One of the simpliest ways to personalize your wedding day is the FLOW. Most of us have been to weddings or events that just FELT great. The flow was seamless, the food was great, and the entertainment was on point. In other words, it worked. AKA, It was GIVING! But, we’ve also been to events that felt disjointed. That’s usually what couples want to avoid. If you’re working with a wedding planner, they will likely have all kinds of tips for ensuring that the back-end logistical timeline flows as well as your guest experience timeline. But, if you aren’t working with a planner, that usually falls into our hands (as well as your photographer). So, we thought, why not give you a sample timeline to consider? This will help you get a sense of what is “normal” and allow you to choose areas that you want to refine, including extending or condensing. You can also choose “key” moments to might need more attention or that you could enhance through entertainment and experiences.

A couple of things to know about this format: We’re assuming a ceremony around 4:00 PM and a reception that ends around 10:30 PM.

Morning:

• 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Hair and Makeup for Bridal Party
  • The bride and bridesmaids begin getting ready, starting with hair and makeup. A professional team will work on the bride near the end, to ensure freshness! Assume 45 minutes minimum for bridal party members and 1.5 hours for the bride.
• 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Groomsmen and Groom Get Ready
  • Depending on time slot with your photographer, they usually start with the groom’s side, as there is typically a bit less prep
  • SNACK AND CHAMPAGNE TIME!
• 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Bridal Details Photography
  • The photographer captures bridal accessories, the dress, invitations, and other personalized details while the bride finishes getting ready.

Early Afternoon:

• 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Bride Gets Dressed
  • With the help of her bridesmaids and family, the bride puts on her gown and finalizes her look.
• 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: First Look with the Groom (Obviously optional!)
  • If the couple opts for a first look, this is the perfect time. It allows for some intimate portraits before the ceremony.
• 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Wedding Party and Family Photos
  • Formal portraits with the wedding party and immediate family members are taken. This allows more time for the couple to enjoy their cocktail hour later.

Ceremony:

• 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Ceremony Setup
  • Vendors complete final touches at the ceremony venue.
• 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Ceremony
  • The ceremony begins, lasting about 30 minutes.

Cocktail Hour & Reception:

• 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Cocktail Hour
  • The couple enjoys a few moments alone or sneaks in a few additional photos before joining the cocktail hour. Guests mingle and enjoy appetizers.
• 5:30 PM – 5:40 PM: Grand Entrance
  • The couple makes their grand entrance, followed by blessing, if desired
• 5:45 PM-6:45 PM: Dinner Service, Speeches, Cake Cutting
  • Speeches are great entertainment while everyone is eating and attentive!

Evening:

• 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Dancing and Reception Fun
  • The dance floor opens, and guests enjoy dancing and activities like a photo booth or games.
• 9:30 PM – 10:00 PM: OPTIONAL Bouquet Toss / Garter Toss
  • These traditional moments take place if included in the couple’s plan.
• 10:00 PM – 10:30 PM: Final Dance & Send-Off
  • The evening wraps up with a final dance (this could be a private last dance too), followed by a sparkler or firework exit as the couple departs.

This timeline provides plenty of time for each part of the day to unfold without feeling rushed and allows for flexibility if needed. And depending on your crowd, you may want time for games, or more time to mix and mingle. Perhaps you don’t have a group that will spend their time on the dance floor, so you break up your dinner service into several parts. Now that you know the foundational moments of your day, you can start customizing your flow to work for preferences!