How to Create Your Wedding Day Timeline (Beginner friendly)
So you’re trying to create your wedding timeline ...by yourself.
No wedding planner, no coordinator, no fairy godmother magically laying it all out for you.
Just you, your Google Doc, and vibes.
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First of all, breathe.
Yes, it might feel like a lot, but trust me... once you get the hang of it, it's actually kinda fun.
I'm gonna break it down step by step
Let’s get into it.
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Step 1: Start with your ceremony time and work backwards
Whatever time your ceremony starts, that’s your anchor.
Every other part of your day is going to build around it.
So if your ceremony is at 3PM, everything before it (like makeup, getting dressed, photos) has to be timed so that you’re ready and calm by then.
Step 2: Decide what you want before the ceremony
Now think about what’s happening before your ceremony - because that’s what takes the most planning.
Here’s a list of common pre-ceremony moments brides include:
Hair and makeup (for you and maybe your bridesmaids)
Getting ready photos (robes, champagne, all that cute stuff)
Bridal party photos
First look (if you're doing one)
Family photos
Getting dressed
Travel time (if your venue isn’t where you’re getting ready)
Once you know what you want, you can plug in realistic times for each.
Example:
Hair & Makeup starts: 8:00AM
First Look: 1:30PM
Be dressed and ready by: 1:00PM
Photos: 1:00–2:30PM
Ceremony: 3:00PM
And please give yourself buffer time.
Hair might run late.
Your flower girl might go missing.
Someone’s probably gonna need bobby pins.
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.
Life will happen... build it in.
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Step 3: Now plan what happens after the ceremony
Okay - ceremony’s done.
Everyone claps.
You said "I do."
What now?
Usually, it flows like this:
Cocktail hour (guests mingle while you take more photos or rest)
Reception begins
Grand entrance
First dance
Dinner is served
Toasts/speeches
Parent dances (if you’re doing them)
Cake cutting
Dancing + party time
Bouquet toss/garter (if you want that)
Exit or after-party
Write out what you’re including, then space them out with about 10–30 minutes each (depending on what it is).
You don’t want the night feeling rushed, but you also don’t want long awkward gaps ...where guests are just sitting around staring at their phones.
Step 4: Add your transition times (super important)
This is where most timelines go sideways - people forget to plan transitions.
Little moments like:
Getting from hotel to venue
Bustling your dress
Sneaking off to change shoes
Moving guests from outdoors to indoors
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These things take time... so build these into your timeline on purpose.
It’ll make everything feel more relaxed and flowy on the actual day.
Step 5: Now plug it all into a timeline
Once you’ve mapped everything out, just stack it like a simple schedule.
Here’s an example:
7:30AM – Hair and makeup starts
12:30PM – Photographer arrives
1:00PM – Get dressed
1:30PM – First look + portraits
2:30PM – Hide before ceremony
3:00PM – Ceremony begins
3:30PM – Cocktail hour
4:30PM – Reception starts
5:00PM – Grand entrance
5:15PM – First dance
5:30PM – Dinner served
6:30PM – Speeches
7:00PM – Cake cutting
7:30PM – Open dancing
10:00PM – Exit
This is just an example.
You can move things around based on your style, culture, or vibe.
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Like for example I'm nigerian and at Nigerian wedding....
Dancing will have to go way longer.
For Intimate backyard wedding?
You might skip half of this and that’s totally okay.
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Don’t forget to save your timeline somewhere!
This is one of those things you want to keep in one place ...not lost in your notes app, not rewritten ten times for every vendor.
.
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This is where my Wedding Planning Bundle comes in.
It’s a tool I created for brides who are planning solo ...and it’s not just for timelines.
It will also help you with your guest list, budget, vendors, appointment, inspo... literally all the small things that are crowding your head right now.
So if that sounds like something you need...
I dropped the link for you to check it out:
It’s been a game-changer for so many brides, and I really think you’ll love it too.
You’ve GOT to read this next...
Getting married at 3? Cute. But when do you eat?
Get dressed? Take pics??
This blog post maps it all out — no fluffy timelines or hour-by-hour panic. Just a calm, clear plan that keeps the vibes high.
A 2 p.m. ceremony sounds chill… until you realize you have no idea when anything’s supposed to happen.
This timeline breaks it down hour by hour — no chaos, no drama, just what actually needs to happen (and when).
Planning a 1PM wedding?
This post breaks it all down for you—what to do, when to do it, and how to not lose your mind. If you want the kind of wedding timeline that actually makes sense, this is the one brides wish they had.