Timeline of events

Hi Kaoshoua! Welcome to the WeddingWire community! Do you know what time your ceremony will be starting? I've seen most couples allow for an hour before the ceremony for the first look pictures and you may need more time if you want to do pictures with the bridal party as well!

We did a first look and most of our photos with the wedding party and family before the ceremony. We wanted to join our guests for cocktail hour. We did not do any special entrances. This was our timeline:

9 a.m. Begin getting ready in bridal suite; breakfast of croissants, cheese and fruit

11:30 a.m. Lunch of sandwiches and wraps is served

12:30 p.m. Photographer arrives to take detail shots and getting ready shots

1-1:30 p.m. First look pics

1:30-2:45 p.m. Wedding party and VIP pics

2:50 p.m. Drive to church (10 minutes away)

3-4 p.m. Ceremony

4:15-5:45 p.m. Cocktail hour (ours was 90 minutes) Our wedding party and VIPs stayed behind at church to take more pics but as they finished they left for cocktail hour. Bride and groom stayed until about 5 p.m. and then joined cocktail hour.

5:45 p.m. Dinner announced, doors open for guests to take their escort card and find seat

6-7:30 p.m. Plated dinner served

6:05 p.m. Bride gives welcome toast

7:30 p.m. Bridesmaid gives toast on behalf of wedding party

7:45 p.m. Cake cutting

7:55 p.m. First dance, 30 seconds into it we had bandleader invite everyone to join us

8 p.m. Dance floor open; photo booth open

8:30 p.m. Cake served

9 p.m. Smores served around fire pit

10 p.m. Grilled cheese sandwiches served

11 p.m. Last dance; end of reception

Your photographer will give you a timeline closer to the date.

You will have plenty of time to mingle with guests at cocktail hour if you do photos before the ceremony.

Sidenote, you mentioned not doing a grand entrance because you wanted to mingle with guests but you can totally mingle at cocktail hour AND do your grand entrance. We did that and the entrance is just a fun way to kick off the party.

Here is how my day went:

12:00 - pictures of groomsmen/groom getting ready

1:00 - pictures of bridesmaids getting ready, individual bride shots

3:00 - Stop and travel 20 minutes to venue

3:30 - first look

4:00 - pictures with whole bridal party/ family

5:30 - go back to the bridal suite and relax

6:00 - ceremony

6:30 - cocktail hour

7:30 - 11:30 - reception