While I cannot actually make days last longer and create more hours in a day I can offer these simple suggestions to make the most out of your wedding day timeline so that the day feels longer.
Having experience being at so many wedding days and playing a role behind the scenes and with timeline planning definitely helped prepare me for my wedding day and what it might be feel like.
If you are reading this and engaged then you already know that whenever anyone else talks about the day they will almost always tell you how fast the day goes. This advice did not bother me but it definitely did get to a point where I was kind of like “OK peeps – I am spending MONTHS and HOURSSS planning this event and it goes by in a blink- K got it!! ” 🙂
The good and bad news is this- Yes it goes fast. But it is wonderful!! AND there are things that you can do and control to make your wedding day feel longer!!
So let’s slow it all down a little and experience all the love that surrounds you.
Have your wedding & ceremony at the same location
This is probably the most obvious one but it is just easy! Driving to get ready at a hotel, to a ceremony location, then to a park for photos and then to a reception venue can be A LOT of time in a car. If you have a photographer for 8 or 10 hours on your wedding day that drive time can easily take up 60-90 minutes of that. You also will be able to just walk right into cocktails after the ceremony.
That being said, sometimes being on a party bus can be A LOT of fun. I did it and it was great but it does make things a lot easier if you can do the photos and all of the travelling prior to the ceremony.
Which bring me to this next point…
First Look
Everytime I talk about a first look I say the same thing. You do not HAVE to do one. It is YOUR day. If you feel strongly against one then that is it and that is a decision that you should never be pressured to make.
But there are benefits to do one. I actually wrote a blog post about it here Why do a First Look .
The main points are that you are able to spend more time together, it’s more intimate and private, you get the anxious nerves out of the way earlier in the day instead of living all day with them, you DO get more photos together, and especially that sometimes portraits can be rushed or all at night if you are getting married in a month that sunset is at 5 or 6pm.
Take family photos & bridal party photos before the ceremony
I’ll be honest here. No one has ever said to me, “I cannot wait to take the family photos!” BUT they are arguably some of the most important photos from your wedding day. I mean when was the last time that you had all of these people that you love in one place? If you take the must have family photos before the ceremony then you have all of cocktail hour to mingle and relax 🙂
They did a first look together too *cue the tears!!*
Skip traditions that are not important to you (& make your own!)
If the thought of dancing to Pony by GinUwIne during a garter toss makes your skin crawl- then skip it! Some people will love this and SHINE in this situation and others will be mortified. Don’t feel pressured to do traditions that make you uncomfortable.
A personal example of this- we did the toasts during the rehearsal dinner. I didn’t want my sister to feel nervous all day and it felt more personal and intimate for us to do them in a smaller setting!!
To each their own- that is the best thing about weddings!
Plan extra time
OK I know this one seems super obvious- but I mean it! Things rarely go on time 100% of the time. It is better to over plan for time and have a little extra to chill, have drink, practice some dance moves and sit in the air conditioning than to feel stressed and rushed.
Lucky for all of my clients – We work together to make the timeline and I make sure this happens 😉
Sample Timeline
Here is just a general idea of how a timeline might look that ensures that you are only doing what you want to do and spending as much of the day as possible with your family and friends! Of course this is different for each wedding day based on the scheduled events and time of year.
12:30 Photographer arrives. Begins with candids & detail photos.
1:30 Hair and Makeup complete/ group photo.
1:45 Bride into dress
2:15 Leave for first look
2:45 First Look & Couples Portraits
3:30 Wedding Party Photos (individual groupings and entire group)
4:15- 4:45 Family Photos
5:00Â Guests will begin to arrive. Wedding party gets tucked away before the ceremony
5:30 Ceremony Time
6:00 Ceremony End / Cocktail hour while the venue flips the room or go straight into the reception space!
6:50 Guests seated
7:00 Grand Intros
7:10 Welcome speech/ prayer
7:15 Dinner Served
*Sneak out for sunset photos (time will vary)
7:50 Toasts
8:00 Cake cutting
8:15 First Dances
8:25 Open dance & party time!
9:30 Photography coverage ends
11 Reception End
