Detailed "Day of" timeline...any wedding coordinators invited to post..

What i did for mine is more of a spreadsheet of times. three different columns: what time, who is needed for it, and where it is. then i did half hour slots with lots of space, so it can be changed easily and goes more by time than by order of things, because if one thing gets taken out you need to be able to find a new place for it easily and stressfree. also the link is super helpful as more of a master list, but for the actual day, it's too much information for a BM or GM to follow what's happening. Good resource though!

Thanks, that's what I started used the above as a guide but was specific with time and places.

Here is what I have for reception:

Time Event

3:30 - 5:00 Pictures with bridal party

5:00 - 5:55 Cocktail hour for bridal party at suite

5:55 - 6:00 Lineup of bridal party for entrance at ballroom

4:00 - 5:00 Guests Arrive at the Reception

5:00 - 5:55 Cocktail hour

5:55 - 6:05 Guest enter and are seated at reception hall

6:05 - 6:15 Announcement of wedding party

6:15 - 6:25 Toasts by Best man and Maid of Honor

6:25 - 6:26 Blessing

6:26 - 7:30 Dinner is served

7:15 - 7:20 Cut & Serve the Cake

7:20 - 7:25 The Bride and Groom's First Dance

7:25 - 7:27 Father daughter dance

7:27 - 7:29 Mother son dance

7:29 - 7:39 Other dances - bridal party, parents, grandparents join in

7:40 - 10:00 Dance open to guests

8:05 - 8:10 Anniversary Wedding Dance

8:45 - 8:50 Bouquet & Garter Toss

9:55 - 10:00 Bride & Groom's Last Dance

Also made a tab for getting ready, ceremony,

But is not as complete and not sure of the times. Was hoping to see specific examples as a guide.

I would recommend leaving a little extra "wiggle" room on your times. Things will invariably move around. Probably the only "absolute" time you need is your dinner time. Your catering staff/venue needs to know what time food needs to be served and they have lots of preparation for those things.

Other observations: it usually takes people more than 10 minutes to settle down (at least in California they do). I've also seen it where lining up the bridal party takes forever because someone has to pee and/or someone has to get a drink or someone is not ready...

After cake... it's a good idea to have a few minutes to touch up your make up. and it takes more than 2 minutes to do Fr/dr and Mother/son dance... even if you shorten the dances, it takes a while to announce, invite parents and get them to the dance floor.

Good luck!

I will take you longer than 10 minutes to get your guest into the reception hall depending on how many guest that you have. The blessing will take longer than a minute, I would also allow 7-8 minutes for the first dance, father-daughter dance and the mother-son dance. your bouquet and garter toss is also going to take longer than 5 minutes I would at least allow 15 for both combined. Also the Anniversary dance will take at least 10 minutes depending on the number of couples.

@MCDJCarlos - I wish you were in Raleigh, NC *sigh*

If you haven't already, you might want to also consult with your photographer on your timelines for getting ready, etc. I usually go over the pre-wedding timeline with my brides about when their hair & makeup needs to be completed by, when the dress should be put on, etc. because I know how much time those things will take (if I'm photographing that part). Getting your dress on will take much longer than it did at the bridal salon. Also, if you're getting photos of the garter and shoes being placed on, mom helping with the veil, etc., they will also take a little longer than you might think. If you're not opting for getting ready photos, then all that stuff I just mentioned obviously wouldn't be applicable.

Here's a link to some articles on my blog.

http://www.emindeeimagesblog.com/?cat=9

There's one on there about wedding day timelines...it's just general info but you might find it helpful in planning your day.

I am actually planning my day around my ceremony time of course but building the time scheduling around the photographers decisions. Since he has done so many and will know how long the photographs take and getting people together, it seems more likely that he can give me the most accurate time frame. I will have a DOC and will most likely have them go along with that time schedule.

My bff got married on Saturday and did not have a timeline and it was a FUSTER CLUCK! They had a beach ceremony that was scheduled to begin at 5:00, so she decides to spend the day at the beach and start getting ready @ 3:00. It was a very low budget wedding (which is totally fine). I volunteered to do her hair/makeup and assemble and decorate her arch. But not in 2 hours! I wanted to take inititave and start getting things set up, but she wanted to relax which was her choice since it was her day. I was the one freaking out! lol....We were really late getting started and I didn't even have time to get ready but in the end it was a beautiful ceremony and I guess that is all that matters. It's a good think I love her, cuz it was driving me nuts! lol

MCDJ Carolos and all others - thanks for your advice. For the reception, I think you are right, we have to make certain that the dinner stays very close to the timeline, because that could throw everything else off. I was trying to keep all other stuff tight because I wanted to leave enough time for guests 'to party', lol..but, I will definitely will allow more time for things...Will also check with phothographer for her advice on 'getting ready' timeline.

@EDubbs. Thank you. That's very sweet of you. I think that's officially my first "thanks" on WW. If nothing else, feel free to ask any questions and, if I think I can add some useful information, I'll be happy to respond.

On the vendors forum we recently discussed B&G drinking before the ceremony.

JXB, please limit yourself (groom, too) to no more than 1 drink before the wedding. Your officiant needs you to be sober.