Getting the timings of your wedding day just right is a vital part of the planning process. You’ll need everything to run like clockwork during your special day to fit all those wedding musts and personalised wants into your ceremony and reception.
Here wedding photographer Jess Palatucci explains more about why a wedding timeline is integral to the people, processes and moments that make your wedding day:
“On a wedding day, there can be so many moving parts. So many different vendors that you’re working with and trying to keep organised. It can be a lot! However, your wedding day timeline is essentially your central hub for everything. It allows for all contact information and vendor info to be put in one place, so in case you need to reach someone it’s right there! You want to make sure that everyone is on the same page as well. So ensuring that everyone has a copy of the timeline is key!”
Your wedding timeline will help to keep everyone – including the happy couple, your guests and your vendors – extra organised. Having said that, where do you even begin when creating a wedding timeline that’s realistic and works for you?
Here we share our golden rules for planning a wedding timeline that’s in tune with those big day plans.
Know your limitations
There are some factors that will influence your wedding timeline that will be out of your control. Your venue and registrar may have their own timing restrictions, which you should be clear about before you begin the business of planning your schedule.
Here at St Audrie’s Park, we can’t allow early ceremonies due to check-in times for our accommodation. With this in mind, you can host your wedding ceremony between 12pm and 3pm.
Take a hint from other couples
With a little insight into the way that other couples have planned their wedding days, you can make wedding timelining as simple and straightforward as possible. There are many example schedules available online that offer great guidance.
Remember, these should be used for research only. Don’t be afraid to put your own spin on things to plan a wedding schedule that works for you.
Accept the inevitable
Even the most realistic wedding timeline can come a cropper on the big day itself. Acknowledging that your wedding timeline won’t necessarily go to plan is important, and so too is knowing how it can be adjusted as the day goes on. With flexibility and a few plan Bs in your pocket, you can achieve everything you set out to.
Always plan around your ceremony time
The timing of your ceremony is one thing that is set in stone, whether the bride is running a little late or not! You should plan your timeline around this working backwards to accommodate those pre-wedding preparations and forwards to schedule in the highlights that will make the rest of your wedding day.
Give yourself time to breathe (and eat)
Make time for the little, but essential, tasks that most example wedding timelines don’t factor in. Things like sitting down to eat on the morning of your wedding and mingling with your guests post-ceremony are all musts that shouldn’t be skipped.
Leave plenty of time between each wedding day event (including your ceremony, wedding breakfast, wedding speeches, the cutting of the cake and the first dance) to make sure there’s plenty of time for all the essentials.
Need help planning your wedding timeline?
Couples marrying at St Audrie’s Park will have all the guidance and support they need from our wedding coordinators. Book a viewing at St Audries today to discover why it’s the perfect wedding venue for you for so many reasons.
