Day of wedding time line??? Help!

Our ceremony starts at 1 p.m and we are doing our formal directly after the ceremony. Cocktails begin at 5 and our grand entrance is at 5:30 to ensure that we had enough time for photos after the ceremony. Our photographer will be with us for the whole day as we are getting ready and instead of a first look with my FH, I am doing a first look with my father.

Write a rough list of times you know are for sure then play around with everything else. we are not doing first looks so i know at 1230 pm is my ceremony time i will see him then and then ours is an hour so at 1:30 will be photos and then 5 pm is cocktail hour 7 pm reception time starts

We started the day at 1:00pm which the photographer and videographer showed up to take shots of the outfits/accessories for the wedding/reception. Wedding items and package that was given to all the guests. Both of us had 1 hour each with our family for getting ready shots and then our wedding party. The wedding took place 4:30pm and finish around 5pm with group/family pictures given 30 minutes and then our shots alone before reception started gathering the wedding party together. Cocktail hour was 5:30 and Reception started 6pm going to 1am. We did our entrance, Mother/Sons dance, and cake cutting, though the first dance took place late night not being recorded.

8:30AM: Wake up

9:00AM: Breakfast

10:00AM: Start getting ready

11:00AM: Photographer arrives and takes some getting ready pics

12:00AM: Lunch

2:00PM: First look photos, wedding party photos, immediate family photos

4:00PM: DJ arrives

4:15PM: Officiant arrives

4:50PM: Videographer arrives

5:00PM: Beaver Bus arrives with majority of guests

5:15PM: Catering arrives

5:30PM: Ceremony start time

6:15PM: Reception starts with wedding party entering

6:30PM: Supper

7:00PM: Speeches start as soon as last table gets their food + dessert is made available

7:30PM: First Dance/ Parent Dances, bouquet toss, garter toss

8:00PM: Photographer leaves

11:00PM: Late night snack and dessert available

12:30AM: Last call at the bar

12:45AM: Bus shuttle pick up announcement

1:00AM: Bus shuttle departs and after party bonfires start!

Ask your venue if they have a standard timeline and, if they do, start there and coordinate with your photographer. The photographer will have a better idea than anyone how long they'd need for first looks and family/bridal party/couple shots afterwards. Ours is still rough but will look something like this:

8/9am - hair & makeup arrive

12pm - photographer arrive for guys' getting ready photos

1pm - photographer arrives for girls' getting ready photos

2:30pm ish - girls arrive at venue

2:45pm ish - first touch (maybe)

3:30pm - ceremony

4pm - cocktails/family & bridal party photos

6pm - entrance

6:30pm - dinner served

8-8:30pm - dancing starts

12:30am - bedtime

10am - arrive at venue / getting ready + set up. 1pm first look. 3-4pm family photos. 5pm ceremony. 5:30 - cocktail hour. 7pm dinner. 9pm - dance party. 12:30 bar closed. 1am out.

5:30-7 we will also have our cocktail hour going as well as any pictures.

Mine is still rough too. I want to confirm times with photographer, MUA and venue still.

10am: start getting ready (depending on how long hair and makeup person feels they need, could be earlier)
11:00: photographer arrives
1pm: leave for horse and carriage first look pics
2:30: go to butterfly conservatory
4:00: be back at venue, makeup touch ups if needed
4:30: ceremony (pictures after if anyone wants)
5:30: walk down hall to reception (more family/guest pictures if they want, photobooth pics here as well if anyone wants some with us)
7:00: dinner/thank you for coming speech/2-3 short speeches
8:00: cut the cake
8:30: first dance then party till 1am

Ours is still rough, and odd because we're doing an evening wedding.


I don't have a getting ready timeline yet. 530/6 getting ready photos6/615 first look630 to 715 photos (ask your photographer how much time they think you'll need based on the must have shots you want)730 guests start to arrive8 ceremony815/830 speeches (I read to tell people 2 minutes but bank on 5 per speech)9 cake cutting915 first danceAt some point we will throw the bouquet, and wrap up around 1230.