What Should My Wedding Timeline Look Like?
You just got engaged and you don't know where to begin. Everyone's wedding day is different but let us help you with a general timeline to build on to make your day what you want it to be.
Let me preface by saying you do not have to follow this exactly, but let it give you a time reference on how long things can take. I will break down each moment for you and how they can fit into your wedding day. Everyone wants the perfect day, and it all starts with structured planning and preparation. When you complete your own timeline, it is important to go over it with your vendors to listen to their input as well. This may be your first wedding, but they are versed with experience and knowledge that can help you.
Getting Ready
You may start getting ready early in the morning, such as hair and makeup. It is great to have your media team (Photographer/Videographer) there in the last hour of that getting ready. In this time, they will be able to get those stunning detail shots as well as some of your bridal party getting ready. They aren't miracle workers, give them this time to get shots and settled into the venue.
Getting Into Your Dress
Once your hair and makeup are done, it's time to get cozy in your dress. This usually does not take long, but don't forget to capture the finishing of the dress. Someone important to you that buttons your last few buttons or places the veil in your hair. These are vital photos and videos that you will definitely want in your gallery. During this time also take a moment to enjoy the intimate moment with those helping you get into your dress, it means a lot.
Bridal Party Photos / Father First Look
This is a great way to save time after your ceremony. After you and your bridesmaids get into their dresses, let the photographer/videographer take you to an area where the groom cannot see. You get some time to capture moments with your bridal party before the ceremony. Once you got all the photos/videos you want with your party, you can do a first look with your dad. This is optional but we have seen it become more and more popular and this would be the time to fit that into your timeline.
Groom Get Ready
The Groom and Groomsmen usually show up just ready to go, which is a comedic contrast to the intricacies of a bride and bridesmaid’s routine. It is okay if they are already dressed and ready to go. The Photographer/Videographer will be able to get shots of him "getting ready" telling the crew prompts that mimic getting ready.
Groom & Groomsmen Photos
A group of guys getting their pictures together... what can go wrong? The last thing you want is someone to tear their pants or rip of buttons right before the ceremony. These Photos/Videos are more relaxed to capture the Groom and Groomsman. You can save the throwing people in the air for after the ceremony. It is nice to do this stuff before the ceremony because it saves time for individual portraits.
First Look
If you plan to do a Bride and Groom first look, this would be the best place to fit it. Some like waiting until the ceremony for the first look, others like having an intimate moment together before the ceremony. This is all preference on how you want your wedding day to go.
Ceremony
This part is where everyone gets scared...Don't. I have seen ceremonies that are 5 Minutes and I have seen some that are 45 Minutes. So, this is what you make it. I recommend anywhere from 15-30 minutes for your ceremony, which includes everyone walking down the aisle. All in all, don't over complicate your ceremony, make it your own and don’t forget to stop and kiss halfway down the aisle.
Family & Wedding Party Photos
Important! Have your officiant announce at the end of the ceremony to have immediate family hang around for photos. This will save time, preventing everyone from dispersing and trying to regather your family members. It's even harder if people start drinking. Another thing to help this part go as smooth as possible is to communicate with your media crew. Sit down with your fiancé and write down your photo combinations. If you have your combinations wrote down and printed off, the photographer can call out the names and get the pictures. Your photographer will love you for this and you won't miss any family members.
Cocktail Hour
While you get your pictures/videos after the ceremony, this is where guests will be. This one is an easy one. If you get done with pictures early, which can happen, then I recommend joining your guests for the end of cocktail hour.
Bride & Groom Photos
Everyone's favorite photos and videos of the day. If you hire a good media team, they will help keep you two comfortable and make this part a breeze. This part can go a few ways depending on what kind of photographer you hire. Some are good at posing, others good at prompts that create "candids". Whichever you choose, this is where you want to allocate some time. If family and wedding party photos take too long, it can eat into this time. But these are the photos that you are going to have hanging on your walls for years to come.
Entrances
This is the kick-off to your reception. This is where the DJ takes over in keeping the pace for the rest of the night. He will communicate with the media team to make sure they are ready for what you have planned. That is why it is important to share your timeline with all vendors. Entrances are what you make of them, some keep it simple, and others go crazy, make sure you relay this to your wedding party, so you are all on the same page.
The Dances
As Bride and Groom, you tend to enter last into the reception. While you are up and everyone is still seated, this is a good time to go smoothly into your first dance. If you put your first dance after dinner, you risk the chance of people still getting dessert or drinks during the dance. After your first dance, you can go into the other traditional dances that you have planned. As I have seen weddings with different approaches, this is the one that flows the best.
Dinner
By this point in the day, people start to get hangry. The snacks during cocktail hour are wearing off and it's time for real food. On the other hand, as Bride and Groom, you probably haven't eaten all day. It is a common occasion to have speeches before dinner. The sad truth with this is that guest’s minds are already on what’s for dinner, rather than what the speaker is saying. So, it is in everyone's best interest to get some food in their system.
Speeches
Some people have 2 speeches, some have 6, your preference who you want to say a few words. It is best to do this after dinner for multiple reasons, I'll give you two big ones. People will be a lot happier after they eat, including bride and groom. People will also have drinks at this point to be able to toast to speeches (depending on how you set your tables). Another thing to look out for is long speeches. Have someone you trust read the speeches and make sure that there is no unwanted words or phrases as well. A thing to remember is that speeches are not meant to be roasts. I get the joke here and there but just something to look out for to keep them below 30 minutes as a whole.
Cake Cutting
You can go into cake cutting right after speeches are complete. This typically doesn't take more than 5 minutes, but it's good to allot some more time as buffer. Another thing you should talk about is if you are going to smash the cake or not. If that is something that you want to do, let your partner know; it always makes for fun pictures.
Bouquet & Garter Toss
This can also be fit into open floor dancing or before. It is a great way to get your guests engaged with what is going on. DO NOT be afraid to call people out to get them to catch. The DJ can facilitate this by getting people up and ready. The Photographer/Videographer will tell you the best place to do it as they have probably already scouted the best spot.
Dollar Dance
Some people like doing the dollar dance as tradition with some folk music, but it is up to you. It is a great way to get to talk with a lot of your guests and get some honeymoon money. This can also be placed during open dancing as a way to get some more people on the dance floor.
Open Dance Floor
This is the time to relax. You can talk to your guests, family members, or whoever you want. One thing not to forget, this is your wedding, so have fun. Get out on the dance floor and bust some moves. If you get a good DJ, he will know what to play to keep people out there dancing.
Send Off
You made it through your wedding day, and it is time to drive off. Some like to have extravagant exits with sparklers or bubbles and others like to keep it lowkey. Choose what suits you best. You can Irish exit if you want; this is your wedding. We have also seen mock exits in the past. Let me explain. By the end of the night, most of your guests have left so your sparkler exit may not look exactly how you wanted it to. If you do a mock exit earlier in the night, it will have more guests to contribute to your "exit". Not something that I am telling you to do, just something that we have seen personally.
Whatever you plan, I am sure it will be amazing. I have put the whole timeline below as a reference to use in your planning. Another thing to keep in mind is that there is a thing called "wedding time.” This is where things do not go exactly how you planned them, when you planned them. Remember, in the end, as long as you get married, you did it right!
