The timeline is the basis of the proper organization of the wedding day. The secret to a successful wedding day timeline is planning ahead of time. Making a structured timeline of your whole wedding day can help you stay on track when the big day arrives. The more thorough your strategy is, the better.
1. Timeline should be started from the end
It may seem counterintuitive, but you need to make up the timeline in reverse order, from the ceremony (or the registry office). For example, if the on-site ceremony starts at 15:00, then the gathering of guests should be scheduled for 14:30, and the wedding photo shoots at 13:00, which means that the bride’s preparations should end by 12:30. In this way, you can calculate what time you need to wake up in order to avoid unnecessary rush and fuss, and not be late for your own ceremony.
2. Bride preparations may take 3 hours
Do not underestimate the amount of time that will be required for the morning preparations, because they include not only makeup and hair, but also breakfast, a photo shoot, and the resolution of some organizational issues. Even putting on a wedding dress can take up to 20 minutes, especially if the outfit includes a corset, lots of lace, and buttons!
And it is desirable to hold the preparation not in a fuss and haste, but measuredly, with a glass of champagne, to your favorite music, in a calm atmosphere. Add another 15-20 minutes if the gathering will take place with the bridesmaids because they will also want to take some photos to remember this happy moment.
3. Consider the number of guests
The more guests at the wedding, the more time you need to spend on organizational moments: welcoming guests, seating in cars, a group photo shoot, congratulations after the ceremony, etc. The more guests, the longer the buffet should last so that they can get to know each other.
If there are more than 50 guests, then take 15 minutes for them to get into the cars (+5 minutes to get out of them), 20 minutes to get acquainted with the seating plan, and take their places at the tables. And for large weddings, designed for 150 people or more, it is recommended to start seating half an hour before the start of the banquet.
4. The ceremony lasts for 15 minutes
A common mistake of brides is to put a lot of time into the ceremony, because of which it turns out to be too long and there is an empty period of time between its end and the beginning of the banquet. In fact, the classic outdoor ceremony lasts 15-20 minutes.
This time includes the exit of the bride with her father to the groom, the speech of the registrar, vows, and the exchange of rings. Separately, you should take into account the time of seating guests in places, and the exit of the groom’s friends and bridesmaids, if it is provided for by the scenario. Add another 5 minutes if your child will endure the rings.
5. 3 hours for a photo shoot is a lot
Another common mistake brides make is spending too much time on wedding photography. Even though a wedding is a great opportunity to take unforgettable photos when you are both so beautiful, happy and in love, two hours will be enough.
If you don’t plan a stylized shooting in different images or at different locations that are far from each other (we do not recommend this option because of point 6), then you will simply quickly get tired and bored. It is better to take 15-20 minutes during the banquet to escape from the guests and take some magical shots in the sunset light.
6. Beware of traffic jams
The more movements on the wedding day, the more difficult it is to make a clear timeline due to possible traffic jams. Traffic jams are unpredictable: you can be 40 minutes late for the start of the banquet, or you can, on the contrary, arrive too early and not know what to do with guests all this time.
Therefore, it is better to try to reduce the movement by car to a minimum: for example, look for a location where you can hold both the ceremony and the banquet; arrange a photo shoot near the bride’s gathering place, or hold the entire wedding on one site (and come to it the night before).
7. After the ceremony, you may need free time
After registration, leave about 30 minutes for congratulating guests, presenting gifts, and a general photo shoot. In addition to parents and close relatives, other guests will also want to say a few words to you personally and take a picture with you, and this will take time. And it may take about 10 minutes to take a few general shots of all the guests if the wedding is large.
8. The first dance break should be short
Let the first pause last no longer than 20 minutes: the guests are not yet ready for active entertainment and dancing. Give them time to enjoy delicious food and socialize. To stir up your guests a little, schedule the newlyweds’ first dance around this time, or invite them to fill out a wish book, take a photo booth, or complete a crossword about the couple.
9. Toasts can be too long
Toasts are something that can disrupt the entire timeline of the day. What is meant as short congratulations often turns into long nostalgic memories or philosophical reflections. Therefore, it is better to allocate 45-60 minutes for them or break them into time intervals for groups of guests of 10-15 minutes (parents, other relatives, close friends). Most of the toasts are usually spoken between the main course and dessert, otherwise, long speeches will annoy the still-hungry guests.
10. Cutting the cake may take more time
It just seems like it will take you 10 minutes to cut the cake – preparing a beautiful finale with music and special lighting takes time. Plus time to take photos. After a beautiful ceremony, the cake will need to be distributed to all the guests and give them time to enjoy the treat, so do not plan such a finale too late, otherwise, you risk blurring the whole impression of the holiday.
