Planning a wedding involves handling multiple activities and services in a single day or within a limited timeframe. A wedding day timeline is the best solution for having a smooth line of events, ensuring everything falls in place and everyone leaves smiling and satisfied.
Additionally, a reliable timeline effectively handles sensitive activities like catering, photography/videography, and the change of venue aspect. However, you'll need to take time to draft an excellent wedding day schedule. Luckily, various templates offer great planning options.
The following article looks at a reliable wedding timeline, highlighting things you do each step of the day. Read on to discover an effective wedding day template plan.
The Wedding Times
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Undoubtedly, your wedding day will involve time frames with specific activities. Each period includes certain tasks and actions, mostly requiring careful planning to save time.
Here are the wedding times you should plan for:
- Before the ceremony: Usually in the morning hours, involving individual preparations. Emphasis is on the bride plus groom.
- During the ceremony: The commencement of the actual ceremony starts with a string of activities like ring 'trickery,' best maids and men's aisle walking, and vows. You also need to account for the wedding's officiator time.
- Reception ceremony:This includes cake-sitting sessions, cake-cutting, photo sessions, speeches, and presentations.
The Role of a Wedding Planner
You might need an official wedding planner regardless of having a reliable timeline. Through their experience, they help actualize the wedding timeline on the specific date and can handle arising issues or activities.
Therefore, they offer immediate contingency plans when there's disruption of your wedding schedule. For example, if you need an urgent venue change, a professional wedding planner should have the necessary connections to help you acquire another. Additionally, they execute this without compromising your wedding timeline.
Also, they help organize the major participants in the wedding and respective props/equipment like gowns, suits, and makeup teams. Therefore, you can relax and enjoy your day if you plan your wedding day timeline with an experienced planner.
So, how do you plan for these specific periods and respective itineraries? Below is an in-depth look at the timelines for each wedding day time:
Before the Ceremony
Your day should start before the designated starting time on the invitation later. Also, the period is activity-packed with sensitive procedures. For instance, you wouldn't want a bride to go wrong with an outfit or makeup.
Additionally, the production manager might need to be available to get some behind-the-scenes shots or aesthetic images of the gown and groom's attire. Therefore, the only solution is to have a specific wedding timeline that accounts for every activity before the actual ceremony.
Usually, most wedding ceremonies start at 2 pm, giving you the entire morning and afternoon to prepare. Here's a timeline you can use for a smooth preparation:
10 am-11 am: Dressing and Makeup
Ensure everyone's attire is sorted out, especially the bride and groom's. This allows more time for a rather sensitive makeup session. The latter might take time if there are multiple bridesmaids. Additionally, you can't risk having a mismatch in everyone's outlook.
11 am-12 pm: Photography and Videography; Capturing BTS Action
Your wedding ceremony footage is more aesthetic when we can see what it took to make everyone look good and stunning. The hired photographer should arrive on time and work on various shots. They include the following:
- Capturing the makeup session.
- Getting a bride's party shot in matching robes. This can be a great photo to frame.
- A shot of the gown and groom's suit. Also, a picture of the heels can be a cool shot.
- A photo of the rings, groom's watch, and tie.
12 pm-12:30 pm: Officially Dressing
It's time to rock your gown or stylish suit. Remember to take your time not to ruin your dress or suits. You can instruct the photographer to take a few shots of the process.
12:30 pm-1 pm: Interviews
It's time for your videographer to capture some great conversations and interviews. Here, the bride and groom can highlight their expectations of the day and give an account of how they met and a brief side of their love story.
1 pm-2 pm: Traveling and Arrival in Ceremony Venue
Your transportation manager should help handle respective vehicles and who occupies each. However, the one hour might be less if you have to travel a longer distance or when other factors like traffic congestion come into play. Ensure you can get to the venue at least 20 minutes earlier.
During and After the Ceremony
It's all systems when all guests and family members settle in the ceremony area. Here's a wedding schedule during and after the ceremony.
2 pm-3 pm: Commencement of the Ceremony
Typically, a ceremony can take 30 minutes. However, expect delays due to unavoidable factors like traveling mishaps, wrong sitting arrangements, and the need to sort out any unexpected guests. Therefore, it's crucial to have entertainment set aside, such as music in the background or performances.
After officially settling, the following activities can follow:
- The father escorts the bride.
- Ring bearer moment.
- Reading of vows.
Note: Your videographer/photographer should be active during this time.
3 pm-4 pm: Photo Session and Cocktail Hour
It's time to record your first photo as a married couple. You can do it at the altar, the venue's entrance, or a designated photoshoot area. Alternatively, you can make an arrangement with your wedding day's photographer to visit a studio.
Here are the official shots you must have:
- Newlywed portraits and full-body shots.
- Newlyweds with the bridal and groom party.
- Shots with the respective families, separately and together.
You can interest the guests with cocktails as you escape for your photoshoot session. It creates time away from unnecessary attention, allowing you to soak in some moments as newlyweds. Additionally, you effectively get intimate shots without any interference. Therefore, ensure you try all the poses you want.
Reception Ceremony
After getting your desired shots, it's time to enjoy with everyone in your reception area.
5 pm: Dining
It's time to feed your guests your first meal as a married couple. If they're scattered after you're back from your photo session, give them time to gather and serve them.
Mostly, guests will remember your day with regards to how you dined together. Therefore, it's crucial to prioritize dining in your wedding day timeline, ensuring that everyone leaves satisfied.
6 pm: First Dance
Take the stage as the newlyweds and help break the ice. This ushers the joyful mood for the rest of the evening and stops the people from leaving after eating.
6:20 pm-7 pm: Cake Cutting
It's time to cut the cake after enjoying your dance together and distribute it to your family and friends. This can be followed by some cocktails to complete the dessert.
7 pm-8 pm: Speeches and Toasts
The stage is now open to fit your friends to make the toasts and give rather embarrassing background stories. This should be a fun time, which will be concluded by your vote of thanks to the people.
8 pm-9 pm: Bouquet Toss and Prize Giving
After thanking the guests, the bride can toss a flower bouquet and pass the torch to incoming newlyweds. The follow-up will be the presentation of gifts by respective gifters. Take this time to have personal and brief talks with them.
9 pm-10 pm: Dancing with Parents and Open Dancefloor
Take this opportunity to dance with your parents and share wholesome moments. Afterward, anyone can join the dancefloor to enjoy the good times. This includes kids who might want to emulate what you did with your parents.
10 pm Onwards: Grand Exit and the After Party
Your day comes to a close when you make an official exit as a married couple. Your vehicle can be labeled as "Just Married" or "Newlyweds". The cars can head towards a neutral destination where you can let loose in the after-party with your friends. For the bride, you'd better take off your gown for a better and comfortable time.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a Wedding Planner Necessary When Creating a Wedding Day Timeline?
No, you can create your personal timeline without the help of a professional wedding planner. However, they can help you handle miscellaneous and urgent matters like venue and activity changes. If necessary, hire a reliable planner to handle your wedding day timeline.
2. How Do You Make a Wedding Day Plan?
Various factors come into play when creating a wedding plan. They include the designated budget, specific day, guests in attendance, type of wedding, and time available. These factors determine how you spread the wedding itineraries and dictate factors to avoid and include. The above wedding day template is perfect for a normal and budget-friendly wedding. It's also flexible to accommodate any changes.
3. What Day Is Ideal for a Wedding?
Wednesday is the perfect day to plan your wedding around. Most service providers like caterers, entertainment, and locations are available. Moreover, you'll get affordable services in the middle of the week.
Conclusion
That's all you need to know if you're planning to create a wedding schedule. The article highlights factors that should be a priority and explains a basic wedding day template. You can plan yours around it and be guaranteed a smooth occasion. That said, enjoy your wedding day.