Free tool · Printable
Wedding day timeline generator
Set your date, ceremony time and nearest city. You’ll get a realistic running order for the whole day, with time for family photos and the sunset and golden hour for your date.
Wedding day timeline
Your wedding day
- 09:00Hair and make-up startsAllow 45–60 minutes per person in the chair
- 10:30Photographer arrives for details and getting readyphotos
- 11:45Getting dressedLeave a buffer. It always takes longer.
- 12:30Guests arrive
- 13:00Ceremony begins
- 14:00Ceremony ends · confettiphotos
- 14:10Big group photo on the church stepsphotosWhile everyone is still together
- 14:20Travel to reception (25 min)
- 14:45Drinks reception begins
- 14:50Family photos (12 groupings, ~21 min)photosGran first, then each family peels away
- 15:11Wedding party photos (~10 min)photos
- 15:21Couple portraits (~20 min)photos
- 16:30Guests called to be seated
- 16:45Couple’s entrance and dinner
- 18:45SpeechesBefore or after dinner. After is more relaxed.
- 19:30Cutting the cake
- 19:45First dance
Family photos take the longest to plan. Make the list with faces, in the right order.
Plan family photosQuestions
How long is a typical wedding day timeline?
From hair and make-up to the first dance is usually 10 to 12 hours. A 1pm church ceremony often means make-up starting around 9am and a first dance around 9 or 10pm.
When should wedding couple portraits be taken?
Many couples take most portraits after the family photos, then slip out for ten minutes during golden hour, the hour before sunset, when the light is softest.
How long should the drinks reception be?
Usually 90 minutes to 2 hours. It needs to fit the family photos, wedding party photos and couple portraits, while still letting you see your guests.