backward from your ceremony time.
Before the ceremony you need:
- 45 to 90 minutes for getting ready and details
- 30 minutes if you are doing a first look
- travel time between locations
After the ceremony you need:
- 20 to 30 minutes for family photos
- 30 to 45 minutes for wedding party and couple portraits
- 15 to 20 minutes at golden hour, ideally separate from the above
At the reception:
- 60 to 90 minutes covers entrance, first dances, toasts, and cake
- another 60 minutes gets you real open dancing
- 15 minutes at the very end for an exit
Add it up. That number is your answer.
The Two Most Common Mistakes
Booking six hours for a ten hour day. Then adding hours the week before, usually at a higher rate. If your timeline is long, book long.
Booking ten hours for a five hour day. Some weddings genuinely do not need it. A 4pm beach ceremony with a dinner reception might be completely covered in six.
What About Two Days?
Rehearsal dinner and welcome party coverage is worth considering if a lot of your people traveled in, because that is often the only relaxed time you get with them. It is usually priced separately as a shorter block.
One Thing Worth Protecting
Whatever number you land on, protect golden hour. Fifteen minutes stepping away from the reception near sunset consistently produces the images couples end up hanging on a wall. It is the highest return fifteen minutes of the entire day.
Still Not Sure?
Send me your rough timeline and I will tell you honestly which package fits, including if that means a smaller one. My packages are listed here, and you can message me here. More work on the portfolio.