Day of Schedule

My ceremony starts at 4pm, but we are also doing a first look. Here is an outline of my day:

11am--hair and makeup arrives

2pm--first look

2:15--4pm--pictures w/full wedding party and any family we can wrangle that early

4pm--ceremony

4:30--5:30pm--cocktail hour

5:30pm--intro wedding party and B&G to reception; first dance

5:45pm--dinner starts

6:30pm--dance floor open

9:30pm--last dance; B&G exit

There's probably going to be a flurry of activity in the hours before 11am, but it's too early yet to decide things like, when I'll get up, have breakfast, etc. I'm hoping to have my BMs stay with me the night before (there's a hotel 5 minutes from the venue where we'll be staying), so that we can all get ready together. Also, the arrival of the hair and makeup stylists may fluctuate some, depending on the number of girls getting services. But that's the basic timeline.

Getting ready & pre-wedding photos (pics that can be taken without the B&G together) timeline will depend on the amount of people you have in your wedding party. Ceremony length will also be determined by you and your officiant, but most ceremonies don't last more than 20-30 minutes (unless you are having a Catholic one). Here is what your schedule could possibly look like, but keep in mind that everyone's day of timeline is different and should be determined between you and your vendors:

4:00- Ceremony

4:30 to 5:30- Cocktail Hour & Pictures

5:40- Grand Entrance

5:45- First Dance

5:55- Blessing of the food / dinner is served

6:30- Toasts

6:45- Cake Cutting

7:00- Father/Daughter Dance & Mother/Son Dance

7:15- Dance Floor Opens up for the night

8:15- Bouquet & Garter Toss

9:30- Last Song

9:45- Grand Exit

10:00- Reception Ends

Ceremony begins at 4pm (i'm assuming it's not an hour long ceremony)

4:30pm-5pm Receiving line

5pm Cocktail hour with some light music playing/Wedding Party pictures

6pm Wedding party introductions (you can also move right into your first dance if you'd like or you can cut the cake here)

6:15pm Toasts/Greetings

6:30pm Dinner (Light dinner music)

7pm Greet your guests at the tables and/or cut the cake

7:30pm First dances

7:45pm Open dance floor/extra photography sessions if wanted

9:45pm-10:30pm Optional garter toss, Bouquet toss, bridal dance (you can serve special treats if you want)

10:30pm-11pm Last dances and goodbyes/sendoff

Move everything around time-wise depending on how many guests and the order of activities you decide to go with.

Welcome to the WeddingWire community, Paige

I always advise couples that the best way to go about building your day of timeline is starting at the end, or with any concrete times, and working your way backwards!

Here are two WeddingWire articles and two previous community discussions I hope you will find helpful in building this timeline -

9 Wedding Day Timeline Rules Every Couple Should Follow - includes sample timeline!

The Ultimate Wedding Photography Timeline

Timeline

Timeline