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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3pm Wedding Timeline...
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.
Btw....
If you’re planning this wedding without a planner (or even if you have one but still want to stay in the loop), I just wanted to let you know I have something that’ll make this whole process way less overwhelming.
Inside my Digital wedding planner — which comes with my Wedding Planning Bundle — there’s a spot to write down timelines like this 3PM one.
That way, when you finally figure out what works best for you, you’ve got a place to save it …no mental gymnastics or digging through random notes later.
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But that’s just one tiny part of it.
The bundle helps with all the things that usually make wedding planning feel like too much — your guest list, your budget, all your vendor details, your RSVPs, checklists and even your vows.
It keeps everything in one place, so you’re not constantly second-guessing or trying to remember who you told what.
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So If you’re tired of feeling like the whole wedding is sitting on your shoulders — I dropped the link for you here:
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.
To wrap it 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)
You’ve GOT to read this next...
Trying to build your wedding day timeline from scratch?
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create one without a planner — even if you’ve never planned a wedding before. So simple, you can grab a notebook and start right now
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.