The wedding day2 min read
Wedding day timeline examples for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 p.m. ceremonies
Sample schedules you can adapt, plus the buffers that stop a day from feeling rushed.
Free tool · The wedding day: Wedding day timeline builder
Start from your ceremony time and get a realistic schedule for the whole day — hair and makeup, photos, the ceremony, the reception and vendor arrivals.
min
min
0 if you get ready on site.min
Adds golden-hour photos.
- Hair and makeup begin5 people, 1 hairstylist and 1 makeup artist. Attendants go first.
- Lunch breakActually eat. Have snacks and water in the room.
- Photographer arrivesDetails: dress, rings, invitation, shoes, perfume.
- Final touch-ups
- Florist and décor setup
- Get dressedAllow 30 minutes, more for buttons or a corset.
- Caterer arrives
- Leave for the ceremony15 minutes of travel plus a buffer.
- First look
- Couple portraits
- DJ or band sets up ceremony sound
- Wedding party photos
- Immediate family photosExtended family after the ceremony.
- Officiant arrives; ushers in place
- Guests arrive; couple out of sightPrelude music begins.
- Ceremony beginsAbout 30 minutes.
- Cocktail hourExtended family photos first, then join your guests.
- Guests find their seats
- Grand entrance and welcome
- First danceOr save it to open the dance floor after dinner.
- Dinner service
- ToastsBetween courses keeps the energy up.
- Parent dances, then open dancing
- Cake cutting and dessert
- Last dance
- Send-off
A starting point built from common planner timings. Confirm durations with your hair and makeup team, photographer, venue and caterer.
Saved automatically in this browser — nothing is sent to us.
How to use it
- 01Enter your ceremony time, length and travel time.
- 02Tell it how many people are having hair and makeup, and how many artists you’ve booked.
- 03Choose a first look or not, then print or copy the schedule for your vendors.
Good to know
What time should hair and makeup start?
It depends on how many people and artists you have. For a bride and four attendants with one hairstylist and one makeup artist, usually about five to six hours before the ceremony.
How long should cocktail hour be?
About an hour. Stretch it to 75–90 minutes if you’re taking all your photos after the ceremony.
Read with this tool
The thinking behind the numbers.
For the bride3 min read
Bridal hair and makeup timeline: how long it really takes
How many hours to allow for the bride and each attendant, how many stylists you need, trial timing and a sample schedule.
Reception, food & music3 min read
Wedding reception timeline: order of events for 4 and 5 hours
A minute-by-minute reception schedule, where toasts and dances fit, and versions for buffets and couples who don’t love dancing.
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