He proposed, you said ‘yes!’ and now it’s time to plan the biggest wedding celebration of your dreams! You have vendors to book, decorations to choose, invites to send out, you’ve got it all going!

It may seem hectic, but it will all work out in the end. Every part of your wedding planning process is important, even the wedding day timeline!

A few weeks before the big day, I like to sit down with my couples and help them with their timeline. I want to make sure your day runs smoothly and we have plenty of time for portraits and any other fun activities you may be interested in.

I am sharing an example timeline based off of a ceremony time starting at 5:00 with a First Look session.

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FIRST THINGS FIRST, LOGISTICS

There are a few things to know before crafting your timeline.

• Where are you and the girls getting ready, where are the guys getting ready? Pick a room full of windows if possible. Learn a few tips about picking your getting ready spot right here!
• How are you, your groom, and your party getting to places? Party bus? Limo? Make it fun and efficient!
• Will there be a receiving line?
• How long is your ceremony?
• Will you be doing a First Look?
• What reception events are you wanting to do? Toasts, dances, tosses, etc.
• Do you want to do a fun exit? Sparklers? Confetti?

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STEP ONE: Begin early

The earlier you create your timeline, the easier it will be to make changes down the road. Having a good base will give you peace in mind and you can even show it to your vendors for more guidance!

STEP TWO: Choosing a time

The easiest way to begin creating your timeline is to set your start time for your ceremony and reception. Depending on the season, most ceremonies begin at 5:00 and last about 30 minutes.

When you have these times set, it’ll be easier to determine what time vendors should show up.

STEP THREE: Adding cushion time is KEY!

Adding 30 minutes to an hour of cushion time between some events can help save your wedding day from running off schedule. A bridal party member running behind, hitting the red lights on your way to locations, or even touching up on hair and makeup.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

• Communicate with your vendors and family members by giving them your timeline.
• Don’t leave your guests waiting too long during cocktail hour.
• Remember to factor in travel time if you are bouncing around locations.

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SAMPLE TIMELINE

9:00 a.m. – Getting ready + Bridal details
2:45 p.m. – First look
3:00 p.m. – Portraits
5:00 p.m. – Ceremony
5:40 p.m. – Family formals
6:00 p.m. – Cocktail Hour + Romantic Portraits
6:30 p.m. – Reception
10:30 p.m. – The exit

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TIMELINE BREAKDOWN

Getting ready + Bridal details

Getting ready can take time. Usually it takes about an hour for each girl to have hair and makeup done depending on how many hair and makeup artists you have.

While everyone is getting dolled up, I take photos of the bridal details such as your dress, shoes, jewelry, invitation suite, etc. The details help me warm up and are a special part of your story.

Read more on the invitation suite here: ‘Let’s Talk About Your Invitation Suite‘.

I also love to snap photos of the bride and girls getting their makeup and hair finished up. Once everyone is ready, it’s time to pop that champagne and photograph everyone in those gorgeous floral robes!

Then…it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for…getting into your dress!!! Yay! Have your girls get into their dresses first. Once mom or your MOH are ready, it’s time to get into your dress.

I also love to add a big dress reveal to the timeline. It adds more excitement and fun into your day. The most important part of your day is to have a great time! Bring some mimosas, blast your fave bops, sing your heart out.

QUICK TIPS

• Have your florist deliver your flowers (and a few extra petals) to where you’re getting ready.
• The night before, gather all of your bridal details in a box. ‘What To Set Aside For Your Wedding Photographer‘

First Look

The First Look, one of my favorite parts to a wedding day! Where you and your groom get to see each other…by yourselves…and have a moment together before the ceremony. Not too sure about a First Look? What exactly is it? What are the benefits? I got you! Head on over to ‘Why You Should Do A First Look Session‘ to read more.

Portraits

Once the First Look is done, we hop into portraits of you and your groom. Then to follow, bridal party portraits.

Ceremony

Time for the most exciting part of your day, saying “I do!” If your wedding is longer than the average ceremony length, girl that’s ok! We can make adjustments to the timeline, no problem at all.

Family Formals

Family formals are usually right after your ceremony while we still have people in one spot. These portraits last about 15-30 minutes depending on the family size. The larger your family photo list is, the less time we have for any additional portraits.

SAMPLE LIST

• Bride + Groom + Both immediate families
• Bride + Groom + Bride’s immediate family
• Bride + Groom + Groom’s immediate family
• Bride + Groom + Bride’s parents
• Bride + Groom + Groom’s parents

Cocktail Hour + Romantic Portraits

While your guests are mingling and enjoying the hour d’oeuvres, I love to photograph romantic sunset portraits of you and your husband.

Reception

You’re married!! It’s time to get your groove on! The night is full of happy faces, fun events and enjoying the delicious food.

The Exit

A fun way to end the night is doing the sparkler exit (if your venue allows). We’ll arrange your guests, hand out the sparklers, get them lit and it’s time for you two to shine.

It’s good to purchase long sparkler sticks because this will give us a lot of time so we can take our time! You’ll walk down the tunnel of guests, stop for a dip and give each other a passionate kiss while everyone cheers you on…doesn’t that sound like a dream?!

READ NEXT:

All About Including Your Furry Friend in Your Wedding

The Benefits Of An Unplugged Ceremony

12 Things You May Forget When Planning a Wedding