The Ultimate Wedding Day Timeline

The key to a smooth, flawless day is a detailed Wedding Day timeline. The Wedding Day Timeline is our primary resource and playbook for your Big Day. Breaking down your entire wedding day into an organized timeline keeps everything on track and organized especially for effective communications. The more detailed you can make the plan, the better.

We start with the major Day Of Milestones which are generally communicated to all guests. These are typically:

  • Wedding Prep,

  • Ceremony,

  • Happy Hour,

  • Reception Meal,

  • Desserts, &

  • Dancing.

Then we add the important details that surround the Milestone events:

 

  • Hair & Makeup Schedule

  • Transportation Logistics

  • Decor Set Up

  • Portraits

  • Sunset

  • Clean Up

Finally we add vendor specific notes and needs as well as Wedding Party personalization so you don’t miss any important moments.

Below is a sample of a typical wedding day timeline with a wedding ceremony starting at 4:00 p.m. (Adjust timing as necessary to work with your ceremony start time). We advise for most weddings to be within 4 and 5 hours in total length.

10:00 - 1:00 p.m.—Hair and makeup / Getting ready / Bridal Portraits
1:00 – 3:30 p.m.— Vendor & Venue setup
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.—First Look & Wedding party Portraits
3:30 - 4:00 p.m.—Wedding Party Retires / Guest Prep
4:00 - 4:30 p.m.—Ceremony
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.—Happy Hour
5:30 - 6:45 p.m.—Reception & Toasts
7:00 p.m. — First dances followed by Open Dance Floor
8:00 p.m.—Sneak away for Sunset Portraits (varies depending on the time of the year)
8:30 p.m.—Desserts
9:45 p.m.—Last call
9:55 p.m.—Newlywed Send Off / Guests depart
10:00 - 11:00 p.m.— Breakdown

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