How to plan the perfect wedding day timeline

Perfecting your wedding timeline will ensure your day is a seamless and enjoyable occasion that flows from one event to the next with ease. Here’s how to create a foolproof schedule for your wedding day.

The key to a wedding day timeline that runs smoothly and successfully is planning ahead. By breaking down your entire wedding day into an organised and detailed timeline, you’ll be able to keep everything (and everyone) on track when the big day finally arrives.

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A precision-planned wedding day timeline will minimise stress and eliminate confusion by keeping everyone on the same page, from your bridesmaids to your glam team to your photographer. To avoid any scheduling mishaps, we’ve put together some planning tips and handy templates so you can nail your wedding day timeline.

Your perfect wedding day timeline

• Start as early as possible. We can’t stress this enough — start early! It’s already a long day, and starting a little earlier than you might have initially planned will give you more time to relax and enjoy yourself. You’ll have more time for photos and to steal a few moments of peace with your partner throughout the day.
• Consider the logistics. While the below templates are a great place to start when planning your wedding day timeline, the logistics of each event will vary slightly for every couple. Are you having your ceremony and reception at different locations? Will you be having a day wedding or an afternoon wedding? Are you planning to do a first look? All of these logistics will affect your schedule.
• Don’t keep guests waiting. When creating your wedding day timeline, remember that you don’t want to keep guests waiting around for long periods of time. Keep speeches short and sweet, and plan activities to keep guests entertained between the ceremony and reception. Check out this article to discover more wedding moments that guests secretly hate.
• Share your schedule with suppliers. Once you’ve got your timeline locked in and are happy with your schedule, remember to share a copy with your venue, bridal party, and all of your suppliers at least a month out from the wedding. This helps to get everyone on the same page and will ensure things run smoothly on the day.
• Remember your photographer and videographer. Your wedding photographer and videographer will need a full rundown of your wedding day timeline so they can plan where they are required and at what time. The amount of time you need them will also determine how much you spend on photography and videography, so we suggest deciding on this as early as possible if you don’t want to fork out full-day coverage.

How to allocate time to each wedding activity

Before creating a set timeline, be sure to familiarise yourself with the general time it takes for each activity throughout a wedding day. To help, we’ve broken down the approximate time allocated to each event, from getting ready in the early morning to the grand exit. Keep in mind that these time blocks are just a guide and can be amended to fit your specific plans.

• Getting ready — 2 to 3 hours. We suggest allowing two to three hours for the pre-wedding glam process, including hair, makeup, getting dressed, and the all-important getting-ready shots. If you have a larger bridal party, be sure to allocate more time for this step, as most hair and makeup artists require 30 minutes for hair and 30 minutes for makeup per bridesmaid.
• Pre-ceremony photos — 1 to 1.5 hours. Once you’re dressed, allocate at least an hour to shoot solo portraits and group photos with your wedding party. If you’re doing a first look with your partner before the ceremony, we recommend allowing an extra 30 minutes for this.
• Travelling to the ceremony. This step will depend on where you’re getting ready and how far it is from the venue. If you plan on getting ready at your ceremony location, this time block won’t be necessary, but if you’re travelling to the ceremony, be sure to allow ample time for any traffic delays.
• Ceremony — 30 minutes to 1 hour. The ceremony is another time block that varies depending on the couple. Non-religious ceremonies can take just 20 minutes, while religious ceremonies often go for more than an hour.
• Family portraits/cocktail hour — 1 hour. After the ceremony, guests will enjoy cocktail hour as you head off to capture group photos with close friends and family.
• Wedding party entrance and welcome toasts — 15 minutes. Once guests are seated at the reception, allow approximately 15 minutes for the couple and the wedding party to make their grand entrance, which leads straight into the welcome toast.
• Wedding party and family speeches — 30 minutes.  In between serving the entrée and main course, allocate about half an hour for speeches. Traditionally, speeches are given by the maid of honour, best man, and parents of the couple, so we’d suggest asking each person to keep their toast relatively short — around five minutes each.
• First dance — 10 minutes. Once the main course is cleared, head to the dancefloor for your first dance, which will open up the dancefloor and really get the party started! We suggest serving dessert in between the first dance bracket and parent dances if you’re doing them.
• Parent dances — 10 minutes. Though short and sweet, the parent dances are a beautiful, emotional wedding moment for which you’ll need to allocate at least ten minutes if you choose to do them.
• Reception exit — 20 minutes. As the celebrations wind down and the reception ends, cue your wedding exit song and head outside for your grand departure. Ask your MC or coordinator to gather your guests outside the venue for an unforgettable farewell to end your wedding day on a high note. Some of our favourite wedding exit photos feature sparklers, confetti, and even fireworks. ✨

Sample wedding day timeline

Based on the above time blocks, we’ve put together a sample schedule for a wedding day with the ceremony starting at 4pm. Use the below as a template to create your own timeline, and remember to make adjustments where needed — every wedding day will be slightly different!

• 9am — Start hair and makeup
• 11am — Groom and groomsmen gather to get ready
• 12pm — Put on your wedding dress
• 12.30pm — First look photos (if you’re doing them!)
• 1pm – Couple’s portraits
• 1.30pm — Wedding party photos and family photos
• 2pm — Allow for travel time to the ceremony and any last-minute photos
• 3.30pm— Guests begin to arrive for the ceremony
• 4pm— Ceremony begins
• 4.45pm — Ceremony finishes, and the photographer might jump in to get a group shot with all of your guests
• 5pm — Guests enjoy cocktail hour. If you didn’t have a first look, now is a good time to get those all-important couple shots after the ceremony!
• 6pm — Reception starts, MC welcomes the wedding party entrance, cake cutting, and welcome toast
• 6.15pm — Serve entrée
• 6.45pm — Wedding party and family speeches
• 7.15pm — Serve the main course
• 8pm —  First dance, followed by dance bracket
• 8.45pm — Serve dessert
• 9.15pm — Parent dances, followed by dance bracket
• 10.15pm — Bouquet toss (if you’re doing one!)
• 10.30pm — Last call for drinks
• 10.45pm — Reception wraps up, guests head outside for your send-off
• 11pm — Guests leave

Before you work out your wedding day timeline, register for Easy Weddings – it’s free!

FAQs: Perfect wedding day timeline

1. Why is having a wedding day timeline important?

A well-planned timeline keeps your wedding day running smoothly, reduces stress, and ensures everyone, from your bridal party to vendors, knows where they need to be and when. It helps you enjoy every moment without feeling rushed.

2. When should I start planning my wedding day timeline?

Start as early as possible! Ideally, begin drafting your timeline at least a few months before the wedding, giving you enough time to adjust for any logistics, vendor availability, or last-minute changes.

3. How do I determine how much time to allocate for each wedding activity?

Consider the typical durations for each activity as a guide:

• Getting ready: 2–3 hours
• Pre-ceremony photos: 1–1.5 hours
• Ceremony: 30–60 minutes
• Cocktail hour/family photos: ~1 hour
• Speeches: ~30 minutes
• First dance/parent dances: ~20 minutes total

Adjust these based on your wedding size, locations, and whether you plan a first look.

4. Should I schedule travel time between locations?

Yes! Include travel time between your getting-ready location, ceremony, and reception. Factor in traffic or parking delays to prevent any scheduling stress.

5. How do I avoid keeping guests waiting?

Keep speeches concise, provide entertainment during cocktail hour, and ensure smooth transitions between key moments. A thoughtful timeline minimizes idle time and keeps the day flowing.

6. When should I share my wedding timeline with vendors?

Share your finalized schedule with your venue, bridal party, and all suppliers at least a month in advance. This ensures everyone is aligned and prepared for the day.

7. How does the timeline affect photography and videography?

Your photographer and videographer need the full schedule to capture all key moments. Knowing when and where they’re needed helps manage coverage time and budget.

8. Can I customize my wedding timeline?

Absolutely! The sample timeline is a template. Adapt it to your ceremony start time, reception style, or unique wedding moments like a first look, sunset photos, or special performances.

9. What’s the best way to handle unexpected delays?

Build in buffer time between activities. Even 10–15 minutes of flexibility can make a big difference if something runs over or a vendor is delayed.

10. Where can I find timeline templates or planning tools?

Easy Weddings offers downloadable templates and planning guides to help you map out your day from start to finish.