Choosing a color scheme, picking your wedding party, and building a guest list – all important parts of your big day! But how do you bring all of this together?
It’s your timeline!
A wedding is a big deal, and there are so many moving parts and people to manage. Creating a cohesive, well-organized timeline can save you a lot of time, eliminate mistakes and miscommunications, and keep your day moving slowly.
We’ve compiled some of our top tips for a seamless timeline, as well as a sample option below!
Consider your venue
Are you allowed to get into your venue at 6:00am? Or are there strict rules for start times?
You’ll also want to be sure that you don’t have to move during certain parts of the day. For example, your venue might give you access to a bridal suite for hair and makeup at 7:00am, but require that you’re out of that room by 11:00am. Make sure to account for all venue rules and regulations in your timeline.
Include the most important players
Your timeline should include:
- Your venue
- All of your vendors: Cake baker, photographer, videographer, caterer, etc.
- Your wedding party
- Any guests that are playing a crucial role in your day: For example, guests who are performing in your ceremony, giving a reading, etc.
- Family: You’ll want them included so they know where/when to be ready for photos.
Include the small details
You want to include drop-offs and deliveries as well. It can be easy to forget vendors who simply drop off an item and leave, but it’s crucial to keep an eye on their time frame as well, so that it works with your venue and wedding day events.
Think through the entire day
From the arrival of your hair and makeup team to the cleanup crew, you need to think through your entire day! This includes the main items, such as your ceremony and reception, as well as the minute details.
You also need to know how long certain things will take. For example, brides may not realize that hair and makeup can take several hours! You want to leave approximately 90 minutes for each woman in the bridal party to receive hair and makeup services. If your ceremony is at 1:00pm, you’ll want to start this process around 7:00 or 8:00am, depending on your bridal party size.
Questions like the ones listed below will also inform your timeline, so spend some time thinking about what you really want. From wedding traditions to dances and speeches, decide if you will include them or not:
- Will you have a first dance?
- Will you be taking photos with family?
- Who will be in the family photos?
- Will you have a separate bouquet for the bouquet toss?
- How will the guests get from cocktail hour to the reception?
- Will you have a receiving line?
- Who will coordinate the wedding party for entrances?
- How will the gifts and card box get to the right car at the end of the evening?
- Will you have an afterparty?
Include contact information
If something goes wrong or you need to check in, you’ll want contact information at your fingertips – ASAP!
Be sure to include all contacts’ phone numbers, addresses, and any critical contractual obligations.
Overestimate time
It’s better that you overestimate vs. underestimate on time. If photos take 40 minutes instead of 60, that just gives you more of a buffer to enjoy your day.
While you want to avoid big gaps of time between the ceremony and cocktail hour, and the cocktail hour and dinner, everything else can be padded with more time instead of less.
Send it out to everyone
Don’t forget to send your final timeline to everyone who’s included! Give everyone enough time to review the timeline and make any changes or ask any questions.
You’ll want to send it for preliminary review approximately 3-4 weeks out from your event date, then again as a final document at least 1 week out.
Sample Timeline
Here is a condensed timeline example to help you get started!
8:00am: Hair and Makeup Team arrives
8:15pm: Photographer arrives
8:15-1:15pm: Hair and Makeup for Bride + 4 Bridesmaids
9:30am: Videographer arrives
11:00am: Event Planner arrives
11:30pm: Lunch Delivery to the whole Wedding Party
12:00pm: Cake Delivery
1:15-2:00pm: Bride and Groom’s First Look, Photos
1:45-2:30pm: Collect the Wedding Party for the Ceremony; Touch-ups; Walk to the Ceremony site
2:30-3:30pm: Wedding Ceremony
3:30-4:30pm: Family Photos
3:30-4:30pm: Cocktail Hour
4:30-5:00pm: Wedding Party introductions and First Dance
5:00pm: Blessing
5:05pm: First Course served
5:15pm: Parent speeches
5:30pm: Main Course served
5:45pm: Wedding party speeches
6:15pm: Wedding dances/traditions
6:45pm: Cake cutting
7:00pm: Vendor meals served
7:00-10:00pm: Dancing
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