How to Create Your Wedding Day Timeline

March 5, 2021

Some of the first questions I get from clients usually revolve around their timeline. So I am sharing some tips for how to create the perfect timeline for your wedding day!

I can not stress ENOUGH how important it is to have a timeline for your wedding day.

This is where you will be able to decide how long things will take, when to start which activities, and get an overall view of what the day will look like. Plus, I can guarantee more than one family member or vendor will ask you for one!

Now I get that that even THINKING about creating your own wedding timeline can seem overwhelming and borderline impossible. Trust me, when I was creating the timeline for my own wedding day IT WAS NOT PRETTY. I even saved a copy of it and pull it out from time to time to remind myself just how bad I was at making one! But almost 5 years later and with some experience working with a phenomenal wedding planner Feathered Arrow Events under my belt, I’m here to give you a few tips that can help you get started. [Plus she’s currently giving away a wedding planning guide if you sign up for her email list- so get on it!]

First, Set yourself up for success.

Use a system like Google Docs or Google Sheets to keep all of your wedding notes and plans in one, shareable place. You can make it pretty. You can also make separate tabs and pages for other documents or notes! Another perk of making your plans and notes digital is that you can accesses them basically anywhere at anytime.
List your vendors with their contact information on this sheet as well. It’s a great way to keep all of their contact info in one place and to make any notes about their arrivals/departures on the day of and things like that.

Second, Start with what you know.

Start by adding in the time stamps for things like when your ceremony starts and ends, when dinner is set to start, when certain vendors will arrive, etc.

Third, What are you most looking forward to about your wedding?

Doing a first look? [not sure? Check out my thoughts on a previous blog post here!]
Want time before the ceremony with your people while you get ready?
Are you all about the golden hour and warmly lit photos? (see # 5)
Doing a cake cutting or first dance? Make sure you make time for these things!

Fourth, How big of a wedding are you having?

This will be a factor because of how long it will take to get everyone from one area of the wedding to another, how long dinner will take, how long family photos and things like that will take. More people= more time.

Lastly, Golden Hour.

Are you wanting those dreamy and golden sunset photos you see all over the internet and social media? The romantic ones where it’s just the two of you together? Then you’re going to want to take photos during golden hour- the hour or so before sunset! I highly suggest finding out when the sun sets on your wedding day and adding that onto your timeline and into your plans.

Still not sure if you got what it takes to create your own wedding day timeline? Reach out and let me help! Timeline prep and planning is included with all of my wedding photography packages.

And scroll through to view more from this edgy styled elopement at the Evergreen PDX! I can’t wait to go back here later on this year!

Check out the vendors that helped make it happen!

Host theshootoutsociety
Planning/Design/Florals bixbyandpine
Venue theevergreenpdx
Invites/Jacket theletteringbeeco
HMU nwmakeupandhair
Gown bhldn
Ribbon tonoandco
Ring box eragem
Cake siftandgather
Rentals archiverentals
Models Maggie and Nathan