My Organized Wedding
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Your wedding day timeline

Pick your ceremony time and a few details. You get the whole day hour by hour — when hair and makeup starts, when the photos happen, when dinner is served — and who needs to be where.

Day starts

10:25 am

Ceremony

3:00 pm

Day ends

11:05 pm

Without a first look, the photos happen during drinks — so that runs a little longer.

  1. Getting ready

    • 10:25 amHair and makeup begins

      4 people at about 45 minutes each. Whoever goes last should be the one getting married, so it's freshest.

      CoupleWedding partyVendors
    • 11:25 amVenue setup — florist, styling, chairs

      Someone who isn't getting married should be the contact here, with the floor plan on their phone.

      VendorsWedding party
    • 12:25 pmEat something proper

      Ask someone to bring lunch to wherever you're getting ready. Nobody remembers to eat otherwise.

      CoupleWedding party
    • 12:55 pmPhotographer arrives — detail shots

      Have the rings, invitation, shoes and flowers in one box, ready to hand over.

      Vendors
    • 1:40 pmGet dressed

      Keep a helper with you for buttons, cufflinks and the bustle.

      CoupleWedding party

  2. The ceremony

    • 2:25 pmLeave for the ceremony

      The wedding party goes first; the couple's car leaves last.

      CoupleWedding party
    • 2:30 pmGuests arrive

      Ushers hand out programs and show people to their seats.

      GuestsWedding party
    • 2:45 pmWedding party in place

      Rings with whoever is carrying them. Phones on silent.

      Wedding partyFamily
    • 3:00 pmCeremony begins

      Allow about 30 minutes.

      Everyone

  3. Drinks and photos

    • 3:30 pmConfetti and congratulations

      Leave 15 minutes for hugs. You won't get out of the aisle faster than that.

      Everyone
    • 3:45 pmDrinks reception begins
      Guests
    • 3:50 pmFamily group photos

      Give one person the shot list and the names. They round people up; you just stand there.

      CoupleFamilyVendors
    • 4:20 pmWedding party photos
      CoupleWedding partyVendors
    • 4:40 pmCouple portraits

      Then go and have a drink. You've earned it.

      CoupleVendors
    • 5:00 pmGuests called to their tables

      The venue or an usher does this, not the couple.

      GuestsWedding partyVendors

  4. Dinner and speeches

    • 5:15 pmGrand entrance

      Cue the song with the DJ beforehand.

      CoupleWedding partyVendors
    • 5:25 pmDinner is served

      A welcome toast before the starter keeps people from waiting on an empty glass.

      Everyone
    • 6:55 pmSpeeches and toasts

      Three speeches of five minutes is plenty. Tell each speaker their slot and their order.

      FamilyWedding party
    • 7:25 pmCake cutting
      CoupleVendors

  5. The party

    • 7:40 pmFirst dance
      CoupleVendors
    • 7:50 pmDance floor opens

      Ask the DJ to go straight into a song everyone knows.

      Everyone
    • 9:20 pmLate-night snack
      GuestsVendors
    • 10:40 pmLast song
      Everyone
    • 10:50 pmSend-off

      Sparklers or bubbles go to the guests 15 minutes before. One helper owns this.

      Everyone
    • 11:05 pmPack up and gifts collected

      Cards, gifts and anything you rented. Name the person — it is never "someone".

      Wedding partyVendors

These are typical timings, not rules. Check them with your photographer, venue and DJ — they've done this hundreds of times and will know where your day needs more room.

Running late on the day?

In the app, everyone helping gets this schedule on their phone with their own moments highlighted. If the ceremony starts ten minutes late, push the day back once and everyone's times move with it.