Sample Timeline
Each celebration is uniquely shaped by your priorities, your venue’s guidelines, seasonal daylight, guest experience, and logistical factors like transportation and local noise restrictions. Because of this, your timeline should be thoughtfully built around what matters most to you.
Before you begin mapping out your wedding day, we recommend getting clear on your top priorities—whether that’s maximizing time with guests, capturing golden hour portraits, creating a relaxed getting-ready experience, or keeping the dance floor open as long as possible. When your priorities are defined from the start, every decision that follows becomes easier, and your timeline will come together in a way that feels seamless, intentional, and true to your vision.
PRE-CEREMONY
8:00 AM-12:00 pm HAIR & Make-Up / Getting READY
Consider how many people will be getting ready with you, and give 30-45 minutes per person for each service. To help your morning feel stress-free, we recommend building a mini-timeline for the hair & make-up team and those getting ready with you so everyone is prepared and on time.
Not all venues provide a getting-ready space, or give you unlimited morning access, so be sure to understand your venue's policies and make appropriate plans for your getting-ready location. Consider a location that has plenty of space and seating for everyone, and plenty of natural light.
Don’t forget that getting ready can take approximately 4-6 hours, so you will want to make sure everyone has plenty of water, coffee, beverages, and snacks.
10:00 am - 3:00 pm Photography / Videography coverage begins
Photographer coverage varies for each celebration, depending on your priorities. If it is important to capture the whole day, including getting ready, your photographer will need to start service earlier, typically around 10:00 am (usually this means booking your photographer for a 10-12 hour timeframe).
Are you planning on doing a first look? Seeing each other before the ceremony allows you to capture most of your formal photography before the guests arrive, which includes couples photos, wedding party photos, and immediate family photos. If you are planning a first look, your photography will typically start approximately 2-3 hours before guest arrival time.
Remember, if you are considering not doing a first look this typically means you will need to extend your cocktail and use that time to capture formal photos.
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Venue Set-Up & Vendor Arrivals
Ask your wedding planner to build a comprehensive set-up plan, including all vendor arrivals, layout logistics, and aesthetic details for the ceremony and reception spaces.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Finishing Touches & Detail Shots
This might include photos of invitations, accessories, dresses, suits, bouquets, and boutonnieres. Some couples like to include photos of finishing touches and getting dressed.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm First look & Couples Photos
Talk to your photographer about the best locations for the first look and couple’s photos, and how you want it to look and feel.
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Wedding Party & Immediate Family Photos
Provide your photographer with a shot list. Be specific with the names of those in each photo. We recommend assigning someone from each side of your groups who knows everyone and can assist the photographer in keeping people ready and prepared for each group shot.
CEREMONY
4:00 pm Guest Arrival
The guest arrival experience is the first impression for your guests. Create a plan for music, guidance to the ceremony space, and possibly include a welcome beverage or bubbly.
4:30 pm Ceremony
We recommend doing a ceremony rehearsal with your wedding planner, officiant, and wedding party the week of the wedding so everyone is prepared and confident.
5:00 pm Ceremony End
Make sure your guests have proper directions to what happens next, where the cocktail hour is located, where they can get a beverage, and if appetizers are available.
Don’t forget to take a moment after the ceremony to sign the marriage license and have a snack before joining your guests for cocktail hour.
5:00 pm Cocktail Hour
Let the celebration begin! Make sure to consider music, beverages, appetizers, and other experiences to keep your guests happy, fed, and hydrated.
Reception
6:00 pm Welcome guest to Find Their Seats
Provide guests with clear instructions on where they can find the dining room and how to find their assigned tables and/or seats.
6:15 pm Reception Dinner Begins
Make sure to provide your caterer with meal choices and a list of any dietary restrictions or allergies to keep dinner service running on time.
7:15 pm Toasting
Designate approximately 4 people to toast.