Wedding day timeline

This is a rough draft timeline I've done for a 3:30 ceremony if you wanna use this as a template and adjust the times accordingly! Not super intricate in terms of getting ready (only three bridesmaids all doing their own hair and makeup). I also didn't allot a whole lot of dancing time so you may want to change that for yours, ours is a Sunday wedding so we're just trying to get everyone home at a decent hour in case they don't take off the next day. Hope this helps a little!

9:30 Arrive at venue to begin setup
11:30 Brief lunch break/begin getting ready
1:45 Pre-wedding photos (bride w/ her family, groom w/ his family, bride & bridesmaid, groom & groomsmen)
2:45 Finish photos to return to bride/groom suite (snack, relax, shake the nerves lol)
3:10 Early bird guests start to arrive
3:30 Invite time
3:40 Ceremony Begins (to accommodate late comers if necessary)
4:05 Ceremony Ends/Guests move to reception area
4:10 Cocktail Hour/Post Ceremony Photos
5:10 Introduction of Bride & Groom/First Dance
5:20 Welcome (Father of the Bride)
5:25 Prayer from Groom's grandfather
5:30 Dinner begins (buffet style)
6:15 Toasts
6:30 Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Dances
6:40 Dancing
7:20 Cake cutting
7:35 Bouquet/Garter Toss
7:45 Sunset photos
8:10 Last Dance
8:15 Send Off

I'd consult your photographer and HAMU artist first. I'd plan the first look at 4:30 PM. I'd plan 1 hour per service for HAMU.

Obviously, all times can be adjusted. Keep in mind that if you end up doing a cocktail hour your guests won't be eating until the later part of the night so that's why I have the cake cutting happen later on instead of before dinner. Your guests will likely be hungry.

11am brunch with your bridesmaids

12pm makeup/getting ready

3pm Wedding party photos

3:30pm First look

4:30pm hide from guests/return to bridal suite

5pm early bird guests arrive

5:30pm ceremony begins

6pm ceremony ends/guests leave the ceremony site

6:30pm cocktail hour begins/mingle with guests (this can move a half hour if needed)

7;30pm introductions

7:45pm Toasts/first course

8pm entree course

8:15pm first dances

8:30pm open dance floor

9:30pm cut the cake

10pm wrap up with garter/bouquet toss

I kind of had a hard time with my timeline too, keeping all vendor contracts in mind (mostly all 8 hour contracts). This is for our 4 PM ceremony and only a rough draft.
10 AM: arrive to venue
10-11 AM: bridal brunch/lunch and HYDRATE
11 AM: hmua team arrives and starts makeup (3 people)
1 PM: photographer arrives and does details photos while we finish with hair/makeup
1:30-2:45 PM: bridal getting ready photos, pop champagne in robes, girls photos
2:15-2:45 PM: second photographer shooter takes groom getting ready photos and guys pictures
2:50-3:30 PM: first look, couple portraits
4 PM: ceremony start
4:30 PM: family photos
5 PM: cocktail hour
6 PM: bride/groom entrance into reception
6:15 PM: Buffett dinner served —> bride and groom sneak out for sunset photos
6:45 PM: thank you speeches
7 PM: first dance — dad/daughter dance
7:10: Dance party
8:30 PM: ice cream bar and cake cutting
9 PM: bride groom sneak out for night photos
10:30 PM: send off

We got married on a Friday at 5 PM. Ceremony and reception in one location. We had 3 people getting make up done, 3 adult updos and 4 child updos. We added on 3 adults getting their hair curled. The salon chose the time. We started HMU at 12. We were supposed to be done by 2 but they were late. The photo timeline is as follows:
2pm Steve w/tie & jacket2:30pm Bride getting ready (dressed mom/Julie); dressed by this time (leave off jewelry)
2:50pm Lisa pin boutonnière on Steve
3pm first look, portraits
3:45pm Bridal party
4pm immediate family both sides, mom’s family
4:30pm done


I didn't really make a timeline after that. Our ceremony began at 5 and we had a half hour allotted for that. It probably took 15 minutes at most. Next was cocktail hour, first dance, dinner, parents dances then dancing. We didn't do speeches, cake cutting, announcements, garter/bouquet toss, etc.

Ask your photographer! We are doing a first look and our ceremony is at 5. Our photographer mapped out the whole day for us and had all of the girls being ready by 12.