One of the most difficult things I found about wedding planning was creating the day of timeline. I stressed over this for days. I did not have a wedding planner… and I didn’t think I needed one + they’re crazy expensive. I think I did pretty okay on my own except for this one area. Everywhere online gave me zero help in creating a timeline. Either I had to pay for one or the free ones gave zero info….I wanted one detailed bc I didn’t want any hiccups to happen the day of my wedding… and to my knowledge nothing did go wrong. So I complied timelines and spoke to my photographer, hair stylists, and other vendors to create this timeline that I’m giving to you all for free.
Please share with your friends and reach out with any questions or help about creating a timeline. Obviously this timeline is created for my specific wedding, a 6pm ceremony in August. I did not have grandparents walk down the aisle (that is why they are seated before the processional begins) + I had 9 bridesmaids plus my mom and mother of the groom so that’s why getting ready took so long. Advise with your hair stylist! So take that as you will.
I hope sharing this helps some brides out there in the same boat I was in!
TIMELINE
7:45 am: Girls head to Bridal suite at the Venue
Specifies which bridesmaid drive drive
8:00 am: Hair and Makeup starts at the bridal suite
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On Mother of Bride way to venue she picks up snacks for the girls and flowers for flower girls
12:00 pm: videographer arrives at the venue
1:00 pm: Florist arrives at the venue to deliver flowers
-set up flowers in the reception venue, the cross (Keep cross inside till 5:00, arrange bouquets and boutonnieres
2:00 pm: Photographer arrives
-detail shots in the venue
-getting ready photos in the bridal suite
-all flowers are ready in the venue
2:30 pm: Immediate family members of bride arrive for bridal portraits
3:00pm: DJ arrives
3:00-3:15 pm: bride gets dressed + getting ready photos
-First look with Dad
-first look with grand parents
3:20-3:50 pm: Bridal pictures
-bride + bridesmaids
-bride + parents
-Bride + brother
-Bride and grandparents
3:50pm: bride + bridesmaids head back to bridal suite
3:55 pm: Groom + groomsmen arrive, Groom’s family
4:00pm-4:20 pm: Groom photographs
– groom + groomsman
– groom + parents
-groom + grandparents
-groom + siblings
4:30pm-5:15pm: groomsmen + groom + family hang in the venue
– groomsmen put the donuts on the donut wall
-groomsmen take corn hole board outside, make sure guest book table is set up, help vendors if they need it
-Photographer photographs the ceremony space + reception venue
5:00pm: Ushers arrive and start handing out programs and helping navigate guests
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Bartender arrives
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Officiant + band arrives
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Caterer arrive
5:15pm: water is placed outside on table. Guest book(bible) on other table to sign as guests arrive. Gift table needs to be set up outside the venue.
5:15pm: Bride + bridesmaids drive down to the venue and enter through the vendor door
5:30pm: Bridal party + family pray over bride + groom while groom is blindfolded. Bride goes back to kitchen till groom walks down the aisle.
5:45pm: grandparents leave venue and go sit down
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Band begins playing instrumental
5:50pm: bridal party lines up
6:00pm: vendors eat during ceremony
6:00pm: Processional begins:
6:15pm: Set up cocktail tables and chips and queso while the ceremony is happening
6:30pm: Ceremony ends & cocktail hour begins
6:30pm: All bridal party, immediate family, and extended family need to follow Shea for pictures
6:30pm-6:50pm: immediate family & extended family photos
6:50pm-7:00pm: entire bridal party photos
7:00pm-7:30pm: bride and groom portraits
– everyone else is at cocktail hour
7:30pm: introductions at reception
7:35pm: Gerald thanks everyone for coming, prays over the meal, bride and groom eat first
8:00pm: first dance
Father daughter dance
Mother son dance
DJ plays 1-2 songs after mother son dance and before donut cutting
8:20pm: donut cutting
8:25pm: partyyyyy!!!
9:00pm: Clemson Alumni picture with clemson flag
9:30pm: bouquet toss
9:45pm: Groomsman gets car and pulls it around-Verifies luggage
9:50pm: Sparkers get handed out and groomsmen/bridesmaids line the exit path
10:00pm: sparkler exit
Find me on instagram for anymore questions (:
XOXO,
E.
