How to create your wedding day timeline
Updated: Mar 8
Your wedding day is going to feel like it flies by, it will go in the blink of an eye and quite honestly, you will have no idea what the time is most of the day. This is the exact reason you need a timeline for your wedding day, so your venue and suppliers know exactly when they need to arrive, how the day is going to run and to keep it on track.
I get asked all the time, and it's not surprising, as it's probably the first wedding you've planned, but where do you even start with the timeline? Well, don't worry, this blog post is for you. Go put the kettle on, grab a coffee and let's work through this together!
#1: Start with the key times first
#5: It's totally ok to do it your way
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#1. Start with the key times of your wedding day first
To get the schedule rolling start with what time your ceremony is, this is a pretty non negotiable time and helps you work out the rest. Add in the time when your suppliers are allowed on site. You will probably have been given a time by your venue as to when all your guests need to be offsite/the party needs to finish, pop this one in too. Putting the "set in stone" times will give you an idea of what you're working with.
#2: Work backwards
This sounds a little bonkers I know, but stick with me. You have your key times, let's say your ceremony is at 1pm, so work out when you need to leave to get to there. You will want your make up to be last, but you don't want to be getting in your dress any later than 1 hour before you leave for your ceremony (I know, it seems crazy, but trust me on this one, no one wants to be stress dressed!), so put your make up time at 2/3 hours before your ceremony... You get the picture!
#3: Fill in the gaps
Have you been to weddings where there are long gaps and a little bit of a lull? Think about what you want your guests to be doing. Do you need to provide entertainment, food, drink or something wild and outside the box?
#4: Plan in contingency time
This kinda contradicts the last point, but make sure there are some little gaps, some contingency time for things to slightly over run. Allow for things like traffic, technical problems or the speeches are longer than you expect. It doesn't have to be huge chunks of time, but it allows adaptation if something does get delayed.
#5: It's totally ok to do it your way
Obviously this is a very traditional way of building a timeline for your wedding day, but if you want to throw this out of the window and do it your way, then do so. Sunrise wedding? Brunch wedding? Sunset wedding? It doesn't have to be 1pm.
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Let's build your timeline
The key times
9am - Suppliers can arrive on site
1pm - Ceremony
7pm - Evening guests arrive
12am - Guests must leave the venue
Work backwards
8.30am - Breakfast
9am - Suppliers can arrive on site
9.45am - Bridal hair starts (1 hour before make up)
10.45am - Bridal make up starts (1 hour before getting dressed)
11.45am - Bride gets dressed (1 hour before due to leave)
12.45pm - Wedding party leave for ceremony (assuming 15 mins to get there)
12.15pm - Groom and guests arrive at wedding
1pm - Ceremony
1.45pm - Confetti shot (assuming 30 mins ceremony)
2.15pm - Canapés and drinks (15 mins for confetti shot, 15 mins to get to reception)
3.40pm - Guests seated for wedding breakfast (1hr 30mins for canapés and drinks)
4pm - Wedding breakfast is served (20 mins to seat all guests)
7pm - Evening guests arrive
7.30pm - Cake cutting followed by first dance (30 mins to mingle with new guests)
8pm - Time to party! (30 mins for cake cutting and first dance)
9pm - Evening food
12am - Guests must leave the venue
Fill the gaps
8.30am - Breakfast
9am - Suppliers can arrive on site
9.45am - Bridal hair starts
10.45am - Bridal make up starts
11.45am - Bride gets dressed
12.15pm - Wedding party shots (get some photos with your besties before you climb in the car)
12.15pm - Groom and guests arrive at wedding
12.45pm - Wedding party leave for ceremony
1pm - Ceremony
1.45pm - Confetti shot
2.15pm - Canapés and drinks
2.30pm - 3pm - Couples shots (have these before you start mingling, so you aren't pulled away)
2.30pm - 3.30pm - Magician
3.40pm - Guests seated for wedding breakfast
4pm - Wedding breakfast is served (2 hours for wedding breakfast)
6pm - Speeches (always plan longer than you think for speeches, I would always say an hour, assuming 4 speeches)
7pm - Evening guests arrive
7.30pm - Cake cutting followed by first dance
8pm - Time to party!
9pm - Evening food
12am - Guests must leave the venue
Contingency time
8.30am - Breakfast
9am - Suppliers can arrive on site
9.45am - Bridal hair starts
10.45am - Bridal make up starts
11.45am - Bride gets dressed
Getting dressed an hour before leaving stops any stress and allows extra time
12.15pm - Wedding party shots
12.15pm - Groom and guests arrive at wedding
12.45pm - Wedding party leave for ceremony
1pm - Ceremony
1.45pm - Confetti shot
The confetti shot will be a quick shot, allowing an extra 5 mins
2.15pm - Canapés and drinks
2.30pm - 3pm - Couples shots
2.30pm - 3.30pm - Magician
3.40pm - Guests seated for wedding breakfast
It doesn't always take 20 mins to seat people, but it's better to have that extra time allowed
4pm - Wedding breakfast is served
6pm - Speeches
7pm - Evening guests arrive
7.30pm - Cake cutting followed by first dance
8pm - Time to party!
9pm - Evening food
12am - Guests must leave the venue
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Wedding Day Timeline FAQ's
Which comes first, hair or makeup?
Hair will typically be done first, as styling tools get hot and can cause perspiration. This can't always happen, due to time restrictions, in which case try to avoid having hair products sprayed too close to your face after your makeup is done.
How long does the typical ceremony last?
A church ceremony is usually around 45 mins to an hour, a celebrant/registrar ceremony is normally a little shorter, around 30 to 45 mins.
When does a wedding normally end?
This depends on your venue and the time restrictions they have in place, but normally somewhere between 12am - 1am.
I want to fit so much into my day, how do I fit it in?
I'm afraid it's not good news, but start early... like, super early. Have an earlier wedding and make the day after your ceremony longer.
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