How To Create Your 2PM Wedding Timeline Yourself
2pm Wedding Timeline.
That is your wedding ceremony is by 2pm
...that means you'll be a wife by 2pm.
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Okay lemme actually be serious lol.
You need help with your timeline.
...So I made this for you.
A very detailed, simple timeline that’ll walk you through exactly what your 2pm wedding day might look like with or without a first look
Let's get into it...
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Btw...for easy navigation, cos this blog post is a bit long.
If you're doing a first look
2pm Ceremony Timeline Sample - No First Look
6:00 a.m. – Wake up + Prep.
Wedding prep won't start till 8 ...but i'm a morning person so my timeline is going to be early🙃.
Shower and eat something filling.
6:30AM – Rental trucks start arriving
If your venue allows, rentals usually start arriving at the crack of dawn - chairs, tables, linens, lighting rigs, ceremony arch,etc.
Florists should also send someone early to prep.
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Your coordinator should be there to oversee everything.
7:30AM - Getting ready space prepped / photographer arrives.
It's almost time for you to start getting ready ...so they need to start arranging where you and your girls will get ready.
This is also the time when you can start arranging your details (rings, shoes, jewellries etc) in a box.
...so it will be easier when your photographer arrives.
8:00AM – Hair & makeup team arrives
HMU team arrives.
Bridesmaids first, moms - then you last.
If you have a lot of bridesmaids, make sure your artist brings an assistant or ...schedule an earlier start (so 7:00 instead).
If you have more than 4 bridesmaids ...expect HMU to take 3–5 hours total.
8:15AM – Photographer/Videographer arrives at getting ready location
Photographer and videographer arrives.
They’ll start shooting all the little details: dress on the hanger, shoes, jewelry, stationery flat lays, rings etc.
This is why it is important to organize them.
So that everything can be smooth and fast.
9:00AM – Groom + groomsmen start getting dressed
Groom’s party start getting ready.
Photographer will swing by here later to get their “getting dressed” shots (tying ties, cufflinks, whiskey toast).
10:00AM – Hair & Makeup continues; Photographer start capturing candids
Bridesmaids are rounding with makeup...now you can start your own.
Your photographer should also start getting those "getting-ready" candids
(pouring champagne, robe shots, your girls laughing and getting ready).
11:00 AM - Bride’s final HMU touch.
You're almost done with your makeup.
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Meanwhile, yout florist delivers the bouquets + boutonnieres.
Cos your photographer will also capture those bouquet shot, shot of hair, veil, perfume, your wedding dress hanged etc.
11:30 AM - Bridal party & Grooms' party ready
Your bridesmaids are in their dress; Groom and groomsmen are in their tuxes.
12:00 PM – Snack break / vendor check in
Quick snack break for everyone ...you can film some tiktok here - It just a time to rest
Meanwhile…your day of coordinator or point person checks in with your vendors to make sure everything is good.
12:10 PM – Bride steps into dress (photo moment)
Give yourself like 30 mins ...cos it takes longer than you think.
Your bridemaids should assist you here.
12:40 PM - Quick solo bridal portraits (optional ...maybe 10–20 min)
If you want some solo portraits before the ceremony, do them now.
But keep them quick tho.
1:00 PM - Depart for venue (if your Getting-Ready suite is not in your venue)
If this is you... then factor in your travel time with buffer.
Your point person should be en route earlier to ensure vendors still on schedule.
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But if you’re already on-site, this is when your vendors finish setting up, guests start trickling in, hiding the bride from guest and final touches are happening here.
1:30 PM - Wedding party arrives at the venue (if off site)
Wedding party have arrived.
Your coordinator should line your wedding party, parents, flower girls, ring bearer ...according to your processional order.
Any last lip gloss, powder, touch ups, bustle checks ...happens now.
1:55 PM - Cue: Last call to start; 5-minute warning
DJ start playing the transition cue.
Your Point Person tells everyone: “Five minutes”.
Photographer positions for the processional shots.
2:00PM – Ceremony begins (approx 20–30 min)
Processional → vows → ring exchange → recessional → done.
And you're officially a wife, my brideys🤧.
If someone is doing any special reading - also factor it in.
Should not be more than 5mins.
2:30PM – Ceremony ends / Quick hugs.
If you plan to greet anyone, you can do it now.
If you want to do some tiktoks...you can also do it now.
Just make it quick tho (...15mins tops)
So you can go straight to photos
2:45-3:25 PM - Family Photos (30–40 min)
Here order matters.
Keep the list tight and written by name.
You can do all this with a photography shot list.
(if you want i can give you the one i created).
Also have a photo wrangler (a friend or coordinator) who will arrange the group ... so you're photographer isn’t chasing people.
3:25-3:50 PM - Wedding party photos (25–30 min)
Bridesmaids, groomsmen, fun group shots happens here.Have your photographer call out formations - your wrangler should keep them moving.
And keep it quick.
3:50 - 4:35 PM - couple portraits (30–45 min)
4:35- PM - Finish the photos / Head to cocktail hour
You arrive at cocktail (or rejoin guests).Here your photogher will get candids of guests and also some photos of you and husband mingling.
4:45-5:45 PM – Cocktail hour
Servers come with appetizers and drinks.
Since you joined halfway ...this is you to breathe and eat something.
5:45-5:55 PM - Vendors prep to open reception doors
Your caterer confirms dinner service timing with venue coordinator; DJ does a quick sound check for entrance cue.
5:55 - 6:10 PM – Door open + Grand entrance (approx...15mins)
MC/DJ cues your bridal party and both of you entrance.
You can go straight into first dance or after welcome remarks.
Just keep it short
6:10 - 7:10PM – Dinner service begins
Time to eat.
Plated dinner: expect 60–75 minutes.
Buffet can be a little shorter but factor time for the guest queue.
7:10 - 7:30PM – Toasts & speeches
Keep it 3 speakers max.
And no more than 5mins each.
7:30 –7:50 PM – Cake cutting & parent dances
Cake, parent dances, then open the dance floor.
8:00 –11:00 PM – Dancing floor open
Your DJ start the party.
If you have any late-night snack, bring it out around 9:30 to refuel your guests.
10:30 PM – Prep exit / gather essentials
Bar winds down. DJ cues last songs.
Your point person starts collecting gifts, vendor items, and personal belongings.
Also here ...assign someone to watch the gift table.
11:00 PM – Grand exit
Sparklers, confetti, bubbles - whatever it is just make sure it safe.
Also, make sure someone is handling transport if it's needed.
11:15 PM – Vendor breakdown begins
Your rental company picks up overnight or next morning according to your contract;
Your caterer will clears the leftovers.
Florist takes home any personal items that need preservation.
Next morning
Someone goes to the venue to collect missed items, check lost & found, and just confirm returns.
2PM Wedding Timeline Sample - With First Look
5:30 AM – Wake up & prep
Since your photos are earlier
...you have to wake up alot sooner than people without first look.
So bathe and eat something.
6:00 AM – Venue load-in begins
Rentals, lighting, and florist arrive.
Since you’ll be doing portraits early, you have to make sure ceremony install is finished by midday.
7:30 AM – Hair & Makeup team arrives at getting-ready location
Start on bridesmaids first. You the bride will go last so the makeup looks the freshest.
Just make sure you coordinate the artists so you can finish in time for first look.
8:00 AM – Photographer & videographer arrive
They’ll start shooting flat lays (invitations, jewelry, perfume, shoes).Tip: Have these items ready in a little box or tray so that everything is faster .
9:00 AM – Groom & groomsmen getting ready
Guys usually take roo long to get ready.Your photographer also heads over to grab shots of them too (...tying ties, buttoning jackets, a cheers moment).
9:30 AM – Hair & makeup for bride begins
Your turn in the chair.45mins should be enough.
10:15 AM – Bride’s HMU finishing touches & Some bridal Party in dresses
Makeup and Hair artist does final checks.
Most of your guest should already be dressed now.
We want everyone to be dressed and done for first look by approx 11:15AM
10:30 AM – Bride gets into dress (30mins)
You wear your dress, full veil & accessories.
Photographer captures those emotional “mom helping with the zipper” shots.
11:00 PM – Travel to first look spot (if off-site)
I gave 20mins for this.
11:00 AM – First look (20–30 minutes)
Do first look away from the venue doors so your guests won’t spot you.
Photographer captures the reaction and you can also sneak some couples’ photos in.
11:30 AM – General Photos (Wedding party + Family)
Couple portraits, bridal party, close family photos.
1:00 PM – Break + touch-ups + small snack
Rest, hydrate, munch on a snack
and do some final touch-ups on your make up and hair before the cermony.
1:30 PM – Final family photos if any (optional)
If you want grandparents or anyone else photos, you can still do them now while folks are fresh.
1:40 PM – Travel time to venue (if needed)
If everything’s at one location ...better, you can use this time to relax and gather your thoughts before the ceremony.If not, factor in this travel time (approx 15-20mins)
1:50 PM – Guests start arriving
Ushers + coordinator greet the guests, programs handed out.Dj starts playing the transition cue.
Coordinator or point person has lined everyone up according to your processional order.
2:00 PM – Ceremony begins
Processional → vows → ring exchange → signing (if needed) → recessional.If someone is doing any special reading ...also factor it in ..should not be more than 5mins.
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Since you did a first look everything is more relaxed.
2:30 PM – Ceremony ends + Quick hugs
Most of photos are done, so you can either greet for a few minutes or head straight to cocktail hour.
2:40 PM – Cocktail hour begins
This is why i love first look ...you get to actually see everyone and chat instead of being pulled away for portraits.
If you want to take a few pictures with your guests you can also do it here.
3:40 PM – Couple sneaks a few sunset-style portraits (optional)
Even if you’ve done most photos earlier, a quick 10 minutes during cocktail hour is worth it - the light is softer, and you’re glowing with post-ceremony happiness.
4:00 PM – reception doors open / grand entrance
DJ/band announces you in, you do your big entrance, and go straight into first dance (just make sure it isn't too long).
4:15 PM – Dinner & toasts begins
Timing for this depends on your serving style (so i gave 1hr 15mins).
If you have any who wants to make a toast or a speech...they can do it mid-dinner.
Just make sure it's brief.
5:30 PM – cake cutting , dad & daughter dances
6:00 - 9:00PM – Dance floor opens
9:10 PM – Prep for exit (Depending on your venue curfew)
Your Coordinator/Point Person should be there to pack gifts, belonging and any useful decor.
9:40 PM – Grand exit
Next morning – Rentals + cleanup
And it's a Wrapppp
I'm done.
My apologies if this is a bit lenghthy.
I wanted you to see how your day would typically flow.
So that you can go ahead and make a shorter, personalized one for your self (...cos you know my whole blog is about helping brides who're planning by themselves).
Anyhuu, i'll see you in my next blogpost
Bye, mwahhh💋
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Also...
If you need help with organizing and tracking your wedding details as you're doing this on your own.
Then you can check out my wedding planning bundle.
I created it for you 💗
Oh and btw...
if you enjoyed this blog post don't forget to **SAVE THIS PIN** so you can come back to it again later)
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