Congrats! You’ve started planning your dream wedding and keep hearing everyone talk about the wedding timeline. Keep reading to find out what a timeline is and why they’re so important!

Whether planning an intimate elopement or a big wedding, the best thing you can do is have a detailed wedding timeline. It’s arguably one of the most important pieces to your wedding day. After months of planning you shouldn’t have to worry about what’s happening next or feeling rushed to fit everything in. A wedding timeline is essentially a list of times and the events that will happen on your wedding day. The timeline is essential for your day to run smoothly because it provides clear communication and expectations for everyone involved.

Keeps Everyone Organized

Think of your wedding day timeline as your itinerary for the day. It shows when your wedding party needs to arrive to start getting ready, when and where family should meet for family portraits, and when vendors need to be ready by. Everyone involved in your wedding should have the same timeline so they’re all on the same page.

Timelines are incredibly important for family members to know exactly when and where to be for family photos. Family photos can be stressful and take up a large amount of time if everyone isn’t where they should be at the right time. This can cause unnecessary stress and even make the day get off schedule. Providing your timeline to all family members that will be in portraits is one of the best ways to make sure everyone is there on time.

Pro Tip: Make family photo start time 15 minutes earlier than scheduled so everyone is on time.

Things to Consider

Weddings usually require clear communication and multiple vendors working together on your wedding day. Knowing when vendors will arrive and when they need to be ready by will make all the difference on your wedding day.

• The ceremony is the biggest part of your day, and one of the most important events to plan around. It’s important to check what time the sun will set to make sure there is adequate lighting for the ceremony as well as any photos happening afterwards.
• Let’s be honest, the majority of guests look forward to dinner and desserts at a wedding! Your catering vendor will need to know when food needs to be served so they know when to start preparing and plating dishes.
• The reception is your time to party and celebrate your marriage! Having a timeline that lists the order of events for your reception is key for your DJ or band. Your timeline will help them know when to make announcements and when it’s time to move the party along!

Sample Wedding Timeline

The key to creating a good wedding timeline is to break down your entire wedding day. Not only will this allow you to keep everything on track, it will help things run smoothly. Here is a sample wedding timeline created from a photographer’s perspective to capture everything that’s important to you on your wedding day.

Your wedding timeline can include as little information or as much information as you’d like. As a wedding photographer I recommend including as many details as possible so everyone has the same information. The more you plan ahead for your wedding, the more you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the day as it unfolds!

If you liked reading about the importance of wedding day timelines, be sure to check out my blog post on Wedding Day Checklists!

Venue // Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel