If you are planning a wedding, there is nothing more that you would like than for everything to run smoothly, and we understand! It is one of the most iconic days of your life so naturally, you would love everything to be perfect, and it will be we promise. Although you cannot control some things, the important aspect is to take some control over what is in your grasp. It doesn’t take profound philosophy or science, in fact, it is very easy! You only need to organize your wedding day timeline and allow optimal time for the events to flow seamlessly. In this article, we will share our general go-to tips regarding the drafting of the timeline, allowing the structure to shape your stress-free wedding experience.
Morning wedding day timeline
Traditionally, morning weddings are held around 10 am, which means getting up early and seizing the day! These kinds of weddings have a faster course since there won’t be waiting for hours upon hours for the ceremony to begin. Nevertheless, a good strategy is needed for your wedding day planning. We will draft you a general wedding day timeline, but of course, you will adjust it according to your needs.
- 7 am – getting ready part one, bridal hair & makeup. Allow a full hour for yourself and at least 30 minutes per bridesmaid. According to how many bridesmaids you have, adjust the preparation time.
- 8 am – the expected time for the vendors to start adorning the venue, videographers and photographers arrive to portray the bridal preparations.
- 8:45 am – getting ready part two, putting on the gown.
- 9:30 am – guests arriving on the ceremony spot
- 10 am – ceremony begins (give extra 15 minutes for any late starts)
- 10:45 am – ceremony ends, congratulations!
- 11 am – guests congratulating, photography outside the ceremony venue.
- 11:30 pm – travelling towards the reception venue!
- 12:00 pm – Reception starts with drinks, photography and videography continue documenting your special day as well.
- 1 pm – cake time.
- 1:30 pm – first dance.
- 2:00 pm – catering being served
- 3:45 pm – the couple depart
- 4:00 pm – guests leave and after that, the vendors pack everything.
Afternoon wedding day timeline
With afternoon wedding day planning comes the leisure to take a more relaxed approach towards organizing, from getting ready to dancing the night away! These types of wedding ceremonies often start around 4 pm, so we’ve devised a general timeline draft:
- 9 or 10 am – getting ready part one, bridal hair & makeup. Once again, a full hour for yourself, and depending on the number of bridesmaids, pick the right time.
- 11:30 am – videographers and photographers document details and preparation moments.
- 12:30 pm – getting ready part two, putting on the dress.
- 12 – 2 pm – vendors start to set everything
- 2:30 pm – photos and videos with the wedding party
- 3:30 pm – guests slowly arrive
- 4 pm – ceremony starts with a 15 minutes leisure for late starts
- 4:45 pm – ceremony ends, congratulations, you’re married!
- 5 pm – congratulating and sharing a few photos/video moments outside the ceremony venue
- 5:30 pm – travelling to the reception venue
- 6 pm – reception starts with drinks and canapés; photography and videography continue documenting your special day as well.
- 6:30 pm – The couple has a receiving line
- 7 pm – cake time
- 7: 30 pm – time to lead the first dance and 5 minutes later the guests join
- 8:00 pm – catering is being served
- 22:00 pm – last drinks being served
- 11:30 pm – newlyweds being greeted and sent off with blessings and joy; then the guests leave too.
- 00 am – the wedding vendors start packing everything
We hope that our wedding day timeline guide has given you a direction on how to plan everything. Remember the secret to a stress-free wedding is in a good organization, and reminding yourself to give an extra 10-15 minutes for unexpected delays. In the end, no matter what, breathe in deeply and exhale… trust us, your wedding will be one of the best days of your life!
For more advises how to plan your dream wedding please go to our blog .
