7 Steps to a Flawless Wedding Schedule
Turn your dream wedding into a reality with the perfect wedding day timeline!
There’s no getting around it: planning a wedding is stressful.
With guest lists, catering, and everything in between, coordination can take countless hours. If you’re a first-time bride, it’s difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to help you plan your wedding day schedule for success. With our template, you can rely on your timeline and focus on your wedding.
Get wedding inspiration and set your limits.
Think about the wedding of your dreams. What does it look like? Do you want to get up early and have breakfast with your bridesmaids? Do you want to get married outside at sunset? Write a list of things that are important to you. Use it as a resource when consulting with your vendors.
Speak with your venue(s) about any possible time restrictions. Do you need to be packed up & gone by a certain time? Is there another ceremony earlier in the day? Before you map out all the details, you need to know what you’re working with.
2. Start with the ceremony timeline.
Talk to your officiant. Is there a certain time you need to have your ceremony? Will there be a teaching? Vow exchange? Personalized vows? Religious readings? Ring exchange? Record all the steps of the ceremony and estimate a time for each to get an idea of its length. If you choose to dismiss your guests or have a receiving line after the ceremony, be sure to budget enough time.
3. Consult with your photographer and videographer.
What time are they getting there? What expectations do you have for them? What time do they need you to be ready for photos? How long do they need set aside for formal portraits? We include a timeline planning meeting in every photography package, but each professional will have their own approach. At our meetings, we’ll walk through a couple’s day moment by moment and set times for everything.
Wedding Photography IDEAS to Add to Your Timeline
Will you be doing a first look (with your fiancé, father, bridesmaids)? Will you be exchanging gifts before the ceremony? Reading letters? Wearing matching robes with your girls? Do you want to your guests to blow bubbles/throw flower petals as they exit? Do you want a reception exit with sparklers?
4. Add alone time.
Using the guidance of your vendors, set times for your ceremony and reception. I recommend budgeting some downtime between the two for you and your new spouse to slow it down and enjoy the moment. I promise your guests won’t mind waiting.
5. Find out when you need to start hair and make-up.
Once you have a time set for the ceremony and guidelines from your vendors, plan the rest of the day accordingly. What time do you need to be ready? List everything you need to do and how long each thing will take. If you have a hair and makeup artist, consult with them.Always be generous with your time allocations, and give yourself an extra hour or two of downtime before your photos. If you’re running behind (which happens often), you’ll still be on schedule. If you’re on time, you can relax and hang out. I also suggest my brides add an hour or two of ‘chill time’ to the beginning of the day as well, so they can hang out with their girls & leisurely start getting ready. Give yourself plenty of time. The day will go by fast & feeling rushed is the worst!
6. Plan your reception timeline.
Are you doing toasts, dinner, dancing, reception games, bouquet toss, garter removal, or anything else?! There are so many different reception traditions, decide what you’re doing and speak with your DJ to finalize the details.
7. Stick to your schedule, but know it’s just a guideline.
After countless phone calls & emails, you’ve finally finished making your wedding schedule! Now it needs to be put into action. Whether it’s your day-of coordinator or matron of honor, make sure someone is keeping you on track so you can focus on the fun. Instead of trying to follow your schedule to the exact minute, accept that won’t happen. Use it mostly to make sure you won’t forget any important moments. Add a page at the end listing all your vendors and their contact information, then send it to everyone in your bridal party, vendors, close family, and officiant. If you are delegating tasks to people in your bridal party, put their names in the schedule so everyone’s on the same page.
The key to a successful wedding is communication. It’s nice to work with professionals who can make your day perfect, but at the end of the day, your wedding is a celebration of commitment between you and your partner. Congratulations on this exciting time in your life! I wish you the best of luck as you move forward with your planning. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions regarding weddings, services, scheduling and beyond!
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