Food? Flowers? Formal introductions? Oh my! There’s a lot that goes into creating an unforgettable wedding day. So why shouldn’t it be just that? Unforgettable. You deserve it. At Marco Island Florist, we’ve seen every type of wedding under the sun, and the one defining element in all the memorable ones is the meticulously detailed wedding timeline.
It’s an understatement to say that being organized helps, but it can sometimes be easier said than done. There’s a lot to account for. You must ensure that your wedding party, family, friends, guests, and, most importantly, your vendors are all on the same page. So, having a timeline that everyone can rely on can be the difference between a chaotic day and a smooth sailing one. As many details need to be sorted out in a timeline, we highly recommend that you hire help from a wedding planner. They can see details you might not, and it also allows you to focus on what’s most important: the pure love and enjoyment of your day.
Creating a precise wedding day timeline is one of the most essential elements in the planning process; it provides clarity and a clear path ahead and eases any future stress that may happen during your wedding day. With a clear breakdown, hour by hour, you’ll know the who, what, where, and when of everything throughout your special day.
Starting Out: Building a Timeline Template
To make sure you can account for every little detail of your special day, it’s good to have everything finalized at least a few weeks before the wedding day. Whether you’re working with a wedding planner or a go-to friend organizing the ceremony and reception, everyone must have access to a central Excel spreadsheet with your wedding day template. Once you’ve created the template, you can update it with details as they surface. One of the first things to consider when mapping out your wedding day is to factor in travel times and make sure your wedding party is happy and fed before it’s time for the ceremony.
4 Hours to Get Ready
When thinking about how much time you need to get ready for your wedding, give yourself more than enough time—four hours should be a good estimate. A sample itinerary could like arriving at the bridal suite at 9 am for hair and makeup, getting dressed, and taking photos before a 1 pm ceremony. Other elements for you and your wedding party to enjoy during this time could be food and drinks and a photographer to get those fun candid “getting ready” photos that capture the more intimate parts of your day. For grooms, this can be a time to help make sure all the vendors have what they need, ensure you have your vows prepared, get a fresh shave or haircut, and spend quality time with your close friends playing cards or golf.
2.5 Hours for Photos
Planning out the time needed for your photos highly depends on what kinds of sessions you’ll be having. When planning with your photographer, map out if you’re going to have “getting ready” photos, solo photos of the bride and groom, first-look photos, or even photos with the entire family. Then, make a list of your sessions and work backward from the start time of your ceremony to find the optimal time for your photographer to arrive. A very important factor in sticking to a tight schedule is making sure that everyone is ready to go before the photographer gets to your bridal suite.
1.5 Hours for the Ceremony
The joy in creating your dream wedding is that it’s a unique expression of your love. You have complete control of how long the ceremony is and what form it has. When creating a timeline, we recommend that you buffer in time before and after the ceremony to ensure that people can get to where they need to be on time. Keep in mind that many guests will begin to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before your ceremony starts.
1 Hour for the Cocktail Hour
When scheduling the cocktail hour in your timeline, it’s not truly an hour. Once guests arrive after the ceremony ends, they will surely want to grab a drink at the bar. It is crucial to ensure that you have plenty of bartenders as well as space to serve your guest list and keep things running smoothly. After 45 minutes have passed, your wedding coordinator should begin ushering guests into the reception area to find their seats for dinner.
1 Hour for Reception Entrances, First Dance, Parent Dances, and Speeches
The tables are set and your guests have found their seats; it’s time for dances and speeches! While you can’t guarantee there won’t be embarrassing toasts, you can predict how the scheduling will go. Outlining formalities in your wedding day timeline with great detail will help ensure that your venue, wedding planner, and caterers are aligned. For example, If you’d like to coordinate a quirky entrance with your wedding party, plan some extra time with your DJ or band and allow them to assist with announcing everyone and playing fun music. Then, during your first dance with your new spouse and possibly special parent dances, decide if you want to fill your dancefloor with guests who will join in at the last minute of the song to kick off your wedding reception.
When it comes to speeches—which can take 10 to 30 minutes— we suggest you check in with the people making toasts to make sure they know how much time they have to speak. We also recommend serving a salad or your first course with a glass of champagne before the speeches begin. This will help keep your scheduling rolling along and ease any “hangry” guests.
3 Hours for Dinner, Dancing, and Cake
The room is filled with joy and celebration; what could kick things up a notch? Dinner and dancing! Before you migrate to the dance floor, schedule time to cut the cake while you still have an active audience. Often, couples give guests a lot of time to celebrate with cultural traditions, time with family, or even show off dance moves. Then, before a proper sendoff, you can play a meaningful “last song” to end the celebration on a high note. This is also an opportunity for a beautiful “grand exit” for you and your partner.
Your wedding should be perfect, and it can be with the right amount of detailed planning. Once your wedding timeline is in place, you’ll be able to fully enjoy and experience your day while it’s happening. Everything starts with envisioning what you want your wedding day to look like and writing it down. With everything accounted for, you’ll be able to have fun, relax, and be present in your celebration of love. For more wedding planning tips or to create a stress-free wedding design, connect with the experts at Marco Island Florist.
