Wedding Day Timeline Template
Minute-by-minute wedding day schedules for 4 PM, 5 PM and 6 PM ceremonies, with and without a first look.
4 PM ceremony timeline (with a first look)
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Hair and makeup begins |
| 12:30 PM | Photographer arrives; detail shots |
| 2:00 PM | Getting dressed |
| 2:30 PM | First look and couple portraits |
| 3:00 PM | Wedding party photos |
| 3:30 PM | Guests arrive; prelude music |
| 4:00 PM | Ceremony |
| 4:30 PM | Family photos |
| 5:00 PM | Cocktail hour |
| 6:00 PM | Grand entrance |
| 6:10 PM | Dinner service |
| 7:10 PM | Toasts |
| 7:30 PM | First dance and parent dances |
| 7:45 PM | Cake cutting |
| 7:55 PM | Open dancing |
| 9:55 PM | Last dance and send-off |
5 PM ceremony timeline
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Hair and makeup begins |
| 1:30 PM | Photographer arrives; detail shots |
| 3:00 PM | Getting dressed |
| 3:30 PM | First look and couple portraits |
| 4:00 PM | Wedding party photos |
| 4:30 PM | Guests arrive; prelude music |
| 5:00 PM | Ceremony |
| 5:30 PM | Family photos |
| 6:00 PM | Cocktail hour |
| 7:00 PM | Grand entrance |
| 7:10 PM | Dinner service |
| 8:10 PM | Toasts |
| 8:30 PM | First dance and parent dances |
| 8:45 PM | Cake cutting |
| 8:55 PM | Open dancing |
| 10:55 PM | Last dance and send-off |
6 PM ceremony timeline
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | Hair and makeup begins |
| 2:30 PM | Photographer arrives; detail shots |
| 4:00 PM | Getting dressed |
| 4:30 PM | First look and couple portraits |
| 5:00 PM | Wedding party photos |
| 5:30 PM | Guests arrive; prelude music |
| 6:00 PM | Ceremony |
| 6:30 PM | Family photos |
| 7:00 PM | Cocktail hour |
| 8:00 PM | Grand entrance |
| 8:10 PM | Dinner service |
| 9:10 PM | Toasts |
| 9:30 PM | First dance and parent dances |
| 9:45 PM | Cake cutting |
| 9:55 PM | Open dancing |
| 11:55 PM | Last dance and send-off |
Timeline without a first look (4 PM ceremony)
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Hair and makeup begins |
| 1:00 PM | Photographer arrives; detail shots |
| 2:30 PM | Getting dressed |
| 3:00 PM | Wedding party photos (separately) |
| 3:30 PM | Guests arrive; prelude music |
| 4:00 PM | Ceremony |
| 4:30 PM | Family photos |
| 5:00 PM | Couple and wedding party photos |
| 6:00 PM | Grand entrance |
| 6:10 PM | Dinner service |
| 7:10 PM | Toasts |
| 7:30 PM | First dance |
| 7:55 PM | Open dancing |
| 9:55 PM | Send-off |
How to build your own wedding day timeline
- Start from the ceremony time and work backward for getting ready and photos.
- Ask your photographer about light. Golden hour is the hour before sunset; schedule 15 minutes of couple portraits then.
- Add buffers. 15 minutes before the ceremony and between photo sessions.
- Write down who does what. Each line needs an owner: the planner, the DJ or a named family member.
- Share it a month out with every vendor and your wedding party.
Wedding day timeline FAQ
How long should a wedding day timeline be?
Most wedding days run 10 to 12 hours from the start of hair and makeup to the send-off. The reception itself is usually 4 to 5 hours.
When should hair and makeup start?
About 5 hours before the ceremony for a wedding party of 4 to 6 people. Add 45 minutes for each extra person in the chair.
How long is the cocktail hour?
One hour. It covers family and couple photos, so keep it to 60 minutes even if the photos run short.
Should we do a first look?
A first look moves couple and wedding party photos before the ceremony, so you can join your own cocktail hour. Without one, plan 60 to 90 minutes of photos after the ceremony.
When should we give vendors the wedding day timeline?
Send it one month before the wedding and confirm everyone's arrival time two weeks before.
Planning further out? Read how to plan a wedding timeline month by month.
