Looking for a few tips on how to make the perfect timeline for your wedding day? Deciding how much time to allot for each event can be tough but I am here offer a few tips + tricks on curating the perfect timeline for your wedding day PLUS offer a few sample timelines!
Here are a few things to consider before you start making your timeline.
Start & End Times
Consider what time you want your ceremony to begin & festivities to end. Once you now when you want those times to be - start planning all of the formal events accordingly. You cannot go wrong with starting decor and basic getting ready preparations too early in the day to help prevent rushing later.
Compile a List of All Events
Make a list of all of the events you want, as well as all preparations that need to be made. Make sure to set times for events to be done by (ie. 1:00 all makeup done)
Things to remember to add: wedding party being ready, you getting into your dress, cake cutting, dances, vendor arrival and clean up.
Photography Coverage
Consider how long you have your photographer and make sure to fit all events you want photographed into the coverage hours. Be mindful that photographers only have 60 minutes in an hour & sometimes it is simply not feasible to fit an entire 8 hour wedding day with a full shot list into 6 hours of coverage.
Should I do a first look?
I tell all couples this is at your own discretion. The biggest advantage to a first look is the ability to take portraits before the ceremony vs after. Men still cry even after they have seen their bride, but the aspect of surprise and keeping it traditional is SO SPECIAL and I promise we can make time for portraits after.
When should my ceremony be?
While there are outstanding factors that may determine this exact timing (such as venue availability) there are other factors that I use to help brides determine when their ceremony should be such as: sunset, sun placement, when reception starts / meal is being served.
If you want a late afternoon wedding outdoors, try to schedule your ceremony a few hours before sunset so that the lighting is beginning to soften. This also often correlates with meal times and pairs nicely with serving a dinner after the ceremony. If you are having an indoor wedding ceremony you may want to schedule your ceremony for earlier in the day to maximize the light available inside of the venue (if there are windows). If you are having an outdoor wedding another things to consider for majority of the year is temperatures at that time of day and where the sun is in the sky (high above, directly behind, directly in front). You don't want to be blinding your guests & you also don't want to be blinded yourself!
First Look
- a truly intimate and private moment between you and your partner before you are surrounded by guests for the remainder of the evening
- opportunity to knock portraits out before the ceremony
- helps ease some nerves before the big show
- an opporutnity to check in with each other and take a moment to breath in the day & what it means to you
- an opporunity to exchange private vows before exchanging them in front of everyone
No First Look
- creates anticipation and excitement for the bride and groom after not seeing each other all day
- Often times envokes emotions and "the look / the moment" when the groom sees the bride & vice versa.
- you have more time to get ready and spend a few extra moments with your guys or gals before
How long do things take?
The amount of time each event takes is completely subjective to each couple & situation, but here are average timeing suggestions to allot for some events.
- First Look with dad: 5-10 minutes
- First Look with fiance: 10-15 minutes
- Bridal Party Pictures: 25 minutes
- Ceremony: 30 minutes
- Family Portraits: 30 minutes
- Couples Portraits: 30 minutes
- First Dance / Parents Dances: 5 minutes each
- Cake Cutting : 5 minutes
Sample Wedding Day Timelines
Wedding Day Timeline Afternoon with First Look
8 hours photography coverage
- 10:00 Start decorating
- 12:00 Hair & Makeup starts
- 12:30 Photographer Arrives
- 1:30 All Hair & Makeup done
- 2:00 Get into Dress // Bridesmaids Reveal
- 2:30 First Look // Couples Portraits
- 3:00 Wedding Party Photos
- 3:30 Wedding Party freshens up inn suites
- 4:00 Ceremony
- 4:30 Ceremony ends // Cocktail Hour Begins
- 4:35 Family Portraits
- 5:30 Guests are seated // Mr. and Mrs enter into reception
- 5:45 Toasts & Dinner Begins
- 6:30 Cake Cutting
- 6:45 Golden Hour Shots
- 7:30 Dances
- 7:45 Dance Floor Opens / party hardy
- 8:30 Photographer departs
- 10:30 Guests leave // clean up
Wedding Day Timeline without First Look
8 hours photography coverage
- 10:00 Start decorating
- 12:00 Hair & Makeup starts
- 12:30 Photographer Arrives
- 1:45 Groomsmen & groom shots
- 2:00 All Hair & Makeup done
- 2:30 Get into Dress // Bridesmaids Reveal
- 3:00 Bridesmaids Shots while groom hides
- 3:15 Bridal portraits while groom hides
- 3:45 Wedding Party freshens up inn suites
- 4:00 Ceremony
- 4:30 Ceremony ends // Cocktail Hour Begins
- 4:35 Family Portraits
- 5:00 Wedding Party Portraits
- 5:10 Wedding Couple Portraits
- 5:30 Guests are seated // Mr. and Mrs enter into reception
- 5:50 Toasts & Dinner Begins
- 6:30 Cake Cutting
- 6:45 Golden Hour / Sneak away for few more portraits
- 7:30 Dances
- 7:45 Dance Floor Opens / party hardy
- 8:30 Photographer departs
- 10:30 Guests leave // clean up
