Building An Accurate Wedding Day Timeline

One of the most important aspects of your wedding will most certainly be your day-of timeline. An accurate timeline is key to your day running as smoothly as possible. 

The ideal timeline encompasses all wedding activities, not just the start and end time of the wedding ceremony and reception. Think about all the things you'll be doing before you even get to the ceremony: getting ready, taking pictures, travel, are all things that should be accounted for on your timeline. 

This helpful infographic highlights some key areas of your wedding day that will impact your timeline:

Hair and Make-up: The wedding party's hair and makeup service should have a schedule that is incorporated into your overall timeline. Make sure you note what time the hair and makeup artists are arriving, their set-up time, and how much time they require for each service. If the wedding party is going off-site for hair and makeup, take into consideration travel time to and from the salon/studio so that everyone has enough time to get dressed after hair and makeup.

Photography: When mapping out your day, make sure you have enough time to get all of the shots you'd like your photographer to capture. Consider whether you want to take photos before the ceremony, and make sure you build enough photo time in your timeline. Consult with your photographer on your shot list and be sure to clearly communicate your expectations about what you'd like covered so the photographer can ensure there's enough time as well.

Travel and Transportation: Make sure you factor in any travel taking place on your wedding day. Will you be getting ready at a different location from the ceremony? Will you be traveling from the ceremony to a different location for the reception? Will you be traveling off-site to take photos? Any travel should be timed and documented on your timeline, giving yourself cushion time is highly recommended. If you're providing shuttle service for your guests at any point, make sure you schedule enough time for the guests to arrive on time to their destination. 

Ceremony Length: Most non-denominational ceremonies last around 30 minutes, while religious ceremonies can vary anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Make sure to account for the right amount of time for your ceremony to make sure that you don't cut other events i.e. your cocktail hour, or transportation time if guests are going to a different location for the reception.

Reception Activities: When mapping out your timeline, make sure you take note of all activities including introductions, cake-cutting blessings, speeches, dances, special performances, etc. Be sure to consult with the caterer to ensure that your reception activities algin with the timing of dinner service so that the evening flows smoothly for you and your guests. 

Mapping out your whole day from beginning to end, will give you peace of mind on your wedding day, and will help your vendor team stay on track to ensure you have a memorable wedding day!