CRAFTING THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY TIMELINE
from Seattle Wedding Videographer Green Attic Films
Making your wedding day timeline is a crucial part of the planning process!
That's why I'd love to share what I deem the "perfect" wedding day timeline! I've had plenty of brides use this as well as me and a few of my sisters on our wedding days :) So, it has been fine-tuned from the perspective of a videographer AND a bride! What's great about this timeline is that there's a lot of cushion built in, so if things end up running behind (which, trust me, they will) you have plenty of time for that.
It's never too early in the wedding planning process to think through the timeline of the day!
Without further ado... here it is!
7:45 Bridesmaids arrive at venue/hotel/etc.
8:00 Hair and Makeup Starts
11:15 Hair and Makeup Finished, room tidy and details set out
11:30 Photographer & Videographer Arrive, get detail shots & final makeup shots
11:45 Robe Picture with everyone, gifts given out
12:00 Bridesmaids/Mom/etc. change into their dresses before bride
12:20 Letter/Gift from Groom
12:30 Dress on, earrings, shoes, garter, etc.
12:35 First look with bridesmaids
12:40 First look with Dad
12:45 Note/gift to Dad
12:45 Everyone packs up stuff, organizes room, grabs snack, get ready for photos, bride gets a minute to breathe!
12:45 Groom + groomsmen arrives to groom suite, wearing pants + shirt (no tie/jacket/vest)
1:00 Detail shots, guys getting ready, photos/video of Groom, get set up for first look
1:30 First Look
1:35 Couple shots, make sure to get individuals of Bride & Groom as well
2:00 Bridesmaids and groomsmen join for bridal party photos
2:45 Bridal Party photos concluded, family arrives at venue
3:00 Immediate family photos
3:30 Family photos complete, bride and groom back to suite to chill out, freshen up
3:45 Empty reception/ceremony space photos/videos
4:45 Bridal Party lined up, rings located, everything set and ready to go
5:00 Ceremony begins
Ceremony Order:
● Grandparents
● Parents
● Groom + Officiant
● Bridesmaids + Groomsmen (MOH/BM walk down last)
● Flower girls down aisle/ring bearer down aisle
● Bride down aisle
5:30 Ceremony Concluded, officiant makes announcement for Family to Stay
5:30-5:45 Family photos outside
5:30 - 6:15 Cocktail hour
6:15 DJ asks guests to start finding their seats
6:25 Everybody seated
6:30 Entrances
6:40 Welcome/blessing/etc.
6:50 Meagan and Josh through buffet
6:55 Bridal party & immediate family through food line (the photo + video)
7:00 DJ releases tables to go through buffet
7:30 Golden Hour Photos!
7:50 DJ announces toasts are in 5 minutes, everyone gets prepped and ready
7:55 Best Man toast
8:00 Maid of Honor toast
8:05 Bride and Groom say “Thank you”
8:10 Cake cutting
8:15 DANCES START - DJ fades them out after about 2 minutes each
8:15 First Dance
8:20 Father Daughter Dance
8:25 Mother Son Dance
8:35 Open dancing begins
9:00: Bouquet Toss
9:05: Garter Toss
9:30: Photo/video coverage ends, fake exit photos with bridal party
Hopefully this wedding timeline will help you formulate your own! And don't forget that you can always reach out to your photographer/videographer if you have any questions about timeline or ways to make the day run smoothly :).