The Importance of a Wedding Day Timeline
Every couple hopes their wedding day will run smoothly, but the only way to ensure everything goes according to plan is to have one! By creating and distributing a wedding day timeline, everyone will be able to stay on track, from your wedding party to the hired vendors. With a set schedule you will be able to enjoy the day, rather than track peoples arrival and whereabouts. Keep reading to learn why you need a wedding day timeline and how to create your own.
Why You Need a Timeline
A wedding day timeline is simply an itinerary for the entire day, rather than the condensed one your guests receive. It will instead start with what time your wedding party should arrive to start getting ready for the day, and then the wedding photographer and so on. It can be tedious to make, as you fill in time slots and shift things around, but even a tentative plan is better than nothing. Once completed, the timeline should be distributed to everyone in your wedding party, as well as extended family who will be included in post-ceremony photographs. This will ensure that they stick around, rather than running off to the reception.
Stress to everyone the importance that they study the timeline, and keep it on hand come the big day. This way, should anyone get confused or find themselves wondering whats next, they will have a quick answer. This will mean less running around frantically, and less answers you have to answer for the millionth time. While you won’t deliver it to vendors, you will need to call them in advance to let them know their arrival time and the time they are expected to begin performing their services.
How to Create a Wedding Day Timeline
Before you get started on your wedding day timeline, it is best to have booked all of your vendors, so you know who and what to fit in. Otherwise you will end up rewriting it several times over. As a couple, you will sit down and begin penciling in things to do and the estimated time each task should take. It should look similar to the following list:
- Wedding party arrives at designated areas to get ready: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Photographer arrives: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
- Bride gets dressed: 1:00 - 1:30 p.m.
- Bridal portraits: 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
- Bridesmaid photos: 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
- First look: 2:30 - 2:45 p.m.
- Arrive at ceremony venue: 3:00 p.m.
- Actual ceremony start time/ceremony: 3:15 - 4:15 p.m.
- Travel time to reception/cocktail hour: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
- Wedding party photos: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
- Groom portraits: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
- Groomsmen portraits: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
- Grand entrance/host toast: 5:45 - 6:00 p.m.
- Dinner: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Sunset photos: 6:30 p.m.
- Cake cutting/bridal party toast: 7:15 - 7:30 p.m.
- First dances/bouquet toss/garter toss: 7:30 - 8:00 p.m.
- Open dance floor: 8:00 p.m.
- Grand exit: 11:00 p.m.
After you have created a timeline, it is essential that you send it to your wedding photographer. They will actually dictate how long everyone stays in one place, depending on the number of photos they need to take. Once you have their approval, and have triple checked the timeline, you should be safe to start printing out copies.
At Florafost Photography, our thorough in-person consultations mean that everyone is on the same page come the day of your wedding. You will spend a lot of time with your photographer, which is why we also ask to spend time with you beforehand. By dedicating ample time to getting to know you and your wedding day timeline, we can more accurately capture images you will cherish for a lifetime. Contact us today to get started!
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