Sample Wedding Day Timeline

Creating a wedding day schedule from scratch can be super tricky, especially when coordinating with multiple vendors! This is a huge perk of hiring a full or month-of wedding planner, they help manage the logistics and communicate with your amazing vendor team!
I help each of my wedding couples create their wedding timelines. Sometimes this means I create them from scratch, and other times I connect with the specific wedding planner and we map it out together! The end goal is to have a detailed, clear, and realistic schedule of events for the couple, wedding party, family, and all vendors involved!
I’ve seen firsthand how a clear and realistic timeline benefits everyone. It answers questions before they’re asked, provides a baseline for the day, and takes major stress off of the couple. Taking stress away from my couples and giving them peace of mind is a favorite part for me!
I’m stoked to share a sample wedding day timeline with you! Whether you’re a couple planning your wedding, a wedding planner, or a fellow photographer, this is for you! The timeline below is broken down into the 3 different photo collections. Of course, each timeline is adjusted based on the needs of my couple, but this is a great starting point! My biggest tip is to work backwards from sunset time. 🙂
If you want insight into how I create a timeline specifically, read 5 Tips for Creating a Wedding Day Timeline.
SAMPLE WEDDING DAY TIMELINE
Detail Photos ~ 45 Minutes
Getting Ready Photos ~ 30 Minutes
Couple Gets Dressed ~ 30 Minutes
First Look and Portraits ~ 30 Minutes
Separate Wedding Party Photos ~ 30 Minutes
Wedding Party Relaxes / Ceremony & Reception Photos ~ 30 Minutes
Ceremony ~ 30 – 45 Minutes
Family Photos ~ 20 – 30 Minutes
Entire Wedding Party Photos ~ 15 Minutes
Sunset Photos ~ 30 Minutes
(Ends at Scheduled Sunset Time)
Couple Relaxes Alone ~ 10 Minutes
Grand Entrance and First Dance ~ 15 Minutes
Dinner ~ 60 Minutes
Toasts ~ 30 Minutes
Parents Dances ~ 30 Minutes
Cake Cutting ~ 5 Minutes
Open Dancing ~ 60 Minutes
Final Dance and Grand Exit ~ 15 Minutes
If you’re on the lookout for a rad wedding planner, here are a few of my faves! I’ve personally worked with each of them and couldn’t love them more!
Moelleux Events
Laki Events and Design
Pop the Cork
Andrea Leslie
Moonchild Event Co
Sample Wedding Day Timeline

Creating a wedding day schedule from scratch can be super tricky, especially when coordinating with multiple vendors! This is a huge perk of hiring a full or month-of wedding planner, they help manage the logistics and communicate with your amazing vendor team!
I help each of my wedding couples create their wedding timelines. Sometimes this means I create them from scratch, and other times I connect with the specific wedding planner and we map it out together! The end goal is to have a detailed, clear, and realistic schedule of events for the couple, wedding party, family, and all vendors involved!
I’ve seen firsthand how a clear and realistic timeline benefits everyone. It answers questions before they’re asked, provides a baseline for the day, and takes major stress off of the couple. Taking stress away from my couples and giving them peace of mind is a favorite part for me!
I’m stoked to share a sample wedding day timeline with you! Whether you’re a couple planning your wedding, a wedding planner, or a fellow photographer, this is for you! The timeline below is broken down into the 3 different photo collections. Of course, each timeline is adjusted based on the needs of my couple, but this is a great starting point! My biggest tip is to work backwards from sunset time. 🙂
If you want insight into how I create a timeline specifically, read 5 Tips for Creating a Wedding Day Timeline.
SAMPLE WEDDING DAY TIMELINE
Detail Photos ~ 45 Minutes
Getting Ready Photos ~ 30 Minutes
Couple Gets Dressed ~ 30 Minutes
First Look and Portraits ~ 30 Minutes
Separate Wedding Party Photos ~ 30 Minutes
Wedding Party Relaxes / Ceremony & Reception Photos ~ 30 Minutes
Ceremony ~ 30 – 45 Minutes
Family Photos ~ 20 – 30 Minutes
Entire Wedding Party Photos ~ 15 Minutes
Sunset Photos ~ 30 Minutes
(Ends at Scheduled Sunset Time)
Couple Relaxes Alone ~ 10 Minutes
Grand Entrance and First Dance ~ 15 Minutes
Dinner ~ 60 Minutes
Toasts ~ 30 Minutes
Parents Dances ~ 30 Minutes
Cake Cutting ~ 5 Minutes
Open Dancing ~ 60 Minutes
Final Dance and Grand Exit ~ 15 Minutes
If you’re on the lookout for a rad wedding planner, here are a few of my faves! I’ve personally worked with each of them and couldn’t love them more!
Moelleux Events
Laki Events and Design
Pop the Cork
Andrea Leslie
Moonchild Event Co