If you’re reading this, congratulations! Maybe you just got engaged and you’re planning a wedding, or you’re a new wedding planner who is just starting out, or you’re just dreaming of your perfect day! Either way, I’m glad you’re here! I’m here to share 3 of the best tips I have to offer on creating the perfect wedding day timeline. Plus I’ll share 3 sample timelines for an 8, 10, and 12-hour wedding day.
Let’s first address the fact that no matter what planning a wedding is stressful! But planning out a wedding timeline that works for you, your bridal party, and your guest will help make your day the best it can be. I know you probably have a lot of questions so let’s get right into it.
01. Start Simple
The beginning is not the time to stress the details. Starting with a simple hour-to-hour, instead of a minute-to-minute schedule will help you get a general idea of your day so you have a base to start from. Focus on the big chunks in the timeline, like getting ready, ceremony, pictures, and reception. This way you can focus on booking your vendors and securing them for a general time slot. Your timeline will naturally get more detailed with things like the first look, speeches, and cake cutting the closer you get to the wedding day, so having a base to fill with the details is super important.
02. Don’t Start from Scratch
There are so many resources out there (including this blog) that will give you the base for your timeline. If you’re reading this blog, you’re smart and know that you don’t have to do everything on your own!(; Don’t stress yourself out trying to plan everything out perfectly right from the beginning. The templates at the end of this blog will give you a basis to work from. Feel free to move things around however works best for you and your wedding day.
03. Buffer Time
This is probably my biggest piece of advice. Make sure you add a RIDICULOUS amount of buffer time!! Trust me, the buffer time is a wedding day’s best friend. Everyone thinks that their wedding will magically be the one that stays on schedule all day, but something always comes up. It’s completely normal, but adding buffer time is a great way to make sure it doesn’t throw off the whole wedding day schedule. Some of the most common places in the timeline I’ve seen go over time are getting ready and family photos. These are two places that need buffer time. A good rule of thumb is if you think it will take 15 minutes, plan for it to take 45. I know it seems like a stretch but with so many variables, an extra 30 minutes can go a long way. The last thing you want to do is rush through your wedding day. Plus, what’s the worst that can happen, you have a few extra minutes before your ceremony to sit there and take it all in?
Sample Templates
Now for what you’re really here for. I hope these templates take some stress out of your wedding planning, I know they will be a great help!
8 Hours
1:00 pm | Getting Ready
3:00 pm | First-look, Bride and Groom Portraits, Wedding Party Photos
4:30 pm | Wedding Party relax before ceremony
5:00 pm | Ceremony begins
5:45 pm | Ceremony ends; Family Photos (cocktail hour for guests)
6:30 pm | Reception begins
7:00 pm | Dinner is served
7:45 pm | Dances (First dance, father/daughter, mother/son)
8:00 pm | Dance Floor Opens
9:00 pm | Wedding Exit
10 Hours
12:00 pm | Getting Ready
3:00 pm | First-look, Bride and Groom Portraits, Wedding Party Photos
5:00 pm | Wedding party relax before ceremony
5:30 pm | Ceremony
6:15 pm | Ceremony ends; Family Photos (cocktail hour for guests)
6:45 pm | Reception
7:00 pm | Dinner is served
8:15 pm | Dances (First dance, father/daughter, mother/son)
8:30 pm | Dances floor opens
10:00 pm | Couple’s exit
12 Hours
10:00 am | Getting Ready
2:00 pm | First-look, Bride and Groom Portraits, Wedding Party Photos
4:00 pm | Wedding party relax before ceremony
4:30 pm | Ceremony
5:30 pm | Ceremony ends; Family Photos (cocktail hour for guests)
6:45 pm | Reception
7:00 pm | Dinner is served
8:15 pm | Dances (First dance, father/daughter, mother/son)
8:30 pm | Dances floor opens
10:00 pm | Couple’s exit
Now take this info and run with it! Have fun planning your best day ever! Now that you’re ready to start booking vendors, reach out to me and let’s chat about me being your photographer!
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