Your wedding day timeline is like a game plan for your Big Day. It’s a schedule of events that ensures everything you have planned for months unfolds smoothly. Timing is everything, and creating a well-crafted wedding timeline is an effective way to ensure that everyone is on the same page, from your vendors to your wedding party.
But when should you finalize your wedding day timeline? Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind as you plan your timeline:
Plan ahead and be flexible
Planning ahead is essential when it comes to your wedding timeline. You should start creating an outline of your timeline as soon as you have booked your venue, vendors, and have a rough idea of your guest count. This will give you an idea of how much time you will need to transition between certain events, such as the ceremony to the cocktail hour or dinner to the speeches.
It’s also important to be flexible with your timeline. Even if you plan every detail, some things may not go according to plan. You may find that you need to add extra time for hair and makeup or take some extra shots with your photographer. Be prepared to add some wiggle room for unexpected delays.
Finalize your timeline one month prior to your wedding date
You should aim to finalize your wedding day timeline about a month before the wedding. This gives you ample time to iron out any last-minute details and make sure that your vendors are all on the same page. Don’t wait until the last minute to finalize your timelines as this can create confusion and add unnecessary stress to the wedding day.
Once you finalize your timeline, share it with all your vendors, including your catering team, DJ, photographer, and wedding coordinator. Make sure to check in with them a week before the wedding day to confirm everything is still on track and that everyone knows where they need to be and when.
What to include in your wedding day timeline
Your wedding timeline will vary based on the time of day, venue, and your specific needs, but there are a few essential elements that you should include;
Getting Ready: Start with your getting-ready time. This includes hair and makeup, getting dressed, and walkthroughs with your vendors.
Ceremony: Include all the details of your ceremony, including the time, location, and duration. Also, include arrival and departure times for the bride, groom, and wedding party.
Cocktail Hour: The cocktail hour should be listed in detail, including the start and end times, and the location.
Reception: This includes dinner, cake cutting, first dance, toasts, and any other events planned, such as bouquet toss or garter toss.
Vendor Traditional Timings: Make sure to work with your vendors to confirm setups and timings, such as band or DJ load in times, photography and videography schedules, and vendor meal service times.
Conclusion
Finalizing your wedding day timeline about a month before the big day is vital. It is an effective way to ensure everyone involved in your wedding is on the same page. By putting in time to plan ahead of the day, being flexible, and including all essential details, you can ensure a stress-free wedding day filled with beautiful moments.
FAQ
How long before ceremony should hair and makeup be done?
When it comes to planning your wedding day, scheduling your hair and makeup timeline can be a crucial part of getting all the details just right. You want to make sure that your hair and makeup are done perfectly, which takes time. But you also don’t want to be rushing to the ceremony in a last-minute flurry of hairspray and lipstick.
For the bride and a bridal party of four, we suggest starting to get ready four to five hours before the ceremony begins. This timeline includes time for both hair and makeup, as well as any necessary photos. You’ll want your hair and makeup artists to have enough time to work their magic and for you to have time to get dressed, take photos, and enjoy some pre-ceremony festivities.
It’s important to keep in mind that hair and makeup can take different amounts of time depending on the complexity of the styles you’ve chosen. If you’ve opted for intricate updos or braids, or if you’re incorporating hair extensions into your look, you may need to add extra time into your schedule. Similarly, if you’re planning on a bold, heavily made-up look, your makeup artist may need more time to get it just right.
As you plan your hair and makeup timeline, also take into account the number of people in your bridal party. For each additional bridesmaid, we suggest adding an hour and a half to your schedule. So, for example, if you have eight bridesmaids, you might plan to start hair and makeup six to seven hours before the ceremony starts.
The perfect hair and makeup schedule will depend on a variety of factors, including how much time you have before the ceremony, how complex your desired styles are, and the number of people involved. But with a little careful planning and communication with your hair and makeup artists, you can be sure to look your best and enjoy a stress-free lead-up to your big day.