Detailed Day of Itinerary

There is a great item called "the packet" from weddingbee that a lot of ladies, including myself, are using.

"The Packet" - a 15 page itinerary

it is more for the week/day of the wedding.

www.weddingbee.com/2008/08/07/the-packet/

This site has LOTS of checklists and things to print out.

www.russellandhazel.com/content/wedding-templates

*Talk to your DJ - they do this ALL the time and will have great input on what is normal in your area, how much time is needed for everything

*Talk to your venue - they might have ideas for when a good time for cake is... after all, they need to cut it for you and need someone to serve it - who knows how late they keep the staff on, or when they go to minimum staff

* Talk to the photographer - They REALLY know how much time is needed per Combos - and will tell you how much time to block off for the size of the wedding party and family

* Talk to the officiant on how long the ceremony lasts

30 min per combo

- bridal pics

- Bride w/family - wedding party

- Groom w/family - wedding party

- B&G 1st look - 1st touch

- B&G w/family - wedding party

7:00 wake up, shower, eat, drive to appt

8:00 hair appt

10:00 make-up - drive to location getting dressed

11:15 - eat lunch - tell Wedding party and parents to be at location to get dressed

11:30 start getting into dress (could take up to 40 min if stubborn button loops)

12:00 Brides shots - combo shots with family & wedding party

1:30 Groom does his combos with family and WP - Bride does touch-ups

2:15 drive to park/beach - pretty outdoor location for photos

2:30 First look photo - bride and groom shots - B&G with Wedding Party

3:30 -set up decorations -touch ups - some altar photos?

4 - 4:30 Ceremony

4:30 - 4:45 - hugs - greet guests - do send off - 5-6 cocktail hr

4:45- 5:15 more picture

5:45 arrive at hall - Bride does Touch ups

6:00 entrance - Welcome - Prayer

6:20 ish start dinner (have Best Man do toasts while salads are being served, or while they are being eaten - no reason to have dinner wait for all the toasts to be over)

Here is a time line example....

http://www.nuptialnet.com/timeline.htm

A break down in Minutes - not actual clock time....

0 - 0:15 people arrive (bride in bridal room doing touch ups)

0:15 - 0:30 Ceremony

0:30 - 1:30 Cocktail hour

1:30 - 1:35 Guest find seat - WP lines up

1:35 - 1:45 Introductions - people make their way to the table

1:45 - 1:55 B&G 1st dance

1:55 - 2:00 Prayer - Start Dinner

2:00 - 3:00 Meal (have toast During dinner, no reason for staff to wait until 3 toast are done to start bringing out the food)

3:00 - 4:00 Open Dance Floor

4:00 - 4:15 Father/Daughter - Mother/Son dance

4:15 - 5:00 Open Dance Floor

5:00 - 5:15 Bouquet/Garter

5:15 Cut Cake

5:20 - 5:55 Open Dance

5:55 - 6:00 Last Dance

Move the cake to where you want it... some regions do it near the end, some cut it right after dinner. Talk to the Venue on when they like to do it.

I majored in theater as a stage manager. So I NEED to have a detailed itinerary. I have two pages going so far which includes all the music I want and when I want it played.. arrival times, all of it! I would go crazy without it! I also made one special for our 'helper' someone who will be in charge of lighting candles, restocking drinks, emptying trash.. all that good stuff, since we are not having the wedding at a staffed venue!

I got ideas from goggling 'wedding itinerary'

Wow

Thank you ladies. These are some great links and suggestions.

@Amy - I was also involved in theatre. I think it's the combination of both the theatre and political worlds that makes me want a "scene by scene" or detailed day of schedule. I think it is also good so that everyone is on the same page, and there is accountability for anyone who has a designated responsability.

When I finish this up, I'll shre it with all you other brides who fall in this category.