Want to know the secret to a stress-free wedding day that effortlessly flows from one event to the next? It all starts with a well-planned wedding day timeline! By creating a detailed timeline in advance, and sharing it with your bridal party, vendors, and family, you’ll give everyone their best possible shot at being on time (possibly even early!) for every moment of your wedding day.
Through my years as a wedding photographer, I’ve witnessed some of the most serene wedding days you can imagine, and some that are, well, the opposite. Give yourself the gift of a joyful, intentional wedding day by crafting a perfect timeline. And by following these seven tips, you’ll be well on your way!
- Give everything 10 minutes of wiggle room
Yes, everything! Pad everything, from hair and makeup to your magical sparkler exit with 10 extra minutes of wiggle room. This way, if you can’t find your hair flowers, traffic is unexpectedly heavy, or a member of your bridal party wanders off in search of a bathroom, you won’t fall behind schedule. And if someone drops lipstick on your gown while you’re waiting to walk down the aisle? No worries, because you’ve got 10 extra minutes to grab your tide to go pen and calmly fix the situation!
- Plan for portraits after your first look
If you’ve decided to do a first look, I highly recommend scheduling all of your portraits — even ones with your bridal party and family — directly afterward, before your ceremony. This way, once the celebration begins, you never have to hit pause for a photo session! Scheduling your portraits as early as possible in the day also ensures your hair, makeup, and gown look their freshest.
- Then, give yourself a 30-45 minute window before the ceremony
But just because you’re all in one place for portraits doesn’t mean you should take photos right up until your walk down the aisle. Remember, this is a very special moment and you shouldn’t feel rushed or frantic in any way. By scheduling in at least half an hour for you, your bridal party, your family, and the rest of your guests to wind down, you’ll restore a feeling of peace and reverence before the ceremony starts.
- Schedule 30 minutes just for putting on your gown
Whether you’re putting on your gown for a first look or right before the ceremony, allow about 30 minutes in your schedule to dress. Wedding gowns are often very intricate, delicate, and snug. The last thing you want to do is tear or injure your gown because you were in a hurry to tug it on. There are also a variety of special photos you can plan for while putting on your gown, and you don’t want to have to forego those last minute because you’re out of time. I also recommend planning a 10-minute “window light session” right after putting on your gown to document that breathtaking bridal glow.
- Plan in 3 minutes for every family portrait
While you’re creating your day-of timeline, you should also make time to create a family portrait shot list. This way, you make sure no one is left out of a family photo, and no family combination is forgotten in the shuffle. I know that family photos are important but I always encourage couples to keep this list as short as possible, because these photos can become a massive point of stress on a wedding day. But, by scheduling in the appropriate amount of time — three minutes per family portrait — you’ll significantly reduce that stress!
- Schedule in 15 minutes after family portraits/the ceremony for some alone time
After your ceremony or post-ceremony family portraits, add about 15 minutes into your schedule for some time to get away from your guests, bridal party, and even your photographer to soak in the beautiful “I do” you’ve just given to each other. Your wedding day will fly by in a blur, but by giving yourselves just a few moments to process and be together, you’ll ensure these profound moments don’t zip past unsavored.
- Don’t forget those stunning sunset photos!
Finally, give yourselves about 20 minutes to sneak away during the reception and capture a few last bridal portraits! As the sun sets on your wedding day, lighting the sky with a gorgeous golden glow, you’ll be able to whisper a quiet “I love you” while I snap a photo you’ll treasure forever.
If after reading through my tips, you’re still nervous about the idea of creating your own wedding day timeline, don’t panic! I’ll help you plan every moment of your day to perfect so you can enjoy it all, from the first mimosa toast until your final exit into the night as husband and wife.
