How to use it: Start from your ceremony time and work backwards for morning prep, forwards for the reception. The example times in italics are from a 4:00 PM ceremony — replace them with yours.
Morning — Getting Ready
| Time | What | Who | Where |
|---|
| 7:30 AM | Hair & makeup arrives, setup | | |
| 8:00 AM | Bridesmaids hair begins | | |
| 9:30 AM | Bride hair & makeup | | |
| 10:30 AM | Photographer arrives — detail shots (rings, shoes, invitation) | | |
| 11:00 AM | Groomsmen arrive at venue / photos | | |
| 11:30 AM | Brunch / light lunch delivered | | |
| 12:00 PM | Bride gets dressed (MOH + mom help) | | |
| 12:30 PM | First look / couple portraits | | |
| 1:30 PM | Wedding party + family portraits | | |
| 2:30 PM | Everyone hidden away — touch-ups, water, breathe | | |
Ceremony
| Time | What | Who | Where |
|---|
| 3:00 PM | Guests begin arriving — prelude music | | |
| 3:30 PM | Ushers seat guests, wedding party lines up | | |
| 4:00 PM | CEREMONY BEGINS | | |
| 4:30 PM | Ceremony ends — recessional, receiving line / cocktail hour starts | | |
Reception
| Time | What | Who | Where |
|---|
| 5:00 PM | Grand entrance, first dance | | |
| 5:15 PM | Welcome toast + blessing, dinner served | | |
| 6:15 PM | Toasts (best man, MOH, parents) | | |
| 6:45 PM | Cake cutting | | |
| 7:00 PM | Parent dances, open dance floor | | |
| 8:30 PM | Bouquet / garter toss (optional) | | |
| 9:45 PM | Last dance, sparkler send-off | | |
| 10:00 PM | Venue closes — designated person collects gifts, cards, decor | | |
Pro tip: Add 15 buffer minutes after hair/makeup and after family photos. Those two spots run long at almost every wedding.