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Chelsea
Dedicated December 2020

The Day of the Wedding

Chelsea, on January 21, 2020 at 12:52 AM Posted in Planning 0 9
I am having a bit of anxiety regarding the day of the wedding. Particularly about the schedules and timelines... And before you say it, a wedding coordinator or day of coordinator is NOT in the budget (unless y'all know someone in New Braunfels, TX who will help for $500 or under). I am considering asking, and paying a small thank you, to a friend of a friend to be an extra set if hands, ears, and eyes the day of for us. I also have been easing some my anxieties with drafting timelines for getting ready but feel a little stuck as to the actual event details.
Do any of you have a wedding event timeline to share? How are you timing everything out? Those who also can't afford a coordinator, what do y'all plan to do to keep things flowing for the ceremony and reception?

Thanks a bunch!

9 Comments

Latest activity by Chelsea, on January 21, 2020 at 9:12 PM
  • Dierdra
    Super August 2021
    Dierdra ·
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    Have you booked a photographer yet? I only ask because ours helped establish our timeline relative to sunset. What is your wedding date? And what are you thinking so far?

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  • Anna
    Super April 2020
    Anna ·
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    I thought i was the only one going crazy lol. Today was my day off and all i did was look at my timeline. I'm scared i might be rushing at the end. I have talked to both venue and the photographer and they don't help. All they do is mess up timeline lol. Buti even sent it to my friend, who got married at the same church i am. She told me not to eat after i get my hair done. I'm like so when do i eat? I can't go all day without eating, i'll faint. I want to do my makeup after my hair. In the end, just do the best you can. We can't be obsessing over the timeline lol.

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  • C
    Super January 2020
    Cassie ·
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    I originally wasn’t hiring a coordinator but ended up finding one that had pricing by the hour, I told her my max budget and she told me what she could do. She won’t be there for the rehearsal but she will arrive a few hours before the ceremony to set up and stay to help clean up. I still did my own timeline but I based it off what my hair and makeup artist gave me and my DJ had given me one as well to work with. I made adjustments and sent it back to them. If you don’t have a coordinator I think your DJ will be able to help keep you on schedule.
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  • John Smith
    Expert February 2015
    John Smith ·
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    If you don't have a day-of coordinator then I highly recommend having trusted friends whom you can delegate tasks too. When my cousin got married, my aunt had a massive white board with all of the jobs on them and who was assigned to them. That way everyone knew exactly what they were supposed to do and what everyone else was doing. Schedule a meeting with everyone who will be helping and make sure they understand their tasks and the timeline for when things need to get done. More often than not, things take longer than expected, so be sure to incorporate some buffer time.


    Also, talk to your vendors (especially your hair/makeup person and photographer) and have them establish timelines for you. They've done this all before and will know better than you how much time is needed. And for hair and makeup, always schedule extra time! You don't want to feel rushed at all.


    Your officiant will keep the ceremony moving at the appropriate pace, and your DJ is in charge of announcing the events for the reception, so make sure you and him/her are on the same page. The town where I'm getting married has a sound ordinance, so we're going to do all of the speeches during dinner, and then all of the "ceremonial dances" and then open up the dance floor. (We're still trying to figure out when to cut the cake). We're going to have the schedule of events listed on a wooden palette, so the guests will know when everything is happening!


    The more organizing you do beforehand, the more relaxed you can be on the day of the wedding. You want to be able to enjoy that as much as possible, so bring in all the reinforcements you can!

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  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
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    I kept the schedule up myself. i had a doc but he was only for setting up my reception while the ceremony was going on.

    create a timeline and you can let your wedding party members know it so that they could also help keep it in tact.

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  • Chelsea
    Dedicated December 2020
    Chelsea ·
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    Yes, we have the photographer and they actually got me to start thinking timelines!
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  • Chelsea
    Dedicated December 2020
    Chelsea ·
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    Omg! Yes I have just been creating timelines over and over. I added time for a breakfast and a small lunch/snack while I get ready!! I can't not eat
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  • Chelsea
    Dedicated December 2020
    Chelsea ·
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    Omg thank you. This was so helpful! I LOVE the white board idea!!! I have a lot of helpful family who I think will pitch in and help. I will also talk with all my vendors for sure!
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  • Chelsea
    Dedicated December 2020
    Chelsea ·
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    Thanks everyone! I am already feeling more at ease!
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