Wedding weekend timeline for Bridesmaids

I plan to do something similar, because I'm super organized too. However there were a few things that stuck out to me:

1) Why do they need to be dressed for the rehearsal?

2) Will that be enough time for you and your bridesmaids to get ready? Are you having a professional for each person? It just doesn't seem like enough time for one or two professionals to be able to do everyone's hair and make up.

3) Why is the MOH announcing "stand for the bride" instead of the officiate?

4) Instead of saying "someone to take pictures, someone to manage cameras, someone to set up first dance, etc..." I would delegate these tasks to specific people so people don't get confused and think someone else was taking care of it.

Danielle I totally agree with u that time frame for hair and makeup doesn’t seem like it’s anywhere near enough time. And then also to say we need someone it seems like your bridal party has a lot of responsibilities the day of your wedding... I plan on make a wedding day timeline but for the people in my wedding that will be doing things they already know who they are so like Danielle said I won’t have everyone saying I thought someone else was doing it....

I think it's good for you to give them a timeline. I guess my one suggestion would be to perhaps hire a DOC or a videographer as opposed to asking your BP to do all of this. I've been a BM 9 times, and I've been asked to do stuff like help grab all the gifts afterwards or help me bustle my dress, but you are asking your BP to work during your wedding, which I do think is a bit much. You aren't really giving them the opportunity to enjoy the cocktail hour or the reception.

I agree with PP that the officiant should be the one to announce you as opposed to the MOH.

I think giving them the outline of the day is good, I would just try to come up with an alternative for the cameras/video taping. I don't know much about Wedit cameras and how easy they are to use, but if I was asked to do that, i would feel a lot of pressure like if I messed up something with the camera I would ruin your whole day. I personally wouldn't want to ask that of my friends. Though I don't know your BP, maybe there are some that are really good with videography. I also agree with PP, if you are going to do this, pick someone, don't ask them to volunteer. I would then pick your most responsible friend who you know doesn't drink a lot and see if they'd be willing. I understand if you have budget constraints and might not be able to hire someone to help with this. I would probably ask a family member who is not in the wedding party to handle it, so my BP can enjoy the day more.

Did you MOH volunteer to be the contact for your photographer? There's no reason you can't answer your phone.

The "what we need from you" sections are silly. Since there is a rehearsal you should cut the parts about "walking downstairs" and "walk through the curtain". Also, if you want someone to be recording almost every moment of your day, you should hire a videographer. Bridesmaids are there to have fun at the reception, not work. I would be really put-off by all of that as a bm. Why should they be responsible for all the cameras and videos and things that you want? I would not be doing that and I think it's kind of rude to expect it.

Other than the "what we need from you" sections, I think your timeline is fine and I would appreciate having it as a bm.

I would be very overwhelmed if I were in your bridal party and received a timeline like that. I would try to cut down on the "what we need from you" part.

I love this I am going to use it!

How many ladies will be getting ready? I had 4 hair and makeup artist and 6 and a flower girl and it took from 9:15am-1pm to do all our hair and makeup. Just want to make sure you’re giving enough time to get ready.

View Quoted Comment 1) we’re going straight from the rehearsal to the rehearsal dinner, so they’d need to either be dressed for it or have things to change into for it
2) it’ll be one person doing 3 girls, and 1-2 are doing their own makeup
3) officiant is my brother who is also walking me down the aisle, so he won’t be there to say it
4) oh yeah I totally plan to delegate these but I was going to send out as is just so they’re aware of whats going to be needed to be done, and then once we delegate to specific people we’ll update it

View Quoted Comment The wedit cameras are literal iPod touches, they’re beyond user-friendly, and pretty much all I’ve delegated them to do is take videos of a few things, nothing to do with setting anything else up or taking anything down.

My officiant is my brother who is also walking me down the aisle so he won’t be able to say it.

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Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on things.

View Quoted Comment Photographer has my phone number but asked for a backup contact person in case I don’t answer. I already asked MOH and she said no problem.

Im literally just asking them to press the button on the tripod to record the ceremony, record the first dance, toasts, and cake cutting. Between 8 bridal party members, some of them won’t even be doing anything, the rest will be doing minimal

View Quoted Comment Yeah I’m wondering that too maybe I’ll delete that and make a separate list of what each person will be responsible for once we’ve delegated? We’re really not asking very much at all from each individual person, I think it just looks like a lot because it’s all listed in the 1 list as opposed to dividing it among the 8 people

I am totally like you in the sense of organization and creating timelines. I think it really helps everyone.

As an outsider, some things you said aren't clear enough. I'm sure you know exactly what you mean, but I think some parts are unclear since I do not know what you are thinking precisely. For example, you said: "Come dressed for the Rehearsal Dinner (or bring a change of clothes). What does "come dressed" mean? Casual? Are you expecting them to dress-up? Also, why?

My main construction criticisms would be:

1. The Maid of Honor does not typically do any announcing at the ceremony. That is the officiant's responsibility. Unless you really, really, really want it to be like that, I would change it.

2. It sounds like you are enlisting the help of your wedding part to take photos and videos for you and your FH. Great! They are there to support you, yet they are also there to celebrate along side you and your husband. I would encourage you to think about what that means for your wedding party, and also what that will mean for the photos taken.

First of all, it sounds like they would be so busy carrying out these tasks during the reception that they won't have time to really sit back and enjoy it. What happens if you do not like the pictures and footage they took?

Secondly, your most important people will be absent from the photos and videos! Usually the bride and groom are surrounded by the wedding party during key moments which is captured in photos. Sometimes, people's favorite photos are when the wedding party is cracking up during speeches or being goofy at reception grand entrances. The most important one for me is the speeches. It is typical to have the bridesmaids and groomsmen sit around you to listen.

The photographer should be doing these moments. It sounds like you really want video too. I would recommend a videographer, too. I know they can get pricey. I would say hire a cheaper one if you can.

Anyway, it is all your decision. I wish you the best of luck!

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Okay. It sounds like you have a tripod set up and that really helps. It sounds like you have a big bridal party. As long as they do mind and you aren't taking them away from being included in the photos/videos. Good luck!!! (:

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We're leaving directly from the rehearsal to the rehearsal dinner so I just want to make sure they're aware of that and don't expect to have time to go back home or to their hotels to change (because there won't be time for that).

MOH is announcing my entrance because officiant is my brother who is walking me down the aisle (I've already discussed this with her too and she is excited to do it)

We have a photographer for the wedding, so they don't need to take any pictures at the wedding. For the rehearsal dinner I don't expect them to like, walk around taking pictures the whole time or anything. Mostly just to remind me that we should be taking them, mostly just at the beginning when everyone is arriving.

We can't afford a videographer... I literally spoke with 25 different ones in our area and they are all over 1k. I'm just asking them to record the important moments. We rented 5 simple-to-use cameras from Wedit, so I am figuring they can pass them around and rotate the responsibility. It's really only the first dance, speeches, and cake cutting that we want recorded. They won't be sitting around us for speeches anyway... we are having a sweetheart table and they will all be seated with the other guests.

It looks better/less overwhelming to just do it like this, right? And then I can just delegate separately.

Saturday, June 1

3:00pm: Please meet us at the venue for: a rehearsal of the ceremony, reviewing who is going to do what, thank you gifts. Come dressed for the Rehearsal Dinner (or bring a change of clothes).

4:40pm: Drive to Rehearsal Dinner

5:00pm: Rehearsal Dinner (expected to go until 7 or 8pm)

Sunday, June 2

10:00am: Please arrive at the Bridal Suite at 10am with comfy clothes, messy hair, and no makeup for a fun morning of beautifying and mimosas (Please don’t come earlier than 10am - Jason will be sleeping in the Bridal Suite.)

10:00AM: Makeup

10:40am: Hair

11:30am: Photographer arrives on site for pre-ceremony photos with Groom and Groomsmen

11:40am: Photographer arrives in the Bridal Suite for pre-ceremony photos with Bride and Bridesmaids. We should be ready-or just putting on the finishing touches-by this time.

12:00pm: Guest doors to the ballroom close. Bride and Bridesmaids come downstairs, enter ballroom from back door, and prepare for processional.

12:05pm: Processional Begins. Bridesmaids to enter from behind the curtain one at a time, and be met by Groomsmen. Sunny to announce “Please stand for the Bride” when she arrives at the altar.

12:30pm: Ceremony concludes. Bridal Party to join Bride, Groom, and Families outside for photos. Other guests will proceed downstairs for Cocktail Hour.

1:00pm: Bridal Party and Families to join guests for Cocktail Hour.

1:30pm: Cocktail Hour ends, Bridal Party/Guests come back upstairs to the ballroom for the Reception.

1:45pm: Bride and Groom are introduced and enter the reception, followed by first dance.

1:50pm: Toasts (each to be 2-3 minutes long)

2:00pm: Lunch is served, reception continues.

4:00pm: Cake cutting

4:05pm: Cake, coffee, and tea are served

5:00pm: Reception concludes.

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Yes! I think it would be totally okay to make the "what we need you to do" list for each person individually. That way nothing you want done gets lost in the shuffle.

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Yeah you're right, thank you! (and everyone else who also said that lol). I was initially thinking it would be easier to have it all in one place but it's definitely both clouding the responsibilities and making them look like much more than they are. In reality we're going to ask one person "hey when we're doing our first dance, can you take a video?" and that'll be one person's only responsibility for the weekend lol.

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If you still wanted to have it in one place, you could just put names out by the tasks instead of "someone"

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If you have one HMUA providing services for 3 girls then I don't think you have enough time - is this also including you? The bride usually takes about 2 hours just for her, and then each person usually takes about 30-45 minutes per service. You only have about an hour and a half when this should be more like 3 hours. I would suggest changing the start time to get ready to 8 or 9 a.m.

Will your mother be there? It is common for the MOB to stand up as the bride begins her march to signal to everyone else to stand. This way the MOH won't have to announce it.