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Start from the end of the day, and work backwards. Wherever you have holes or questions, start with the information you KNOW (time you have to be out of the venue, time you want to serve dinner, cocktails, etc.) and fill in the blanks as you get more info.
Right now, you might only know what time you have to be out of the venue, what time you want to start cocktails, what time you want your ceremony to begin/end, what time you need to be at the ceremony venue, etc. That's ok, things will evolve in the last few months.
Just make sure to give yourself wiggle room/padding. You might not thing you'll need it, but if there's extra time, then you'll have it to breathe and take things in. Good luck!
One thing you'll definitely need to know is how long you'll need for hair and for makeup. That will make a big difference as to when your appointments are, and by what time you can be fully ready to start photos.
For example, my ceremony wasn't until 5:30. We did photos beforehand, and we wanted to be back at the church for family photos by 4:00, with time to clean up before the ceremony.
So we started photos at 1:30 for first look and wedding party.
Which meant that my hair and makeup had to be done by 12:30 so I could get into my dress, accessorize, and then travel to our photo location.
Because of the numbers of girls who needed to get hair and makeup done, our hair appointments started at 9:00 and were done in shifts, and makeup immediately followed.
Does that help at all?
Make a list of all the photos you definitely want to take. Then talk to your photographer and ask him/her how long you should block out for photos. Only that person will be able to tell you how long your photo shoots will take!
OK, this is helpful! Working backwards really helped. I'll send some emails to my vendors and figure out about how long each service will last (at least, as much as we can tell before trials, which I wasn't going to do until April...).
I'm at a total loss as to how long table visits will take. We're anticipating 100-120 guests. So maybe 18 tables of 6 or 8, total. Our DJ recommended doing them together and having a signal between us to keep from getting stuck too long.
This is what I have so far:
Bagel Run + Pizza Bagel
9:00am
Meet (where?), double check bag for day and over night
6:35 - Seat remaining guests, unroll Aisle runner, start processional
6:55 - Ceremony end, recessional
7:30 - finish family photos, join cocktail hour Photog details of reception space
7:40 - invite guests to be seated/end cocktail hour
7:50 - introductions (grandmother, parents OB, parents OG, 3 BM/GM, bride/groom)
7:55 - First dance
8:00 - Welcome
8:00 - 8:50 - Guests access buffet, eat dinner (how long will food stay out? How long to put tables through buffet line?)How long will table visits take?
8:45 - Thank you (Matt & Mo)
8:50 - Cutting the cake (Matt & Mo), cake and coffee served
10:30 - Reception ends, travel to after party (location?) End of photog/DJ time.
Not sure if the signal you mean is between you and FH or you and your DJ, (and this may not be your style) but - here's a tip we were given and have passed on to friends who've gotten married, and it works: do not let go of each other's hands at the reception.
(Exception, when you're sitting down, eating, etc.) But otherwise, you get pulled in different directions and it's a PITA to tear yourself away from your guests to go find your new hubby. Not really timeline related, but when you mentioned table visits, it made me think of it.
@Christie: Hmm, maybe that's what he meant. That's a really good point, thanks!
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Any advice on where to start with day-of the timeline?
I know our ceremony will begin at 6:30 and the reception will formally end at 10:30. Hotel check in is about 3pm, but they said I could probably check in early.
Beforehand, I need to book hair appointments (myself, my mother, three bridesmaids), makeup appointments (myself, my mother, one bridesmaid), get ready, travel to the venue (about 15 minutes from the hotel). Do first look & bridal party photos (no idea how long that will take... 30 m?).
I've got a template for the actual wedding itself from the DJ, which I will tweak and go over with the event guy and my FI, so I guess it's mostly the pre-wedding stuff I'm not sure of.