Planning your wedding timeline is one of the most crucial aspects of ensuring your big day flows smoothly. A well-organized timeline helps you stay on schedule, minimizes stress, and ensures all your important moments are captured beautifully. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to create your wedding timeline, including key questions to consider before you start.
Questions to Ask Before Creating Your Wedding Timeline
What time do you get access to your wedding venue to set up?
Will your wedding take place at one venue, or will guests have to travel to separate ceremony and reception sites?
What are your breakfast and lunch plans for the day?
Do you and your fiancé want to do a first look before the ceremony?
Are there any cultural traditions you'd like to include in your reception?
Who will be giving speeches?
Typically, this includes the best man, maid of honor, parents of the bride, parents of the groom, and a thank you speech from the bride and groom.
Will you have a grand exit?
What time do you have your wedding venue until?
How many hours do you have your photo and video team?
Once you answer these questions, you can start putting together your timeline.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Wedding Timeline
1. Preparation and Getting Ready
Allocate 45 minutes to 1 hour for each bridesmaid/person getting hair and makeup done for each service.
Breakfast and Lunch Plans: Ensure you have a designated time for meals to keep your energy levels up. Consider having a light breakfast and a more substantial lunch.
2. Photos and First Look
First Look: If you decide to do a first look, it helps the day flow smoother and allows you and your partner to have more time together. Schedule about 15-20 minutes for this intimate moment. After the first look you can take couple photos and bridal party photos.
Rain Plan: Always have a rain back up for first look and photos. Account for the time needed to get to the rain location if it’s different from your venue.
Pre-Ceremony Photos: If you are not doing a first look, try to get bride and bridesmaid and groom and groomsmen photos done before the ceremony to reduce the number of photos during the cocktail hour.
3. Photo & Video:
Ensure your photo and video team are scheduled to capture everything you want within their contracted hours. Typically a 8-10 hour package will be sufficient.
The end of getting ready
First Look
Portraits
Ceremony
Family Photos
Detailed Photos
Cocktail Hour
Grand Entrance
Dinner
Speeches
Dancing
Sunset
Party
Grand Exit (if applicable)
3. Transportation Buffer Times
Be sure to allocate time to get to each location, we recommend allocating 30 minutes to make sure you have an ample amount of time
From getting ready to the first look
From the first look to the ceremony (arrive 15-30 minutes before the ceremony begins for hair and makeup touch ups, bathroom break, water break)
From the ceremony to the reception (if applicable)
4. Ceremony
Rain Plan: Always have a solid rain plan for the ceremony. Make sure you know what time you need to make the rain call by with your venue and who will be flipping the space from ceremony to reception.
Ceremony Timing: Typically ceremonies will last 20-30 minutes
5. Post-Ceremony
Time Alone: After the ceremony if you want some time with just you and your partner then be sure to allocate this time into your cocktail hour. Give yourself 10-15 minutes to have a drink and just soak in the moment!
Family Photos: Allocate about 30 minutes for family photos.
Detailed Room Photos: Schedule 20 minutes during the cocktail hour for the photo and video team to capture detailed room shots.
Allocate time for Repurposing Ceremony Items: Chairs, Arch, Aisle Arrangements, Signage
Cocktail Hour Timing: Allocate one hour for cocktail hour if you are doing a first look before the ceremony. If you are not doing a first look allocate an hour and half to two hours (ask your photographer how much time they will need to capture all your photos and not be rushed)
6. Reception
Grand Entrance (10-20 minutes):
General housekeeping
Grand entrance (wedding party and couple)
Kissing game explanation
Wedding party intros
First dance (some couples opt to do their first dance at the time of the Grand Entrance instead of later in the evening)
Acknowledgement of out-of-town guests
Grace/Blessing
Dinner: Plan for approximately 30 minutes per dinner course (if you are having wine being poured instead of placed on the tables this can make the courses a bit longer)
7. Speeches and Toasts
Speeches: It’s best to schedule speeches after dinner, possibly during dessert. Limit to a maximum of 5 speeches, each lasting no more than 5 minutes.
8. Dances
First Dance, Mother/Son, and Father/Daughter Dances: If you’re not keen on formal dances, consider shortening the songs or combining the Mother/Son and Father/Daughter dances.
9. Sunset Photos
Sunset Photos: Allocate 15-20 minutes for sunset photos. Head out 30 minutes before sunset for the perfect golden hour lighting.
10. Grand Exit
Plan your grand exit: Ensure you have enough time for any final farewells and transportation arrangements.
Assign Someone to Tear Down: You don't want to be left at the end of the night packing up all your personal decor, assign a family member or add this service on with your wedding planner or venue.
By thoughtfully considering each of these elements and building them into your timeline, you can ensure your wedding day runs smoothly and that you, your partner, and your guests have a memorable and joyous experience.
Photos: Camryn Elizabeth Photography
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