Planning your wedding day timeline might feel overwhelming, but trust me—it’s the secret to a stress-free, photo-friendly schedule that allows you to be fully present for your big day.
In this guide, you’ll find a step-by-step plan to create a seamless wedding schedule, ensuring that everything—from getting ready to your grand exit—flows effortlessly.
Fair warning: While this blog post provides a solid foundation, it’s not a substitute for working with a professional wedding planner. Your planner will be your go-to expert for coordinating vendors, managing logistics, and making real-time adjustments so you can focus on enjoying every moment.
Step 1: Start with Your Ceremony Time
Your ceremony time is the anchor for your entire wedding day schedule. Everything else—getting ready, portraits, and the reception—revolves around this key moment.
Action Steps:
- Write down your ceremony start and end times.
- Confirm the exact duration with your officiant, especially for religious or cultural ceremonies.
- If the ceremony is in a different location from where you’re getting ready or having the reception, factor in travel time.
Pro tip: Add at least 15 minutes of buffer time between major events to prevent stress in case of delays.
Step 2: Work Backwards to Plan Pre-Ceremony Events
To avoid feeling rushed, plan your morning and pre-ceremony events by working backward from the ceremony start time.
Action Steps:
- Hair and Makeup: Allocate 2–3 hours (depending on the size of your bridal party and the number of stylists). Finish at least one hour before the ceremony or first look.
- Getting Dressed: Allow 30 minutes for the bride and bridal party.
- First Look (if applicable): Plan 30–45 minutes for this private moment. If you want to complete wedding party and family portraits beforehand, budget another 45-60 minutes.
- Travel Time: Don’t forget to include time for potential delays.
Pro Tip: If you want your photographer to capture detail shots (dress, rings, invitations, shoes), have everything ready in one place before they arrive.
Step 3: Decide on a First Look (or Not!)
Your decision to do a first look will greatly impact your photography timeline.
If You’re Doing a First Look:
- Allocate 30–45 minutes for the first look and couples portraits.
- Consider completing wedding party and family portraits before the ceremony, so you can enjoy cocktail hour.
If You’re Not Doing a First Look:
- Plan post-ceremony portraits, allowing 20-30 minutes for wedding party and family photos and 20-30 minutes for couple portraits.
- You can still take separate wedding party photos before the ceremony (15 minutes each for groomsmen & bridesmaids.
Pro Tip: Even if you skip a first look with your partner, consider a first look with your parents or wedding party for extra special moments.
Step 4: Plan for Family and Wedding Party Photos
Group portraits can take longer than expected, so proper planning ensures a smooth and efficient process.
Action Steps:
- Allocate 20–30 minutes for family portraits and 20 minutes for wedding party photos.
- Create and share a family photo list with your photographer in advance.
- Decide whether to schedule these photos pre-ceremony (if you’re doing a first look) or post-ceremony.
Pro Tip: Communicate photo times clearly with family members so no one disappears during cocktail hour! (Looking at you, Uncle Jim!)
Step 5: Structure Your Reception Timeline
Your reception is where the fun begins! Here’s a typical timeline breakdown:
- Grand Entrance: 5–10 minutes.
- Dinner: 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- First Dances: 10–15 minutes.
- Speeches/Toasts: 5–10 minutes per person.
- Cake Cutting: 10 minutes.
- Open Dancing: The rest of the night!
- Special Exit (if planned): 10 minutes.
Pro Tip: Work closely with your DJ, planner, and caterer to keep the flow of events running smoothly and maintain high energy throughout the night.
Step 6: Plan for Golden Hour Photos
Golden hour—the hour before sunset—offers the dreamiest, most romantic lighting for portraits.
Action Steps:
- Allocate 20 minutes for golden hour portraits.
- Check sunset times for your wedding date and location and plan accordingly.
Pro Tip: Sneaking away for golden hour portraits during the reception not only gets you stunning photos but also gives you a quiet, intimate moment together.
Step 7: Enjoy Every Moment!
No matter how perfectly you plan your timeline, unexpected moments will happen—and that’s okay! The key is to stay present and enjoy your celebration.
Pro Tip: Appoint a day-of-coordinator or a trusted friend to handle any hiccups so you can focus on making unforgettable memories.
Sample Wedding Day Timelines
Wedding Timeline with a First Look
- 8:00 AM: Hair and makeup begins.
- 12:00 PM: Photographer arrives for getting-ready photos.
- 1:00 PM: Hair and makeup finishes.
- 1:15 PM: Bride gets dressed.
- 1:45 PM: Everyone is dressed.
- 2:00 PM: First look and couple portraits.
- 2:30 PM: Wedding party and family portraits.
- 4:00 PM: Ceremony.
- 4:30 PM: Cocktail hour.
- 6:00 PM: Reception entrances
- 6:15 PM: First dances.
- 6:30 PM: Dinner.
- 7:30 PM: Speeches and cake cutting.
- 7:45 PM: Golden hour portraits.
- 8:00 PM: Open dance floor.
- 10:30 PM: Grand exit.
Traditional Wedding Timeline (No First Look)
- 8:00 AM: Hair and makeup begins.
- 12:00 PM: Photographer arrives for getting-ready photos.
- 1:00 PM: Hair and makeup finishes.
- 1:15 PM: Bride gets dressed.
- 1:45 PM: Everyone is dressed.
- 2:00 PM: Separate wedding party portraits start.
- 4:00 PM: Ceremony.
- 4:30 PM: Cocktail hour starts. Family and wedding party photos.
- 5:15 PM: Couple portraits.
- 6:00 PM: Reception entrances
- 6:15 PM: First dances.
- 6:30 PM: Dinner.
- 7:30 PM: Speeches and cake cutting.
- 7:45 PM: Golden hour portraits.
- 8:00 PM: Open dance floor.
- 10:30 PM: Grand exit
Elopement Wedding Timeline
- 2:00 PM: Getting ready
- 3:00 PM: First Look
- 4:00 PM: Ceremony
- 4:30 PM: Portraits
- 5:00 PM: Private dinner or small reception
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Wedding Day Timelines
Q: What is the best wedding day timeline?
The best wedding day timeline depends on several factors, including your ceremony time, venue, and whether you’re doing a first look. A typical wedding day schedule follows this general flow:
- Morning: Getting ready (hair, makeup, and dressing)
- Afternoon: First look & pre-ceremony photos (if applicable)
- Evening: Ceremony, reception, and golden hour portraits
For a more detailed breakdown, check out our Sample Wedding Day Timelines above!
Q: How long does hair and makeup take on the wedding day?
Bridal hair and makeup typically take 2–3 hours, depending on the size of your bridal party and the number of stylists. Brides should aim to be completely ready at least one hour before the ceremony or first look to allow for portraits and travel time.
Q: Should we do a first look or wait until the ceremony?
A first look has several advantages:
- You get more time for photos before the ceremony.
- It helps reduce stress and pre-ceremony nerves.
- You’ll have more time to enjoy cocktail hour with guests.
However, if you love the idea of seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony, you can skip the first look and plan for post-ceremony portraits instead.
Q: How much time should we set aside for wedding photography?
To ensure a relaxed and smooth photography experience, here’s how much time you should budget:
- Getting ready & details: 1–2 hours
- First look & couple portraits: 30–45 minutes
- Wedding party photos: 20–30 minutes
- Family portraits: 20–30 minutes
- Golden hour portraits: 20 minutes
Q: What time should the bride start getting ready?
Brides should start getting ready 5–6 hours before the ceremony to allow time for hair, makeup, getting dressed, and photos. Your timeline should also include buffer time for any last-minute adjustments or delays.
Q: How do we avoid running behind schedule on our wedding day?
The key to staying on track is planning buffer time between major events. Here’s what helps:
- Add at least 15 minutes of buffer time between key moments.
- Work with a professional wedding planner or day-of coordinator to manage logistics
- Share the timeline with your bridal party, vendors, and family members in advance.
Final Wedding Day Timeline Checklist
- Ceremony time confirmed
- Hair & makeup schedule set
- Family photo list shared with photographer
- First look (or not) decision made
- Reception timeline reviewed with vendors
- Golden hour portraits scheduled
- Buffer time added to key moments
By following these seven steps, you’ll create a smooth and stress-free wedding day schedule that allows you to fully enjoy your big day without worrying about what’s next.
Final Thoughts
A well-planned wedding day timeline ensures your day runs smoothly and lets you enjoy every moment.
But the right timeline is only part of the equation—having a photographer who captures every beautiful detail is just as important.
Looking for a photographer who will document your day with timeless, heartfelt images? Let’s create a photography plan that fits your unique vision!