Wedding day timeline

Typically, the ceremony is about 30 minutes unless you are having a Catholic wedding. Following the ceremony, guests normally attend cocktail hour while the bride & groom, their immediate family and the bridal party take photos. One thing to consider is if you plan on taking any photos ahead of time. I know we took some, but not all photos in advance. We did separate bridal party, my first look with my dad, and my husband and I's first look prior to the ceremony. After the ceremony, we took full bridal party photos, family photos, and more photos of my husband and I. Your photographer should be able to tell you how much time you will need prior to the ceremony if you want to take photos or how long it will take for photos during cocktail hour then you can plan accordingly. Another thing you will want to take into consideration is travel time if you reception is at a separate location.

My biggest recommendation is to speak with your vendors. My hair stylist & makeup artist, photographer, and venue coordinator were able to create timelines based on all of the information I provided them. Our venue coordinator had us fill in a questionnaire so she knew exactly how much time we would need for each thing during the reception. She also knew when the best time was for dinner to be served. Based on what photos we wanted taken prior to the ceremony, our photographer told us when we would need to have hair and makeup completely done and be dressed by then I told our hair stylist and makeup artist and they were able to create a timeline based on the number of people getting each service. It worked out perfectly and required very little effort from me or my husband.

Do you have a hair and/or makeup artist? If so, how many people will they be servicing? That will help you identify the beginning of your timeline -- and those vendors usually help you with that information by telling you how long their services will take. Also, how long do you have your venue? When are you taking pictures (before or after the ceremony)? Will there be a first look or first touch? Once you can answer these questions, it will give you a very basic schedule for the day that you can begin to fill in. Also, if you have a planner or coordinator, they help put this together as well.

My ceremony is at 6 pm and this is my timeline so far

10 am- arrive at location and meet with planner and make sure everything has been start so far

1030 am- Giving gifts to my girls and having mimosas a breakfast

1145 am- hair and makeup arrive on set

1230 pm food trucks arrive to start set up and cooking

230- florist arrives- view of venue set up

3:30- cake arrives

4- Men arrive/ I reveal my dress and look to ladies

430- pictures start of bridal parties and family

5-minister arrives

515 minister blesses both parties and bride and then groom and parents

6 pm- Ceremony starts

630- cocktail hour begins

730- reception entrance

745- dinner starts

815- speeches and dances

845- party time

12am send off/reception ends

Hi Bridget! This WeddingWire article has great timeline tips and an example timeline you can build from: 9 Wedding Day Timeline Rules Every Couple Should Follow.

Like previous posters have said - you'll need to work with your hair & makeup artist and your photographer to come up with your timeline leading up to the ceremony. Then you'll want to work with your officiant, wedding planner, and DJ or band to finalize your reception timeline!