When You Want the Beach, the Temple, and Every Family Photo Too
You want it all. The temple steps. The beach. The grandparents. The bridal party. The grand exit.
And honestly? You should have it all.
Planning a photo timeline for an LDS temple wedding can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure out how to fit meaningful portraits into a day that already has a lot moving parts. But with a little planning ahead of time, it absolutely comes together.
I have had the pleasure of photographing a lot of weddings at the Newport Beach LDS Temple. Let me walk you through exactly how this couple’s day flowed – because it worked beautifully.
The Week-Before Bridal Session: A Game Changer
Here’s the thing about LDS temple weddings. Guests who aren’t members of the church wait outside during the sealing. That means the moment you exit those doors, everyone is there waiting to celebrate you. It’s a joyful, sometimes chaotic, and always emotional moment.
The last thing you want is to pull your new spouse and all your guests aside for an hour of portraits right then.
So this couple decided to do their bridal portraits and first look a week before the wedding. And it was one of the best decisions they made.
She’s from Newport Beach and really wanted beach photos – which is a completely reasonable dream when you live somewhere that beautiful. So we headed to the beach, crowd and all (photoshop does wonders, by the way), and they had their first look there.
He got to see her in her wedding dress for the first time, which doesn’t typically happen inside the temple anyway. So there was still that genuine “wow” moment, plus they got the beach backdrop she had always pictured.
No rushing. No wedding day nerves layered on top. Just the two of them, the ocean, and a full session to really settle in and enjoy it.
If you’re planning a full day around your bridal session or temple exit, many couples love turning it into an experience with family and friends. Some great nearby Newport Beach restaurant options include:
Zinqué Newport Beach – A relaxed French-inspired café perfect for brunch or a casual pre-wedding meal.
https://www.lezinque.com
The Cannery Seafood of the Pacific – A beautiful waterfront restaurant ideal for celebrating with family after your temple exit.
https://www.cannerynewport.com
Great Maple Newport Beach – Known for elevated comfort food and a fun, upbeat atmosphere for groups.
https://www.thegreatmaple.com
The Wedding Day Timeline: How We Structured It
With the bridal portraits already done, the wedding day timeline had so much more breathing room. Here’s how it flowed:
Temple Exit and Group Moments
After they exited the temple, friends and family were there to greet them – which is always one of my favorite parts of these weddings. Pure joy, every time.
From there, we moved the whole group to the front of the temple at the stairs for a large group photo. This is the moment everyone is gathered, energy is high, and you want to capture it quickly and beautifully.
Then we transitioned to grandparents and anyone else who wouldn’t be joining us at the park later. This matters more than people realize. Grandparents get tired, little kids get restless, and not everyone can make a second location work. Getting those portraits done at the temple – while everyone is still together – means no one gets missed.
The Temple Time Limit
One thing to plan around: the Newport Beach Temple asks that you keep your time on the grounds to around an hour. This isn’t just a guideline to ignore – it’s out of respect for other couples who are also celebrating their day there. Keeping your timeline tight on temple grounds means the whole experience stays calm and uncongested for everyone.
So we wrapped up a few portraits of just the bride and groom at the temple and then we drove over to a local park.
The Park Session
This is where we had real room to breathe.
We had the park practically to ourselves. There was shade – which is genuinely priceless for midday portraits – and we worked through:
- Immediate family combinations
- Bridal party groupings
- Every combination you could think of
It was relaxed, it was fun, and nobody felt rushed. That’s the goal.
If you’re thinking about what to wear for temple portraits, bridal sessions, or family photos, these shops are great places to find timeless, photo-friendly pieces:
VICI – A favorite for bridal and feminine dresses that photograph beautifully on the beach or at the temple.
https://www.vicicollection.com
Nordstrom – A reliable option for coordinating outfits for the entire family, from formal to casual.
https://www.nordstrom.com
Free People – Great for flowy, textured pieces that work especially well for coastal sessions.
https://www.freepeople.com
Reception and Grand Exit
From the park, we headed to the reception. I photographed all the details – the florals, the tablescape, the little things that tell the story of the day – and then stayed through the evening events, ending with a grand exit.
It worked amazingly. They got every photo they had hoped for.
Why This Timeline Works So Well
Here’s what I want you to take away from this:
Splitting the portraits across two separate days removes so much pressure from your wedding day. You walk out of that temple and you get to be present for your guests, your family, the emotion of it all – without immediately thinking about whether the lighting is right or if grandma made it to the stairs yet.
That being said – we have done tons of weddings where everything is on the same day too! Both are great options.
And doing your first look at the beach the week before? It gave this couple a real moment. No distractions, no schedule bearing down on them. Just them.
If you’re planning an LDS temple wedding in Newport Beach and you’re trying to figure out how to make the timeline feel manageable… this approach is worth considering. Seriously.
Many of the weddings and sessions like this are photographed through Gilmore Studios, where the focus is on creating a guided but relaxed experience so you can actually enjoy your day instead of feeling rushed. You can learn more here:
https://gilmorestudios.com
For photographers who want to learn how to structure wedding timelines like this and create a smoother client experience, you can find more education and resources here:
https://photographersroadmap.com
Ready to Plan Your Newport Beach Temple Wedding Photos?
Every couple’s timeline looks a little different, and I love helping you think through what’s going to feel right for your day and your family.
If you’re newly engaged and starting to think through the logistics, let’s connect. We can talk through your vision, your venue, and how to build a day that actually flows.
You deserve photos from every part of your wedding day and with a little planning, you really can have them all.
