Day 10 – The 12 Days of Wedding Planning: Create a Wedding Day-of Timeline

We’re here with Day 10, and today’s tip is all about creating a day-of timeline to ensure your wedding day runs like a well-oiled machine.

Your wedding day is a culmination of months, if not years, of planning, and you want everything to go off without a hitch. A detailed day-of timeline can be your secret weapon to make sure that happens. Here’s how to create one:

1. Start Early: Begin crafting your day-of timeline well in advance. Ideally, you should start working on it a few weeks before the wedding. This gives you enough time to make any necessary adjustments.

2. Include All Key Events: List down every significant event of the day, starting from the moment you wake up to when you say your goodbyes. This should include:

• Hair and makeup appointments for you and your bridal party.
• The ceremony start time.
• Photo sessions (pre-ceremony, during cocktail hour, and any other specific moments).
• Reception schedule (dinner service, speeches, dances, cake cutting, and any other planned activities).
• Any breaks or downtime.

3. Be Realistic: While planning your timeline, be realistic about the time each activity will take. Factor in travel time between locations and any potential delays, like traffic or unexpected situations. It’s better to have extra time built into your schedule than to feel rushed.

4. Buffer Time: Speaking of extra time, always include buffer periods between activities. This allows for breathing room and can help you stay on track even if things run a bit behind schedule.

5. Communicate with Vendors and Bridal Party: Once you have a solid timeline in place, share it with your vendors and bridal party. This ensures everyone is on the same page and knows where they need to be at specific times. Make sure your photographer, makeup artist, hairstylist, caterer, and others have a copy.

6. Assign a Timekeeper and a Group Photo Coordinator: Consider appointing someone as the “timekeeper” for the day. This person can help keep everyone on schedule, gently reminding them of upcoming events and ensuring things run smoothly.

This is also a good person to have help organize your family for formal pictures during the cocktail hour.

Featured photographer Jen B says: “Also make a list of all the group shots and give it to your photographer and one or two people who know who everyone is so they can make sure everyone is there or quickly grab someone who is missing. As the photographer I don’t know who Uncle Joe is, so me shouting for Uncle Joe isn’t really helpful.”

7. Emergency Kit: Prepare an emergency kit with essentials like safety pins, stain removers, sewing kits, and any other items that might come in handy. Having this on hand can help you tackle unexpected surprises.

8. Stay Flexible: While it’s crucial to have a detailed plan, remember that flexibility is key. Sometimes things don’t go as expected, and that’s okay. Be prepared to adapt and go with the flow if needed.

9. Enjoy the Moment: Lastly, remember to take a deep breath and enjoy every moment of your special day. With a well-thought-out day-of timeline, you can relax knowing that everything is organized, leaving you more time to savor the beautiful moments and create lasting memories.

So, there you have it, Day 10 of our “12 Days of Wedding Tips.” Creating a detailed day-of timeline is one of the best ways to ensure your wedding day is stress-free and filled with joy. Stay tuned for more valuable tips as we approach the big day!

-Keith Phillips, Classic Photographers