Day of timeline

2:00 pm - Photos; bride/groom and wedding party, bride/groom with family

3:30 pm - Photos end, touch up hair and makeup

4:00 pm - Ceremony begins

4:30 pm - Ceremony ends

4:30-5:30 pm - Cocktail hour; finish group photos, photos of newlyweds alone

5:30 pm - Intro into reception

5:35 pm - Welcome speech and/or prayer

5:40 pm - Dinner is served

6:10 pm - Speeches, guests continue to eat

6:30 pm - First dance

6:35 pm - Spotlight dances

6:45 pm - Cake cutting

(Insert other events like tosses)

Open dance floor

Here was my timeline with a 3pm start and no first look: 8-1 hair and makeup, 1-2:30 getting ready photos and last minute details, 2:30 guest seating/prelude, 3:00 ceremony, 3:30-4:30 cocktail hour, family/wedding/couple’s photos, 4:30 intro/first dance/parent dances, 4:45 buffet opened, 5:30 toasts, 5:45 group photo/open dancing, 6:45 cake cutting and more dancing, 7:50 last song and line up for sparklers

Here’s our time line for a 5pm start and no cocktail hour.
10-3 hair, make up (we have a large wedding party), get dressed
3-4:30 photos4:30 freshen up5:00 ceremony 5:45 ceremony end6:00 reception open6:10 grand entrance 6:15 - 6:30 prayer, toasts6:30-7:30 dinner7:30 cake cutting7:55 special dances8:15 open dance floor10:00 reception end

Hi Paige! This article has two sample photography timelines you can check out - one for couples doing a first look and one for couples who aren't:

The Ultimate Wedding Photography Timeline