How to Create a Wedding Day Timeline

The wedding day timeline is one of the most important steps you can take prior to the big day to ensure a seamless and smooth event. If you have hired a planner, then of course they can take care of this for you, but if not you will need to follow this guide to create one! This is just a guide and of course things can take a little longer/shorter depending on your exact needs.

Here is how I start my timelines:

Start at ceremony and work down from there, and then once that is complete I work backwards from ceremony:

Ceremony start time
Cocktail hour starts- 30 min after ceremony
Family Photos- 5 min after start of cocktail hour
Newlywed Photos- 20 min after start of family photos
Bridal party photos-20 min after start of newlywed photos
Guests seated for dinner- 1 hour after cocktail hour starts
Grand Entrance- 10 min after guests were seated for dinner
First Dance- 5 min after grand entrance
Welcome speech- 5 min after first dance
Dinner service starts- 5 min after welcome speech
Toasts- 1 hour after dinner service starts (allow for 5 min per person)
Thank you by Newlyweds after toasts
Father/daughter Dance- 5 min after Thank you by newlywed starts
Mother/Son Dance- 5 min after father/daughter dance starts
Cake Cutting- 5 min after mother/son dance starts
Open dancing starts-5 min after cake cutting starts
Bouquet Toss- this can be done anytime in evening before photographer leaves
Garter Toss- 5 minutes after bouquet toss
Last song-5 minutes before end of event

Start at ceremony and work backwards

Ceremony start time

30 min before- Photos finished bridal party to refresh
30 min before photos finished- Bridal Party Photos
45 min before bridal party photos- First Look
20 min before first look- Bride and Bridesmaid Photos
20 min before- Groom/groomsmen Photos with second shooter
30 min before photos- bride into dress/ bridal portraits
15 min before Groom and groomsmen photos- groom and groomsmen getting ready
30 min before bride into dress- Hair and Makeup Complete
Photo coverage begin
Contact hair/makeup for start times in order to be done on time according to your timeline