Your 3 P.M. Wedding Timeline
3 p.m. weddings are a whole vibe.
Late enough that you don’t have to be up at sunrise, early enough that you’re not dancing at midnight unless you really want to be.
But figuring out what actually happens when?
That’s where this comes in.
You don’t need a minute-by-minute spreadsheet, just a simple timeline that keeps the day flowing without the stress.
So here’s what your wedding day might look like with a 3 p.m. ceremony — broken down by the hour-ish.
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8:00 a.m. – Wake up + chill morning vibes
You’ve got a bit more breathing room with a 3 p.m. ceremony, so take your time waking up.
Eat something, scroll Pinterest one last time, start your playlist, and just ease into it.
-9:00 a.m. – Hair & makeup starts
Your beauty team rolls in and it’s go time.
If you’ve got a bigger group, stagger the schedule so no one’s waiting around too long.
You (the bride) usually go second-to-last to stay fresh without risking a rush.
Keep the snacks flowing and the vibes light.
This is one of the calmest parts of the day — so soak it in.
-12:00 p.m. – Lunch + touch-ups
Eat something real — not just champagne and strawberries. You’ll thank yourself later.
While everyone eats, this is also a great time for makeup touch-ups and making sure all your bags, shoes, emergency kits, and little details are ready to go.
-1:00 p.m. – Get dressed + portraits
Time to step into the dress!
It always takes longer than people think (zippers! buttons! emotions!), so give yourself time.
After you’re dressed, you’ll do solo portraits, maybe a first look, and a few bridal party photos depending on your plan.
-2:15 p.m. – Final photos + head to ceremony site
Once portraits are done, it’s time to get everyone lined up, grab your bouquet, and take a few deep breaths before showtime.
Any last-minute lip gloss or bathroom trips happen now.
3:00 p.m. – Ceremony begins
The big moment!
Most ceremonies last around 30 minutes, give or take.
And yep, even if things run 10 minutes late — it’s still totally fine.
3:30 p.m. – Cocktail hour + family photos
Your guests head off for drinks and snacks while you take family and group photos.
If you didn’t do a first look, this is also when you’ll take your couple portraits.
Pro tip: Ask someone to save you a drink and a few appetizers — they go fast.
5:00 p.m. – Reception starts
Time to eat, toast, and officially kick off the celebration.
Whether you’re doing plated dinner, buffet, or food trucks — budget 60–90 minutes for the meal + speeches.
-6:30 p.m. – Dancing + fun stuff
Once everyone’s fed, it’s party time.
First dance, parent dances (if you’re doing them), and then open dance floor.
From here on out, you can fully relax — the big stuff is done.
-9:00 p.m. – Cake cutting, late-night snacks, or a cute little sendoff
Want a slower wrap-up or one last burst of fun?
This is where you can fit in cake, a sparkler exit, or even just late-night snacks and comfy shoes. Totally up to you.
Quick pause — can I help make this easier?
You just read through a full wedding day breakdown… and maybe now your brain’s going:
“Okay, love this... but how do I actually keep track of it all?”
Because once you start plugging in hair and makeup times, confirming vendors, budgeting for food, tracking RSVPs — it adds up fast.
And suddenly, what felt chill starts to feel… kinda chaotic.
This is WHY I made the Wedding Planning Bundle.
Because even if you have this timeline saved (which, love that for you),
what about everything else?
-What about the Pinterest boards?
-The saved TikToks.
-The random vendor notes in your Notes app.
-The 12 tabs open on your laptop?
This Bundle pulls it all together in one calm, organized place — like a home for your wedding brain.
You’ll get:
A no-stress Budget tracker (so you can finally know where your money’s going)
A Guest list spreadsheet that actually makes sense (guests info, RSVPs, dietary requirements — it’s all in there)
A Digital planner that holds everything from your moodboard to your vendors contact info to your vows ....and so much more
It’s basically the support system you wish came with wedding planning.
And yes — it’s on sale for 40% off right now.
So for now you can get it for just $37.
So If you’re building out your timeline, this is the kind of thing that makes the rest of the puzzle come together so much easier and faster too
👉 {Take a peek at what’s inside}(and grab it while it’s still on sale)
Quick Tips
Start earlier than you think. Even with a 3 p.m. ceremony, hair and makeup always take longer than expected.
Assign a go-to person.
Let someone else handle vendor questions or wrangling relatives — not you.
Plan time to breathe.
Add 10-minute breaks into your schedule just to sit, drink water, and reset.
Let go of the clock.
If you run a little late, it’s fine.
Nobody knows what time things should happen except you.
Wrap-Up:
A good timeline isn’t about being super strict — it’s about giving your day enough structure that you feel calm and present, not stressed and rushed.
You don’t have to pack every second.
Just give yourself time to enjoy the moments, soak up the love, and leave a lttle room for real life to happen
(because it will).
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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