One of the most common questions couples ask in Singapore is, “Do we really need 10 hours of coverage, or will 6 hours be enough?”
It is a fair question. Your photographer’s price jumps with every extra block of hours, but your day is already packed with gatecrash, tea ceremony, solemnisation, outfit changes and a full banquet to squeeze in.
This guide is for couples who want to be smart about their wedding photography coverage. We will walk through three very typical Singapore wedding day patterns and show you which coverage tier is usually enough.
Think of it as a simple wedding timeline planner that quietly points you towards:
- When 6 hours of coverage is comfortable
- When 8 hours is the sweet spot
- When 10 hours genuinely makes sense
You can use this whether you book Ember Media Co. or not, but if you do, it maps neatly onto our 6, 8 and 10 hour wedding packages.
The three most common Singapore wedding day patterns
There are endless variations, but most local weddings fall into one of these three patterns:
- Scenario A: ROM + lunch (simple day)
- Scenario B: Prep + solemnisation + dinner
- Scenario C: Tea ceremony + banquet (with or without gatecrash)
For each one, we will sketch a realistic timeline and recommend a coverage tier that is usually enough, without paying for hours you will not use.
Scenario A: ROM + lunch (simple, intimate day)
Who this is for: couples doing a straightforward solemnisation at Registry or a venue like Fort Canning, followed by a lunch or small reception.
Example timeline:
| Time | What is happening |
|---|---|
| 10:00 am | Couple arrives, light portraits around venue |
| 10:30 am | ROM / solemnisation ceremony |
| 11:00 am | Group photos with family and friends |
| 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Reception / lunch, mingling, candid coverage |
Recommended coverage: 3 to 4 hours is usually comfortable.
- 1 hour before the ceremony for couple portraits and details
- 30 minutes for the solemnisation itself
- 30–45 minutes for group photos
- 1–1.5 hours to capture the lunch reception and candids
When you might stretch to 6 hours:
- When you want some “getting ready” coverage before heading to the venue
- When your ROM and lunch are at different locations with travel in between
- When you have a large family and expect a lot of group shots
If you are keeping things small and simple, you do not need a full 10 hour package. For many couples, a shorter ROM-focused option or a lean 6 hour package is enough to tell the story clearly.
Scenario B: Prep + solemnisation + dinner
Who this is for: couples who want part of the morning prep, a mid day or afternoon solemnisation, and a dinner celebration in the evening.
Example timeline:
| Time | What is happening |
|---|---|
| 10:00 am | Bridal prep at hotel / home, detail shots |
| 12:00 pm | Couple first look, portraits |
| 1:00 pm | Solemnisation ceremony |
| 2:00 pm | Group photos and family portraits |
| 3:00 – 5:00 pm | Break / room turnover / rest |
| 6:30 pm | Guests arrive, reception |
| 7:30 – 9:30 pm | Dinner, speeches, cake, toast, first march in |
Recommended coverage: 8 hours suits this type of day very well.
- 2 hours of morning prep and details
- 2 hours for portraits, solemnisation and group photos
- 3–4 hours in the evening to cover reception, march in and key speeches
How 8 hours might look in practice:
- Start: 10:30 am at bridal prep
- Coverage of prep, first look, solemnisation and family photos
- Short break while everyone rests and changes
- Resume: 6:30 pm for reception and dinner highlights
- End: around 9:30 pm after key speeches and events
You can squeeze this into 6 hours if you are willing to skip morning prep, or if you are happy to stop photography earlier during dinner. But for most couples, 8 hours is the sweet spot for this scenario.
Scenario C: Tea ceremony + banquet (with or without gatecrash)
Who this is for: many Chinese weddings in Singapore with morning activities at both homes, tea ceremonies, possible gatecrash, followed by a hotel banquet at night.
Example timeline:
| Time | What is happening |
|---|---|
| 6:30 am | Make up and prep shots |
| 8:00 am | Groom arrival and gatecrash |
| 9:00 am | Tea ceremony at bride’s home |
| 10:30 am | Tea ceremony at groom’s home |
| 12:30 – 3:00 pm | Check in to hotel, rest, light portraits |
| 6:30 pm | Guests arrive, reception |
| 7:30 – 10:00 pm | Banquet, march ins, games, speeches, table shots |
Recommended coverage: 10 hours is often the realistic choice here.
- Morning block: prep, gatecrash, both tea ceremonies
- Night block: reception, banquet highlights, table shots
How a 10 hour package might be structured:
- 7:30 am – 12:00 pm: morning prep, gatecrash and tea ceremonies
- Break in the afternoon (photographer off the clock while everyone rests)
- 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm: reception and banquet highlights
Could you try to squeeze this into 8 hours? Possibly, but you would be cutting it tight, usually by:
- Starting coverage later in the morning (missing part of prep/gatecrash), or
- Ending earlier at the banquet (missing later speeches or games)
If these are important to you and your families, 10 hours is the more honest answer.
A simple checklist to work out your coverage
You can use this quick checklist to decide between 6, 8 and 10 hours. Grab a piece of paper, or paste this into your own spreadsheet.
Step 1: List your “non negotiable” moments
Tick everything that must be photographed:
- ☐ Morning prep (make up, details, outfits)
- ☐ Gatecrash
- ☐ Tea ceremony at bride’s home
- ☐ Tea ceremony at groom’s home
- ☐ Couple portraits
- ☐ ROM / solemnisation / church ceremony
- ☐ Group photos with family
- ☐ Group photos with friends / colleagues
- ☐ Banquet reception and décor
- ☐ First and second march in
- ☐ Speeches and cake cutting
- ☐ Table shots / table to table
Step 2: Mark the time blocks
Next to each selected item, write:
- M = morning block (before 1 pm)
- A = afternoon block (1 pm – 5 pm)
- E = evening block (after 5 pm)
Count how many blocks you have. As a rough rule:
- 1–2 blocks only: 3–6 hours usually enough
- 2–3 blocks, with a ceremony and dinner: 8 hours
- 3+ blocks, with morning tea and full banquet: 10 hours
Step 3: Match to a coverage tier
Now map those blocks to a coverage level:
- 6 hours coverage: ideal for ROM + lunch, or a lean “prep + solemnisation or dinner” day.
- 8 hours coverage: best for prep + solemnisation + dinner where you want both the emotional bits and key evening moments.
- 10 hours coverage: for full Chinese wedding days with morning tea, travel between homes, and full evening banquet.
At Ember Media Co., our 6, 8 and 10 hour wedding photography options are built around these exact patterns, so you are not paying for random extra hours that do nothing for your story.
What about photo + video coverage?
If you are adding video, the coverage logic is the same: your videographer needs to be present whenever key moments happen. Instead of thinking “Do we need a separate video package?”, think:
- “Which timeline are we following?”
- “Do we want both photo and video for every block, or only some?”
For example:
- ROM + lunch → photo plus a short highlight clip may be enough.
- Prep + solemnisation + dinner → photo + video works very well at 8 hours.
- Tea ceremony + banquet → full day photo + video, often at 10 hours, if you want the whole story in motion.
You can always mix and match: some couples prioritise video mainly for the ceremony and speeches, and are happy for photo only in quieter parts of the day.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is 6 hours enough for a Singapore wedding?
It can be, if your day is relatively simple. 6 hours is usually enough for ROM + lunch, or for couples who only want solemnisation and part of the dinner, without morning prep or tea ceremonies. Once you add gatecrash, two homes and a full banquet, 6 hours becomes very tight.
2. We want morning tea and dinner, but not everything in between. What should we do?
In Singapore it is very common to split coverage into a morning block and an evening block, with a break in the middle. A 10 hour package can be structured so you are not paying for your photographer to sit around while everyone naps in the afternoon, but you still get full coverage of the important parts.
3. What if our timeline changes after we book?
Timelines almost always move a little. A good photographer will help you adjust the start or end time of coverage, and talk through whether you need to add an hour or simply tighten the schedule. At Ember Media Co., we usually review your final timeline again a few weeks before the day to make sure your coverage still fits.
4. Should we book photo and video with the same team?
It is not mandatory, but there are advantages. A single team can coordinate angles and timing more smoothly, and the final photo and video will usually feel more consistent in style. If you already have a videographer you love, you can still book photography separately; just make sure they can work together on the day.
5. Can we see example timelines for real weddings?
One of the easiest ways to decide is to look at real weddings similar to yours. Ask to see sample timelines and galleries from couples who had similar venues and customs. On our Ember Media Co. weddings page, we can share example timelines that match your situation so you can see what 6, 8 or 10 hours actually looks like in photos.
Key takeaways
- Start with your timeline, not the package name. Map out your morning, afternoon and evening blocks first.
- ROM + lunch and simpler days usually fit into 3–6 hours, while prep + solemnisation + dinner often suits 8 hours.
- Full Chinese wedding days with tea ceremonies at both homes and a hotel banquet typically need 10 hours for stress free coverage.
- A short checklist of must have moments and time blocks will tell you very quickly whether 6, 8 or 10 hours is realistic.
- Photo + video coverage follows the same logic: decide which blocks matter most before you choose a package.
