Wedding Timeline Mistakes

... and Tips to Avoid Them.

Photo by Michelle Beller

Wedding timelines are a key piece of keeping the day organized. Your timeline includes all the details down to the minute. It is a tool the professionals use to make sure everyone is where they need to be. Here are things to keep in mind when writing your own timeline:

Give yourself way more getting ready time then you think you will need. Hair and make up for your wedding is not like your everyday routine. You will want plenty of time for the stylist to do their job. Getting into a wedding dress also might take longer than you think, if you are doing getting ready photos you don’t want these pictures to be rushed.  

Photo by Braedon Flynn

Put all your vendor information on your timeline. Names, phone numbers, and even Instagram accounts will be helpful. Include your Maid of Honor and Best Man’s numbers too, in case someone needs to reach out to them the day of. Being able to easily access a phone number helps the people in charge of set up immensely. After the big day all your vendors will be able to tag the photos on Instagram with the correct accounts, which is a courtesy in the wedding industry.  

Photo by Wild Whim Photography

Break down your ceremony step by step. Include song titles for the recessional and processional, as well as names of who will be walking. Having a clear order to the ceremony helps things run much smoother.

Write in who will be giving toasts at the reception. Ask the people you would like to speak beforehand, then include that information in the timeline. It allows your MC to announce the people by name and keeps speech-giving time down. No one has to wrestle the microphone from a crazy relative or tipsy friend that way.  A good amount of time for a toast is 3 minutes per person. 

Photo by Megan Sorel

Include time for family traditions. Maybe an older relative wants to say a blessing, or you want to do a cultural dance. Make sure to write this into the timeline, so you can seamlessly transition during the reception.

Plan some time just for you and your love. Have a meaningful first look so you get to see each other before the ceremony starts. But also plan for a few minutes alone throughout the day, maybe right after family photos. Finding that special time for just you two will make the day even more memorable for both of you!

Blog Post by Sammy Lepse