Tackling Your Wedding Day Timeline

 

So, if you are creating a timeline for your big day, here are just a few simple things to keep in mind as you begin to draft…  

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t try to create and finalize the timeline on your own.  Be sure at least two other sets of eyes see it - to check for things that might have been missed or need edited. If you have a wedding planner, they should already be drafting this document for you – and you should be doing the editing.  They are experts and know how long each activity typically takes and what amount of time to allot for certain aspects of the day.  But, if you don’t have a planner, enlist the help of your fiancé and one other person to help make it perfect.  

 

 

 

It just isn’t feasible.  There are far too many people involved in a wedding to be able to make everyone happy with the schedule.  There will always be someone who feels like it needs to be changed or moved around.  Don’t allow clutter and a million opinions.  Do what is best for you and your fiancé.  

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you are choosing to see your fiancé before or after the ceremony – be sure to keep this at the front of your mind when creating your timeline.  This will hugely affect the way the schedule should be laid out.  Again, use your planner’s expertise if you have one.  If not, your photographer is a great resource here as well.  

 

 

 

It sounds bizarre, I know.  But, if you are planning on doing anything outdoors on your wedding day, you need to include the time of sunset on your timeline.  This information is easily found on the Internet.  It will be a frame of reference for you and several of your vendors (photographer, videographer, etc.) – insuring that things are wrapped before it goes black outside.  Trust me, you will have piece of mind knowing when sunset is going to happen on your wedding day…save the guessing game for another, less-important day.  

 

 

 

 

It is likely that all or most of your vendors have an “end time” on the day of your wedding.  So, as you are writing your timeline, be sure to pull out all the contracts and double check the details as to the amount of hours you have contracted them.  If your photographer is only contracted for eight hours, you will want to make sure you utilize them in the best way possible.  For example, that might mean they may not be able to cover most of the “hair and makeup” portion of the day, but they will be able to stay until your sparkler send-off.  You want to be sure you schedule their arrival and departure without exceeding their allotted times in order to avoid extra fees.

 

Timelines can be tough.  If you can include a professional planner in your budget, they will be of great worth in helping you put together a wedding day timeline that will create smooth transitions throughout the day.  But, if you are creating it on your own, simply be sure to start early in your drafting and review it with all your vendors  (along with your fiancé and one close friend/family member) and you will be set for a perfect day!