Wedding Timelines – The GPS to Your Big Day

💍 Think of your wedding timeline as the GPS to your happily ever after—don’t get lost!

A solid wedding timeline ensures that your big day flows smoothly, reduces stress, and allows you to truly enjoy the moment. Whether you have a planner or are DIY-ing your schedule, here’s everything you need to know about building a timeline that works!

Top Tips for a Stress-Free Wedding Timeline

1️⃣ Start with Your Ceremony Time – Your timeline revolves around this. Plan backward to fit in getting ready, first looks, and pre-ceremony photos. This will help you really plan accordingly and help you really see how much time the whole day is.

2️⃣ Buffer Time is a Lifesaver – Running late happens! Adding extra time for hair, makeup, and travel prevents feeling rushed. Also add extra time, always. Chances are something will be running late or behind - and that is okay, plan as if it's going to happen and it will be a lot less stress the day of. 

3️⃣ First Look or Not? – If you want a first look, photos can start earlier. If not, most portraits will happen after the ceremony. If you do a first look before the ceremony you can spend more time with your guests after the ceremony. In my experience, first looks always helps alleviate photo stress later.

4️⃣ Golden Hour Photos = Dreamy Lighting – Schedule couple portraits near sunset for that beautiful, soft glow. I try and schedule golden hour photos, depending on the venue and this sometimes is such a great time JUST FOR YOU TWO after all the chaos and commotion. 

5️⃣ Keep Family Photos Efficient – Have a list of must-have family portraits ready to save time. I always suggest compiling a list prior to the day of, you will have a good idea of who you want in your family photos. No, you don't need to include everyone in formal photos, you can take photos with other guests during the reception.

6️⃣ Reception Flow is Important – Plan out when dinner, speeches, cake cutting, and dancing will happen to keep guests engaged. Make sure your DJ or emcee has a copy of the timeline as well, this helps the lull time in reception to keep things going. You don't want your guests to sit and wait hours between dinner and dancing, cake, speeches. The flow is so important. 

7️⃣ Stick to the Plan but Stay Flexible – Some things may shift, but as long as key moments happen, the day will feel seamless. A timeline shows all the major events you want photographed and they may not all happen right on time so allowing things to happen is the best.  

A great wedding timeline helps you stay present and enjoy the day without stress. Build in extra time, trust your vendors, and remember—your wedding is about celebrating love, not racing the clock!

If you are a Bellanet couple, I help build a timeline for my clients this helps so much since chances are this is their first wedding and do you know how to build a wedding timeline? I have done so many at this point, it's second nature.