Wedding Day Timeline

If you’ve hired a professional for hair or makeup, I would ask them how much time they need for the number of people using their services. That will dictate the “getting ready” portion of your day. This is our timeline for a 4:30 pm ceremony. We aren’t doing any tosses. We decided to do the cake cutting immediately so that we don’t have to interrupt open dance floor time and older guests can feel free to leave.

8 am- hair arrives for setup, Caytlyn’s bridal party arrives

8:30 am- hair begins

9 am- Whitney’s bridal party arrives, makeup begins

12 pm- photographers and videographers arrive, detail shots, getting ready photos

1:45- bridal party gets dressed

2 pm- Caytlyn gets into dress, bridal photos

2:30 pm- first look

3 pm- BP photos

4 pm- end photos, touch up hair and makeup

4:25 pm- begin lining up for processional

4:30 pm- ceremony begins

5 pm- cocktail hour begins, family photos begin

5:20 pm- family joins cocktail hour, couples photos alone

6 pm- grand entrances into reception

6:05 pm- welcome speech

6:10 pm- prayer

6:15pm- dinner is served

7 pm- Speeches, Dinner continues

7:15 pm- first dance

7:20 pm- spotlight dances

7:30 pm- cake cutting

7:35 pm- open dance floor

9:50 pm- last dance for guests
10 pm- last dance, couple alone

Hey Hannah!! Congratulations on being so close to your wedding!! You must be so excited!!

If you are trying to nail down your timeline, you should start with things that have to start at a specific time, like your ceremony and work from there. How long do you have in your venue? Do you have to finish up at a certain time?