Rathsallagh House Wedding Timeline Guide – Tips for a Stress-Free Day
Planning your wedding day timeline in advance will make everything run smoothly, keep the day stress-free, and give you peace of mind knowing what’s happening and when. I’ve photographed countless weddings at Rathsallagh House, and from experience, timing is everything – especially because most wedding ceremonies here begin later in the afternoon.
In this guide, I’ll share my tried-and-tested tips for planning the perfect timeline for your Rathsallagh House wedding day.
Why Timing Matters at Rathsallagh House
Most ceremonies at Rathsallagh House begin at 3:30pm. While this creates a beautiful afternoon flow, it also means the drinks reception can feel brief, as dinner is typically called around 5:30 pm. By planning smartly, you’ll enjoy more of your drinks reception without feeling rushed.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re staying at Rathsallagh the night before, ask the venue if your ceremony can start at 3:00pm instead of 3:30pm. This gives you an extra 30 minutes to mingle with your guests later. Don’t quote me on this – every venue has its own timeline and operations, so it’s always best to ask if it’s possible.
💡 Pro Tip: For winter weddings, a first look is almost a must if you want natural light for family photos, bridal party portraits, and couple shots. Doing this earlier in the day ensures you don’t miss out on beautiful outdoor images before the sun sets.
Morning Preparations
- I usually start the day around 10:00am with drone shots of the venue and details like the dress, shoes, and invitations.
- Around the same time, I’ll pop in with the boys – sometimes at the jacuzzi – for a few fun shots before they need to get dressed.
Groom Prep Timing
If you’re planning a first look, the boys should be fully dressed by 11:00–11:30am so they’re ready for photos.
Bride Prep Timing
If you’d like a first look from 1:00–1:30 pm, everyone needs to be fully dressed by 12:30-1 pm. That means:
- Hair and makeup finished by 12:00 noon
- Bridesmaids dressed by 12:30pm
💡 Pro Tip: Make sure your hair and makeup team know these timings in advance.
First Look or No First Look?
There are three main approaches couples take at Rathsallagh House:
Option 1: First Look + Family Photos Before Wedding Ceremony at Rathsallagh
This is the biggest time saver.
- Both families dressed and ready by 1:00pm
- First look, family photos, bridal party photos, and a short couple’s session all completed before the ceremony
- Result: You get your full drinks reception later without interruption
Option 2: First Look + Bridal Party Only Wedding Ceremony at Rathsallagh
You can do a first look plus photos with your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Family photos are then done after the ceremony. Saving time, but as much as you need to organise family photos after the ceremony anyway.
Option 3: No First Look – See Each Other at the Aisle Wedding Ceremony at Rathsallagh
This is the traditional route, and at Rathsallagh House it usually means:
- Ceremony at 3:30pm, finishing around 4:15pm
- To make the most of your morning, I recommend that the bride be fully dressed by 2:00pm. This leaves time for:
- Fun, relaxed shots in pyjamas with your bridesmaids or with your mum around 2:00pm
- A first look with your dad or bridesmaids before the ceremony
- Final bridal portraits once you’re dressed between 2:30–3:00pm
💡 Keep in mind: with this option, family and couple photos are still done after the ceremony, which can shorten your drinks reception to around 30 minutes before dinner call. But your day, your way :) The blog post is about a timeline :)
💡 Top Tip: In this case, ask all family members, bridesmaids, and groomsmen to check in to the venue and move their bags only after family photos are done. You don’t want everyone waiting around for one person who’s gone off to their room – it slows everything down. (Especially parents – they’re the hardest to pin down sometimes 😅).
Church Ceremony + Rathsallagh Drinks Reception
If you’re having a church ceremony nearby, timings shift slightly.
- Ceremonies often start at 1:00pm or 1:30pm.
- To maximise your drinks reception, you may want to consider a first look and some photos before heading to the church.
The Greeting Line Question
One of the biggest time decisions is whether to have a greeting line at the church door.
- Greeting 200 guests = over 40-50 minutes gone!
- Skipping the greeting line means you arrive at Rathsallagh earlier, where you can welcome guests with a glass of champagne instead.
💡 Pro Tip: If you skip the church greeting line, get straight into your car and head off – otherwise guests will naturally start queuing for handshakes.
This way:
- We can take some Bride and Groom shots as guests are arriving at Rathsallagh.
- Family photos can be done quickly before everyone spreads out.
- You’ll have much more time to relax and enjoy your reception.
💡 Top Tip: SAME – In this case, ask all family members, bridesmaids, and groomsmen to check in to the venue and move their bags only after family photos are done. You don’t want everyone waiting around for one person who’s gone off to their room – it slows everything down. (Especially parents – they’re the hardest to pin down sometimes 😅).
Evening Photos
Don’t miss the chance to sneak out for evening photos by the famous Rathsallagh tree. Even if it’s raining, umbrellas and a spare pair of shoes are all you need – and the results are always worth it.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love photographing weddings at Rathsallagh House. The staff are brilliant, the venue is stunning, and with the right timeline, your wedding day will feel relaxed and unforgettable.
Plan ahead, decide on a photo approach that suits your style, and then simply enjoy your big day – you’ll be in the very best hands at this amazing venue.
There are, of course, many little decisions I’ll make on the day as your wedding photographer – like where to take family photos, when to sneak outside for a quick shoot (even if it’s raining), and how to adjust based on weather and light.
I won’t go too deep into all of that here, but it shows the real role of an experienced wedding photographer: making sure you have the most enjoyable day possible with the best photos to look back on.
👉 Read more about this here: Who is Really a Wedding Photographer?
Need Help With Your Timeline?
If you’re not sure about anything or would like advice tailored to your wedding day, feel free to get in touch — I’d be happy to help.
Sample Summer/Winter Timelines at Rathsallagh
Here are a few sample summer and winter wedding timelines that work really well at Rathsallagh House:
Option 1 – With First Look & Family Photos Before Ceremony
- 10:00am – Photographer arrives, venue/drone/details
- 11:00am – Boys dressed and ready
- 12:00pm – Hair & makeup finished – funny PJ photos
- 12:30pm – Bride and bridesmaids dressed – photos
- 1:00pm – First look + family photos + bridal party photos + Bride and Groom photos
- 3:30pm – Ceremony (finished ~4:15pm)
- 4:30–5:30pm – Drinks reception with plenty of time to mingle
- 5:15pm–5:30pm – Call for dinner
- 9:30pm – Evening photos by the tree just before First Dance after cake cutting
Option 2 – No First Look, Traditional Aisle Moment
- 10:00am – Photographer arrives, venue/drone/details
- 1:30pm – Fun relaxed shots in PJs with bridesmaids/mum
- 2:00–2:30pm – Bride dressed + first look with Dad or bridesmaids
- 3:30pm – Ceremony (finished ~4:15pm)
- 4:15–5:15pm – Family photos + couple session
- 5:15–5:30pm – Quick drinks reception
- 5:30pm – Call for dinner
- 9:30pm – Evening photos by the tree just before First Dance after cake cutting
Option 3 – Church Ceremony at 1:00pm or 1:30pm
- 10:00am – Photographer arrives, venue/drone/details
- 11:30am – Couple dressed, optional first look
- 1:00pm – Church ceremony (finished ~2:30pm)
- Greeting line or not, see above.
- 3:00pm – Arrive at Rathsallagh before guests for candid welcome shots
- 3:30–5:30pm – Extended drinks reception with guests
- 5:30pm – Call for dinner
- 9:30pm – Evening photos by the tree just before First Dance after cake cutting
