How To Create Your 3PM Wedding Timeline Yourself

• 5:30 AM – Wake up + prep
  You don't have to wake up this early ...since you don't start dressing till 8AM.

But i am a morning person ... and this when i'll wake up.

And i also think its good to be up early ...cos it gives you more time to eat, reflect and just calmly ease into the day.

• 6:00 AM – Vendor load-in begins at venue
  Rental trucks, tent crew (if any), and florist normally start rolling in now.

Your Point Person (usually your Day-of- coordinator) should be at the venue to coordinate everything.

• 8:00 AM – 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.

During this time, your photographer will arrive and start setting up for detail shots; dress on hanger, shoes, rings, invites, vows.

If you’re off-site (hotel or home), ask the photoghapher to arrive 15 minutes before HMU (hair & makeup).

So they can start arranging for the shots.

• 8:15 AM – Hair & Makeup team arrives at getting-ready location
  If you have more than 4 bridesmaids ...expect HMU to take 3–5 hours total.

You the bride will go last so you’re fresh.

If you have ony one artist then start earlier or ask your artist and stylist to bring their assistant.

• 8:30 AM – Groom & groomsmen timeline begins
  Groom’s party start getting ready.

Photographer will also grab the groom detail shots (cufflinks, watch, shoes, tie etc).

• 9:00 AM – Photographer starts shoting getting-ready shots & flat-lays
  They’ll capture robe-to-glam candids, letters if you exchange one with the groom, champagne popping, mom/dad moments etc.

Just make sure you put everything you want shot

...in a “detail box” the night before.

So that everything is faster.

• 10:00 AM – Bridesmaids finishing glam / quick group candids

Bridesmaids are rounding with makeup ...and some of them have started dressing.

Your photographer is moving between bridal party and groom party ...and taking shots of everything.

It's also around this time ...you'll start your own hair & makeup

• 11:00 AM – Final HMU touches for bride; photographer on hair/veil shots
  You're almost done with your makeup.

Photographer captures all the “getting into dress” sequence.

• 11:30 AM – Bridesmaids / Groomsmen are fully dressed (except final touches)
  Your bridesmaids are in dress, Groom and groomsmen are in their tuxes.

• 12:00 PM – Snack break / vendor check in
  Quick snack break for everyone.

While the point person check in on all the vendors to make sure everything is good.

• 12:30 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.

• 1:00-1:45 PM - Bridal portraits + bridesmaid photos
  Since there’s no first look, we’ll get as many bride + bridesmaid portraits as possible before heading out.

You can also take some solo pictures here.

Just make sure it's quick tho ..(you can if want replace with doing some tiktok videos).

• 1:45–2:15 PM – Groom + groomsmen portraits

Meanwhile, your partner gets their getting-ready shots, plus any fun tiktok they want to film.

We about to start moving to the location for ceremony - so start preparing

...(this is for those that thier getting ready suite is off site)

• 2:15–2:45 PM – Travel to venue / pre-ceremony arrival.

if your Getting-Ready suite is not in your venue ...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.

• 2:45-2:55 PM - Wedding party arrives at the venue (if off site)

Wedding party have arrived.

You guys start lining up according to your processional order.

Any last lip gloss refresh, powder, bustle check ...happens now.

• 2:55-3:00 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.

• 3:00 PM – Ceremony starts (approx 20–30 min)
  Processional → vows → ring exchange → recessional→done.

If someone is doing any special reading ...also factor it in ..should not be more than 5mins.

But you're officially a wifeeee now🤧.

• 3:25-3:35 PM – Ceremony ends / quick hugs (5–10 min)
  If you plan to greet anyone quickly, you can now.

If you prefer photos, skip the lenghty handshakes and go straight to your photos.

• 3:35-4:15 PM – Family photos (30–40 min)
  Start with immediate family, then extended.

This is where you photography shot list will come in handy

(if you want i can give you the one i created).

GET IT HERE👈

Also have a photo wrangler (a friend) who will arrange the group ... so photographer isn’t chasing people.

• 4:15-4:40 PM – Bridal party photos (20–30 min).

Bridesmaids & Groomsmen photos happens here.

Have your photographer call out formations - your wrangler should keep them moving.

And keep it brisk.

• 4:40-5:20 PM – Couple portraits
  
  

• 5:20 PM – Finish the photos / Head into cocktail hour

• 5:20–6:20 PM – Cocktail hour
  Servers come with passed appetizers; signature drink station are open.

This is your time to breathe and actually eat something.

• 6:20-6:30 PM – Vendors final prep for reception doors
  Caterer does final plating, DJ queues reception playlist and entrance music, lighting crew sets reception ambiance.

• 6:30-6:45 PM – Doors open / Grand entrance
  MC/DJ cues your bridal party and both of you entrance.

Your can have your first dance now or after welcome remarks ...just make it short

• 6:45–7:45 PM – Dinner service
  Plated dinner: expect 60–75 minutes.

Buffet can be a little shorter but allow time for guest flow.

• 7:45–8:05 PM – Speeches / toasts
  3 speakers max.

And no more than 5mins each.

• 8:05–8:25 PM – Cake cutting + parent dances
  Cake, parent dances, then open the dance floor.

• 8:30–11:00 PM – Dancing / party
  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
  Your point person starts collecting gifts, vendor items, and personal belongings.

Also assign someone to watch the gift table.

• 11:00 PM – Grand exit
  Sparklers, confetti, bubbles - whatever it is just make sure it safe.

Also (very important) ...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 pack the leftovers.

Florist takes home any personal items that need preservation.

• Next morning
  One person goes to the venue to collect missed items, check lost & found, and confirm returns.

• 5:00 AM – wake up + prep
  This i will advice you to wake up earlier ....since your photos are earlier.

So it dosen't feel rushed.

• 6:00 AM – Venue load-in begins
  Rentals, lighting, and florist arrive.

Since you’ll be doing portraits early, make sure ceremony install is finished by midday.

• 7:00 AM – Hair & Makeup team arrives at getting-ready location
  Bridesmaids start first; coordinate the artists so you can finish in time for first look.

• 7:30 AM – Groom & groomsmen arrive at their getting-ready space
  Photographer takes groom details, pins boutonnieres here or at venue, and does candids.

• 8:00 AM – Photographer arrives at getting-ready
  Your photoghapher gets the staged items ready and start shooting.

• 9:30 AM – Bridesmaids finishing glam / some in dress.
  Everything should be quick ....so they can start your makeup and hair

• 10:15 AM – Bride finishes hair & makeup / gets into dress
  Aim to be fully dressed by ~10:30 if you want a 11:00 first look.

If you have more guests to photograph, pad in extra time.

• 10:45 AM – Travel to first look spot (if off-site)
  
  

• 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 elders photos, you can still do them now while folks are fresh.

• 1:45 PM – Prep to hide before ceremony
  If you’re on-site, find a quiet room to collect your thoughts.

• 2:15 PM – Vendors do final ceremony checks; ushers seat early guests
  
  

• 2:30 PM – Bridal party lines up / last touch-ups
  
  

• 2:45 PM – DJ sound-check & processional run-through
  
  

• 3:00 PM – Ceremony begins (20–30 min)
  You’ll enjoy the aisle walk; your portraits are done so you’re relaxed.

• 3:25 PM – Ceremony ends
  Since photos are mostly done, you can either greet for a few minutes or head straight to cocktail hour.

• 3:35 PM – Cocktail hour / mingle with guests
  This is the first time you get to actually see everyone and chat ...huge benefit of doing a first look.

• 4:30 PM – Reception doors open / grand entrance
  Short first dance, then straight into dinner.

• 4:45–6:00 PM – Dinner & toasts
  Time depends on plated vs buffet.

Keep speeches short and minimum.

• 6:00–6:30 PM – Cake cutting + parent dances

• 6:30–10:30 PM – Dancing & party
  Dance floor opens. You can bring in some snacks around 9:00–9:30 to revive your guests energy.

• 10:30 PM – Prep exit
  Point Person secures gifts, vendor items, and any decor to-go boxes.

• 11:00 PM – Grand exit

• Post-event
  Same as the one with no-first-look: confirm who is packing gifts, leftover food, rentals etc.

Also tip vendors if that’s your plan.