A wedding day has so many moving parts… hair, makeup, photos, transport, guests arriving, the ceremony and of course the party that follows! With all the excitement, it’s easy to underestimate just how quickly time can slip away. That’s where a wedding day timeline comes in.

Think of it as your roadmap: it keeps the day flowing smoothly, helps your suppliers work together and gives you peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy every moment.

Why a Timeline Matters

A clear, realistic timeline means:

You know when to be ready (without feeling rushed)
Your suppliers are on the same page
Guests aren’t left waiting
The important moments (like your ceremony and first kiss) happen without stress

Where to Start

The best way to build your timeline is to work backwards from your ceremony time. If your ceremony is at 3:00pm, think about everything that needs to happen before then:

Hair and makeup finished by 1:30pm
Photos with your wedding party from 1:30–2:30pm
Travel time to the venue
Guests arriving from 2:30pm

And suddenly, you know exactly when to start the day.

A Sample Half-Day Timeline (for a 3:00pm Ceremony)

Here’s how a typical afternoon wedding might look:

Hair and makeup underway
Hair and makeup finished
Couple and wedding party photos
Guests begin to arrive at the venue
Final arrivals, ushers guiding guests to seats
Ceremony begins
Ceremony concludes (depending on style)
Congratulations hugs, confetti, candid photos
Formal group and family photos, then couple portraits

12:00pm
1:30pm
1:30–2:30pm
2:00pm
2:30pm
3:00pm
3:30–3:40pm
3:45–4:15pm
4:15pm +

Of course, this is just a sample and every wedding looks a little different depending on the style of ceremony, venue and what matters most to you.

The Little Things That Make a Big Difference

Allow buffer time: Something will always run late (traffic, zippers, speeches that go long). A little buffer keeps things calm.

Communicate with suppliers: Your celebrant (me), photographer, venue and coordinator will all help fine-tune timings. Lean on their experience.

Build in breathing space: It’s your day! Plan a few moments for just the two of you to pause, soak it in and enjoy the fact that you’re married.

My Role in Your Timeline

Every couple I work with receives a ceremony run-sheet and timeline as part of their ceremony script. You’ll have this well ahead of time. At our Ceremony Planning Workshop so you can share it with your venue, photographer and other suppliers. This means everyone knows what’s happening, when and the day runs like clockwork.

I’ll also be in touch with your venue and photographer as needed, to make sure the ceremony flows seamlessly into everything else you have planned.

Ready to Write Your Timeline?

Your wedding day timeline doesn’t need to be complicated, it just needs to be practical and true to you. With a little planning, everything flows and you get to focus on celebrating.

I’ll help you map out the perfect timing for your ceremony and the day around it.

Contact