Need help with your Wedding Timeline? 

Here are some timelines from weddings in the past to help you get started. 

(Yes, these were really timelines from previous clients. Some are more detailed than others, which is okay, it’s your wedding, make it how you like!)

 

Below is a list of examples of weddings from each month. You'll notice that each timeline has similarity and differences. Some are really detailed and others are more flexible. Some have first looks, others have golden hour photos, and some have both. Your wedding is going to look different from these weddings and that's okay. These are just to show you how a timeline might look.

 

JANUARY WEDDING TIMELINE 

11:30 Photographer & Videographer Arrives (begin details) - Details 
12:00 Groom getting ready Photos – Groomsmen need to be getting ready also
12:30 Bride getting ready Photos
12:50 First look with Dad
1:00   Bridesmaid Photos
1:30   First Look + Bride/Groom Photos
2:00   Bridal Party Photos begin
2:00   DJ Arrives
2:30   Caterer Arrives
3:30   Bride in Hiding – Music in Chapel begins (instrumental Hymns)
4:00   Being Processional   
4:17   Ceremony Begins 
4:45     Recessional 
4:50   Family Photos followed by Couples Photos
4:50   Coffee Hour / Cocktail Hour
5:20   Bridal Party will meet for Introduction
5:30   Introduction of Mr & Mrs + Bridal Party (followed by 1^st dances)
5:45   Welcome + Prayer - Dinner Served
6:25   Cake Cutting
6:30   Dance Floor Opens
8:25   Last Song 
8:30   Send off 

FEBURARY WEDDING TIMELINE

12:30 Photographer Arrive - Details
1:00   Check in with the bride 
1:30   Groom Photos
2:00   Cake Arrives
2:15   Bridal Photos
3:30   Put Bride away 
4:00   Ceremony
4:30   End Ceremony, Family Photos
         Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, and Aunt/Uncles and then large group of each (ie, aunts and uncles)
5:00   Wedding Party Group Photos
5:15   Couples Photos 
5:45   Start Reception
6:30   Sunset Photos 
8:30   Photographer leaves

MARCH WEDDING TIMELINE

9:00   Access to The Venue 
           Wedding Planner arrives for set up 
12:00 Bride and Bridesmaids arrive for hair/make up onsite 
1:30   DJ arrives for set up 
2:00   Photographer arrives – details/Girls Getting Ready photos
         Bride gets dressed       
3:00   Groom and Groomsmen arrive 
3:45   Groom + Groomsmen Photos
5:00   Prelude music - Seating of guests 
5:30   Ceremony
5:50   Recessional / 
Officiant – Invite guests to Cocktail Hour

6:00   Cocktail Hour
            Formal photos

6:50   Guests take seats for reception

7:00   Introductions – full wedding party, bride/groom (introduce by first name only) 
            First Dance

7:15   Buffet Open (Wedding Party and Family First – DJ to call table numbers)

7:45   Toast – MOB & Best Man

              Cake Cutting

8:00   Dance Floor Open 
9:30   Thank guests for coming 
9:45   Bubble exit

10:00 End of Reception

APRIL WEDDING TIMELINE

1:00   Detail Photos
2:00   Bride Make-Up and Candid Photos with Bridal Party
2:30   Groom Photos + Groom Party Photos
3:00   Bride Getting Ready Photos + Bridal Photos + Bridal Party Photos
4:00   Put Wedding Party Away for Ceremony + Touch Up HMU
4:30   Ceremony
5:00   Family phots and bride/groom photos 
6:00   Introductions to Reception
6:05   Reception detail photos + Candid guest photos
7:00   Toasts
7:15   First Dance
7:20   Father/Daughter Dance
7:24   Mother/Son Dance
7:27   Parent's Dance
7:30   Anniversary Dance
7:45   Couples Photos in Scarlett Lounge
8:30   Cake Cutting
8:35   Newlywed game
8:40   Bouquet Toss
8:42   Garter Toss
10:00 Sparkler Send off

MAY WEDDING TIMELINE

11:00  Getting Ready at Venue
12:00  Photographers Arrive Venue for Details Photos
1:30   Groom Getting Ready Photos / Individual Photos / Party Photos
2:15   Bride Getting Ready Photos / Individual Photos     
3:00   First Look with Groom 
3:30   Wedding Party Photos / Bridal Party Photos
3:45   First Look with Dad
4:00   Family Photos
4:30   Put Everyone Away for Ceremony                           
5:00   Ceremony
6:00   Cocktail Hour Starts
9:00   Formal Exit

JUNE WEDDING TIMELINE

10:30 Bridal Party Arrives at Venue
2:30   Photographers (Videographers) Arrive at Venue
             Detail photos: rings, dress (all dresses), flowers, cake, tablescapes, etc. 
3:30   Photos with Bride
             Bride and Bridal Party in Robes
             Bride getting into Dress with Mom
             Bride’s First Look with Bridal Party
4:30   Photos with Groom
             Groom Final Touches to Suit
5:00   Guest Arrive / Open Water Station
5:30   Ceremony
6:00   Cocktail Hour
             Family Photos
             Wedding Party Photos
             Couples Photos
6:45   Introductions to Reception
6:50   Open Buffet
7:50   Cake Cutting
             Parent Dances
8:00   Golden Hour Photos (8:15pm might be too late if it’s cloudy)
8:35   Sunset
8:45   PARTYING!
9:15   Fake Exit
9:30   Photographers (Videographers) Leave

JULY WEDDING TIMELINE

8:00   Decorating begins
9:30   Hair and makeup arrive
2:00   Groom and groomsmen arrive
3:00   Photographer arrives
3:15   Groom and groomsmen photos
3:45   Bride with Bridesmaids photos
4:15   Hair/makeup touchups + General venue detail pictures
5:00   Ceremony
5:45   Cocktail Hour + Coordinator converts barn for reception
5:45   Family photos
6:00   Wedding group photos
6:15   Bride and Groom photos
7:15   Introduce Bridal Party
7:20   Dinner begins
7:50   Best man and Maid of Honor Speeches
8:00   Cake cutting
8:10   Shoe Game while people eat dessert
8:20   First Dance
8:25   Invite Guests to dance floor + Sneak away for sunset photos
8:35   Mother/Son Dance
8:40   Father/Daughter Dance
8:45   Siblings Dance in Socks  - Half song
8:50   Everyone dance
9:15   Generations Dance
9:20   Everyone dance
9:50   Last song
9:55   Couple send off
10:00 Guests Leave + Clean up begins

AUGUST WEDDING TIMELINE

1:00   Photographer Arrives + Detail Photos - Cake, Flowers, Dress, Rings
1:30   Groom Getting Ready / Grooms Party Photos
2:00   Bride Getting Ready / Bridal Party Getting Ready / Bridal Party Photos
3:15   First Look with Dad
4:00   Ceremony
4:30   Family Photos
4:45   Wedding Party Photos
5:00   Couples Photos
5:30   Introductions to Reception
5:40   First Dances
             Dinner
             Toast            
             Wedding Games
8:00   Sunset / Possible Sunset Photos

SEPTEMBER WEDDING TIMELINE

2:00   Detail photos 
2:30   Photos of Bride and Bridal Party 
3:30   Photos of Groom and Groomsmen
4:30   Wedding prelude – music as guests arrive
5:00   Wedding ceremony
5:30   Photos/Cocktail hour
6:15   Wedding party arrival/introductions
6:20   First dance
6:25   Father of the bride dance
6:30   Groom & mother in law dance
6:35   Blessing of the food
6:40   Dinner is served
7:15   Toasts
7:25   Cake cutting
7:30   Dancing begins
8:10   Garter toss
8:15   Bouquet toss
8:30   Last dance(s)
8:45   Sendoff
9:00   Afterparty

OCTOBER WEDDING TIMELINE

9:30   Start hair/ makeup for Bride/Bridesmaids
11:30 Lunch for Bridal Party
12:00 Photographer Arrives (Begins Detail Pictures/ getting ready Pictures)
1:00   Groomsmen get dressed/ ready (Photographer takes detail/ getting ready pictures of guys)
2:00   Pictures of Bridal Party (Bride with Bridesmaids & Groom with Groomsmen) 
2:00   String Trio arrives for Ceremony & DJ arrives
4:00   Pre-Ceremony Pictures finished
4:00   Hide Bridal Party
4:00   Ring Check (Best man)
4:00   Prelude music by string trio begins/ guests arrive
4:30   Ceremony Start
5:00   Ceremony ends
5:00   Sonny’s BBQ arrives 
5:00   Cocktail Hour
5:00   Bride & Groom Pictures/ Full Bridal Party Pictures
6:00   Reception Begins
6:00   Announce Wedding Party
6:10   Bride & Groom go into Crazy Dance
6:15   Welcome/ Blessing from Mother of the Bride
6:30   Dinner is served (DJ call tables by number)
7:30   Cake Cutting
7:35   Toasts
7:45   Father/ Daughter Dance, Mother/ Son Dance, First dance for Bride & Groom
8:00   Open Dance Floor
9:45   Last Dance 
9:50   Bar Closes 
10:00 Bubbles Send off
10:15 Guests Gone/ Begin Clean Up
11:00 Off Property

NOVEMBER WEDDING TIMELINE

7:00   Girls Arrive at Venue
             Hair and Makeup 
12:00 Groomsmen Arrive
             Lunch Delivered for Girls
             Photographers Arrive
             Detail Photos
1:00   Bride Getting Ready 
1:30   First Look
             Bridal Party Photos

             Groomsmen Photos
             Full Wedding Party
2:30   Put Wedding Party Away
3:00   Ceremony
3:30   Family Photos
4:15   Reception
             First Dance
4:30   Dinner
6:00   Couples Photos Golden Hour
             Toast
             Cake Cutting
             Wedding Games
6:45   Sunset
9:00   Photographers Leave

DECEMBER WEDDING TIMELINE

8:00   Setup
             Bridesmaids & Bride arrive
             Hair & Makeup Arrive
1:00   Groomsmen Arrive to decorate
             Cake Arrives
2:00   Photographer Arrive 
2:30   Groomsmen & Groom get ready
2:30   DJ Arrives 
3:00   First Looks & Bridal Shots
3:30   Officiant Arrives 
4:00   Bride & Groom Hideaway & Refresh
4:15   Guest Arrive
4:30   Ceremony
5:00   Family Photos
             Cocktail/Appetizers (Mac & Cheese Bar)
6:00   Bridesmaids & Groomsmen Entrance
             Bride & Groom Grand Entrance
             First Dance
6:45   Bride & Uncle
             Groom & Mom Dance
6:50   Wedding Shoe Game
7:30   Toast - Groom
             Cake
7:50   Pusheen Toss (Similar to Garter/Bouquet Toss)
7:55   Dance
8:45   Last Call
8:55   Last Dance
9:00   Send Off – Bubbles