Everything you need to know about planning Wedding Timelines. It can be overwhelming trying to fit everything you want into your wedding day. When does your hair and makeup need to be done? When do my vendors need to arrive? What time should i eat? All important things that dont really get thought about! Thats why i’m putting this together for you! Here is How to create your own wedding timeline.
1. Start with choosing your ceremony time. When trying to choose a ceremony time, I like to plan around sunset. You can find the sunset times of your date by simply googling what it will be. A good rule of thumb is to have your ceremony two hours before sunset.
2. What time do you want to leave? You will want to decide whether you are going to have a grand exit that you want photographed or not!
3. Most weddings have a similar ending timeline ceremony, cocktail hour, reception. So what you will want to focus on first is the beginning and ending time and then squeeze what you want into that timeframe.
Timeline Examples
6Hr timeline (most popular) With First Look
12pm- Photographer arrives and sets up/ checks out the venue lighting and locations.
12:20- Detail shots, wedding shoes, rings, ties, special momentos, florals, jewelry, flatlay shots all things to think about having ready by this point. I like to recommend putting a bridesmaid or mother in charge of making sure they know where these things are.
12:40- Groom Getting Ready photos. These dont have to be crazy, just a couple shots of him with his buddies or brothers or whoever he wants there doing some last min touches. You will want these!
1pm- Bride getting Ready photos (Last min touches like lip gloss, adding the veil or hairpiece, putting on shoes) Getting the dress on!
1:30- Bride and Groom First look and formal portraits- This is my favorite way to do wedding days because it gives you a great amount of non stress time to get the shots of just you two that we need and want! A lot of people are exhausted and just want to get things over with after their ceremony and want to skip these portraits and just do family photos which are usually chaotic and the most unenjoyable part. You will absolutely regret not getting photos of just you two.
2:30- Ceremony. Most last between 20-30 mins
3pm- Hugs, cocktail hour and friends + family photos
4pm- Reception starts. Eat dinner
4:45- Cut The Cake
4:50- Speeches if you choose to do them, or classic things like the garter and bouquet toss.
5:10- First Dances
5:30- Sunset Photos
6pm- Photographer leaves and you party on
8 HR Timeline
12pm- Photographer arrives and sets up/ checks out the venue lighting and locations.
12:20- Detail shots, wedding shoes, rings, ties, special momentos, florals, jewelry, flatlay shots all things to think about having ready by this point. I like to recommend putting a bridesmaid or mother in charge of making sure they know where these things are.
12:40- Groom Getting Ready photos. These dont have to be crazy, just a couple shots of him with his buddies or brothers or whoever he wants there doing some last min touches. You will want these!
1pm- Bride getting Ready photos (Last min touches like lip gloss, adding the veil or hairpiece, putting on shoes) Getting the dress on!
1:30- Bride and Groom First look and formal portraits- This is my favorite way to do wedding days because it gives you a great amount of non stress time to get the shots of just you two that we need and want! A lot of people are exhausted and just want to get things over with after their ceremony and want to skip these portraits and just do family photos which are usually chaotic and the most unenjoyable part. You will absolutely regret not getting photos of just you two.
3:30- Ceremony. Most last between 20-30 mins
4pm- Hugs, cocktail hour and friends + family photos
5pm- Reception starts. Eat dinner
5:45- Cut The Cake
6pm- Speeches if you choose to do them, or classic things like the garter and bouquet toss.
6:15- First Dances
7pm- Sunset Photos
8pm- Photographer leaves and you party on
6Hr timeline No First Look
2pm- Photographer Arrives
2:30- Detail shots, Getting ready photos
3:30- Ceremony Starts
4pm- Family photos
5pm- Reception/ Dinner starts
6pm- Cut Cake, Speeches, games
6:30- First Dances
7pm- Sunset Photos
8pm- Photographer leaves
8Hr timeline No First Look
12pm- Photographer Arrives
12:30- Detail shots, Getting ready photos
1:30- Break Before ceremony, you can do parent/ friend first looks here
3:30- Ceremony Starts
4pm- Family photos
5pm- Reception/ Dinner starts
6pm- Cut Cake, Speeches, games
6:30- First Dances
7pm- Sunset Photos
8pm- Photographer leaves
Things to Note
Make sure you schedule things like hair and makeup, breakfast and times for your other vendors to arrive 2 hrs before the time your photographer arrives, this way no one is standing around or in anyones way. Your hair and makeup team will help you decide when they should arrive depending on how many people need to have services done. Have fun, try not to freak out, and don’t sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day, nobody remembers whether or not you were on time, they remember the food, the music, and most importantly, the vibe of the group you’ve brought together.
Wedding Florals to DIY or NOT
Why can’t you DIY your wedding florals? Wedding Florals to DIY or NOT. If you’re planning your wedding you either have already found out or are about to find the price of florals is extensive. Flowers are just expensive alone, then add on paying the florist and it is painful. Now don’t get me wrong florists earn every penny they charge and it is well deserved. I thought i’d put together a little guide to help you decide whether florals are something you need to hire out or if you can handle them yourself.
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