Perfecting your wedding day timings
Just how important is adding structure to your wedding day?
I’m so lucky to have a regular feature with The Digital Wedding Fair over on Instagram where every Wednesday at 8.30pm, I have a slot with one of their hosts and we chat all things Weddingy! In my last LIVE, we talked about perfecting your order of the day, there was a lot of discussion around this subject with couples taking away so many ideas about how to get the most out of their day. That’s why I decided to write it all in a blog in case you missed it! I’ll warn you… there’s a lot to read, it might be my biggest blog EVER!
We spoke for an hour and could have gone on for longer so I’m going to break it down (even though there’s still a LOT here) because I do think it’s really important to get this right, I also think a lot of couples don’t even think about timings as they leave it to the wedding coordinator/manager at the venue to sort, but I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t need to be that way. I’ve managed many weddings and I couldn’t be more excited to pass my knowledge onto you about what I think will get you the most out of your wedding day, whilst also giving you food for thought…
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WITH YOUR
MORNING PREPARATIONS
How many bridesmaids do you have that need to get ready?
Think about the look you are having, this could be anything from 30 minutes for a soft look with an easy hairstyle to 90 minutes for a more glam look with a more detailed up do
Do you need to travel to the stylist?
Are you having breakfast? (remember, nothing stodgy!)
Are the Groomsmen and Groom doing anything in the morning? Golf? Spa? Fresh Haircut?
Do you have to decorate the venue yourself? If not, what time can your suppliers access the venue? It’s all well and good creating that Pinterest perfect day but if your florist needs 3 hours but only has 1… #bigproblem
How many photographers do you have? 1 will take longer running between rooms for preparation shots, first glance, detail shots
Who is gathering everyone together for these shots? Your wedding coordinator will be getting the venue ready so this is where a planner can come in super handy and will always be one step ahead of the game
*My tip - Make sure you are ready a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the ceremony time
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WITH YOUR
CEREMONY
Most ceremonies take up to 30 minutes (including the time to get to and from the ceremony room) unless there is a cultural element (Chinese/Jewish/Indian etc could take an hour or so)
Are you having readings? This can bump up the time a little but registrars are very good at sticking to the timings
Are you having a confetti shot? Your photographer should gather your guests immediately for this if you’ve not already done this walking down the aisle
*My tip - I like to give my couples 10 minutes together alone following the ceremony, it gives you time to gather your thoughts, have a well deserved drink and have a quick cwtch (that’s Welsh for cuddle in case you were wondering)
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WITH YOUR
WELCOME DRINKS & CANAPES
Venues usually allow 1.5 hours for this time which is usually ample depending on how many welcome drinks you have purchased
Think about the time of year, if it’s Summer, guests will be very thirsty and enjoying the sunshine (more drinks) if it’s winter, you might want to think about selecting the hot drink option or adding on a tea/coffee/hot chocolate station
If you’ve supplied a free bar, guests will take advantage of this (and why not!) but it does make it difficult to find who you need when the photographer needs them for a shot (subsequently adding time onto the day)
Do you want to spend time with your guests? (of course you do!) It’s not uncommon for most of this time to be used up with your photographer getting some beautiful shots of you both so I’d always recommend extending this to 2 hours if you want time with them (you need to look at investing in more drinks and canapes if this is the case)
*My tip - Get entertainment for this time, your guests can get very bored whilst you’re being whisked around having photos done
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WITH YOUR
WEDDING BREAKFAST & SPEECHES
Your wedding breakfast will usually take 1.5-2 hours depending on your guests (if you’ve got lots of elderly relatives or young children, it can sometimes add time on)
Are you having more than 3 courses, this can add on about 20 minutes per course (sorbet, cheese etc)
Things like smokers and hot weather can add time on, nipping out for a cigarette (wedding etiquette no-no) or popping out for fresh air in between courses
How many speeches are being done? Traditionally it would be Father of the Bride, Groom, Best Man and this would take around 30 minutes but. it is not uncommon for the Best Man to suddenly whip out a projector and do a 20 minute slideshow on the Groom as a child and hilarious stag moments - ask the Best Man to notify someone at the venue, in advance, if they intend on doing something like this
Are you handing out gifts? This ‘tradition’ is becoming less and less common with couples choosing to leave gifts in the families rooms instead with a cute note thanking them for their help
*My tip - Do not miss the opportunity to do a sunset shot with your photographer, even if you are in between courses, you will not get another chance for them to catch the most beautiful shots!
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WITH YOUR
CAKE CUTTING & FIRST DANCE
Timings for this can vary depending on the size of the venue, it can be time consuming gathering everyone up, especially if by this point the Ushers and Best Men have had one too many bevvies!
Who are you dancing with? Mum, Dad, Closest person to you, lots of Brides like to do a Dad/Daughter dance and it’s quite common for the parents to do a dance too!
Are you doing a dance routine or even a flash dance?
*My tip - Cut the cake on the dance floor so it can be taken away and you can move swiftly into the first dance whilst everyone is in the same location
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WITH YOUR
EVENING FOOD & FIREWORKS
Your food should only be out for 2 hours due to hygiene regulations so bear this in mind for evening guest arrival
Don’t eat too soon after your meal
If you are having fireworks, it takes time to gather everyone outside, you might want to provide blankets for everyone in the colder months if your venue are not providing them
*My tip - If you are having a band, make sure they are not starting at the same time your food goes out or your fireworks start
Finally… don’t forget to pre-order taxis / transport. You do not want to be sat in the bar with Uncle Phil until 4am who can’t get hold of any taxis and you feel bad about leaving him alone.
PHEW! I told you there was a lot and that wasn’t everything! It makes you realise how much there is that goes into a wedding day which is why couples hire me, to make sure that you, as a couple are fully taken care of whilst your wedding coordinator/manager, looks after everything on the venue side.
“Hiring a Wedding Planner should be about peace of mind over anything else”
For more information about how I can create a tailored timeline for your wedding day, contact me for a complimentary consultation.