By: LaDawn Williams – Platinum Lining Events
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, not to mention one of the busiest. After all the planning you’ve put into this special day, the mere thought of another schedule or checklist might make your head spin. But your wedding day schedule is one of the most important items you will need before you walk down that aisle. If you haven’t hired a wedding planner, you will need to create a time line, to make sure everything has a proper order. It’s never too early to start thinking about how you want the day to flow and start plotting out your day from the time you wake up until the last guest leaves the reception. A good wedding day schedule will help the day run smooth and hopefully on time!
How to get Started
You probably have portions of your wedding day schedule already mapped out. For example, what time the Ceremony, Cocktail and Reception will start. Now you just have to fill in the blanks. Start thinking about all the events you want to take place on your special day. Don’t forget to fill in the times of your wedding day appointments – hair and makeup, photography sessions for the ladies and gents, what time each of your vendors will need to arrive, DJ, Minister, Florist, Cake etc. What time you or your planner is going to arrive to check on your vendors to make sure they are executing every detail you contracted them to do. These details should at least get you started on the road to a detailed organized wedding time line.
What Else?
Now you’ll just need to pencil in the rest of your day. Plan your day hour by hour – or in half-hour increments if you really enjoy details! Give yourself plenty of travel time if you’re ceremony location and reception location are different, there is always traffic when you have to be somewhere at a specific time. Remember – most things will take you longer than planned so schedule things loosely to allow some flexibility in your day.
The “Day Of” Schedule
Here is a sample outline of what should be included in your timeline. Use this as a guide to help you create your own schedule for your big day. Keep in mind you will want to send out this itinerary at least a week in advance to all your vendors. Be sure to make copies for your groom, bridal party and parents.
9:00 AM Morning Wake up Call
9:30 AM Eat breakfast
10:30 Am Hairstylist appointment
12:00 PM Makeup appointment
12:00 PM Vendor arrivals (limo, florist, musicians, officiant, DJ, etc.)
1:00 PM Bride’s attendants arrive
1:00 PM Get dressed (about 2 hours before ceremony time)
2:00 Pm Photography sessions
3:00 PM Groomsmen arrive (about an hour ahead of time)
3:15 PM Guest Seating
3:30 PM Groom and best man arrive (about half an hour early)
3:30 PM Leave for ceremony
3:50 PM Bridesmaids and bride arrive (about 10 minutes before the ceremony)
4:00 PM Processional
4:30 PM Recessional
4:30 PM More Pictures
5:00 PM Cocktail Hour
6:00 PM Grand Entrance
Etc………
Add as many details of your ceremony and reception as you can. Remember this is what everyone will follow to ensure everything goes as planned. Happy Planning!
LaDawn Williams Bailey
Executive Director/Certified Wedding Coordinator
Platinum Lining Events
909-946-7222 PH * 909-946-2000 Fax
Visit www.PlatinumLining.com
Creating Unique Weddings and Events one client at a time.
Tags: Ceremony Cocktail Reception timeline, Day Of Schedule, LaDawn Williams, Platinum Lining Events, Wedding Timeline example