Planning A Perfect 6 Pm Wedding Ceremony Timeline

Planning a wedding day timeline is essential to ensure a stress-free day and keep everything running smoothly. While there is no right way to schedule your wedding day, there are several factors to consider when creating a timeline for a 6 pm ceremony. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

- Hair and Makeup: Allow sufficient time for hair and makeup, especially if you have a large bridal party. Consider starting early, around 9 am to 11 am, to ensure everyone has enough time to get ready.

- Photography: Determine when you want your photographer to arrive. Consider having them capture getting-ready photos, bridal party photos, family portraits, and couple portraits at various points throughout the day.

- First Look: Decide whether you want to include a first look before the ceremony. A first look can help free up time after the ceremony for other activities and allow more flexibility with sunset portraits.

- Travel: If there is travel involved between the getting-ready location, ceremony venue, and reception venue, factor in travel time to ensure a smooth transition between events.

- Ceremony: The ceremony itself will typically last around 30 minutes, but religious ceremonies can last up to an hour. Plan to start the ceremony 10-15 minutes after the time listed on the invitation to account for any late arrivals.

- Cocktail Hour: Allow for a cocktail hour after the ceremony. This gives you time to take additional photos, greet guests, and enjoy a moment alone with your partner before the reception.

- Reception: The reception timeline can vary depending on your preferences. Plan for key moments such as the grand entrance, first dance, dinner, toasts, cake cutting, and dancing.

- Sunset Portraits: If you want sunset portraits, consider the sunset time when planning your timeline. Aim for an hour of daylight after the ceremony for these portraits.

- Vendor Timing: Communicate with your vendors to understand their arrival and setup times. This includes caterers, photographers, videographers, and entertainment.

- Buffer Time: Don't forget to add buffer time to your timeline! Allow for some flexibility in case certain activities take longer than expected.

Remember to finalize your wedding day timeline a month before the wedding and confirm the timing again a week before the big day. A well-planned timeline will help you and your wedding party enjoy a stress-free and memorable celebration.

Getting ready: hair, makeup, and photos

The key to a smooth wedding day is planning ahead. A detailed wedding timeline will keep everything on track from start to finish. Here is a suggested timeline for "Getting ready: hair, makeup, and photos" for a 6 pm ceremony:

9:00 am: Wedding Planner, Rental Load-In, and Breakfast

The day will likely begin with the arrival of the wedding planner, who will be the glue that holds everything together. This is also when vendor load-in will begin, with rental companies arriving first. It is important to kick off the day by giving yourself ample time to get ready with your wedding party.

10:30 am: Floral and Additional Decor Load-In

After the rental companies have had time to set up, the floral design team and any additional decor companies should arrive.

11:00 am: Hair and Makeup Team Arrives

The exact time that the beauty team arrives will depend on how many people are having their hair and makeup done. It is recommended to allow at least three hours for these services. There should also be 30 minutes allocated for the team to set up before the first appointments begin.

11:30 am: Hair and Makeup Begin

As a rule of thumb, each person will need 30-45 minutes per service. For the bride, this can be extended to 60-90 minutes. If there are four bridesmaids and two mothers getting both their hair and makeup done, with a team of two hairstylists and two makeup artists, you will need to allow at least two hours for all the services.

12:30 pm: Lunch Delivery

It is important to plan a lunch delivery to enjoy while getting ready. Avoid greasy foods and opt for a spread of assorted sandwiches, fruits, veggies, and dips.

1:00 pm: Photographer Arrives

The photographer will typically offer standard packages of 8-10 hours of service. They may split up if the couple is getting ready separately, with one photographer going with the bride and their party, and the second shooter capturing the groom and their groomsmen.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Stationery and Detail Photos

The photographers will capture the important getting-ready moments with the bridal party. The photographer should arrive 30 minutes before the couple is dressed and ready. During this time, they can capture shots of the wedding attire, rings, invitations, and other details. They may also scout the venue for photo backdrops.

2:15 pm: Wedding Party and VIPs Get Dressed

All VIPs, family members, and wedding attendants should be fully dressed and ready before the couple gets dressed. This includes putting on shoes and jewellery.

2:30 pm: Couple Gets Dressed

The couple should give themselves enough time to get dressed and accessorize without feeling rushed.

2:45 pm: Individual Portraits

Once the couple is fully dressed and ready, the photographer will capture portrait and detail shots at pre-scouted locations around the venue.

3:10 pm - 3:30 pm: Wedding Party Group Photos

These photos are casual and fun, capturing the celebration between the couple and their closest friends. If you want specific shots, such as toasting with champagne, ensure you have the necessary props ready.

3:30 pm: First Look (Optional)

The first look is an optional but special moment where the couple sees each other for the first time before the ceremony.

3:30 pm - 4:10 pm: Portrait Photos Together

If the couple opts for a first look, this is an ideal window for intimate portraits at pre-scouted locations.

4:10 pm - 5:00 pm: Wedding Party and Family Photos

It is important to have a shot list of every family combination you want to be captured and designate a family member to help the photographer identify everyone.

Travel to the venue

When planning your wedding day timeline, there are many factors to consider, such as the size of your wedding party, whether you'll be having a first look, and the timing of reception events. Here is a detailed breakdown of the "Travel to the Venue" portion of your wedding day timeline for a 6 pm ceremony:

Allow ample time for travel to the ceremony venue, especially if you are getting ready at a different location. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Consider the distance between the getting-ready location and the ceremony venue.
• Account for traffic or any potential travel delays.
• Ensure that everyone in the wedding party is ready and on board, including the bride, groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and any family members travelling together.
• If you have a large wedding party, you may need to arrange transportation that can accommodate everyone, such as a bus or multiple cars.
• If you are providing transportation for your guests, ensure that they are aware of the travel time and arrangements.

4:15 pm - Travel to the Venue

The bride, groom, and wedding party board the designated transportation and depart for the ceremony venue. Allow enough time to arrive at the venue by 5 pm, including any potential traffic delays.

4:45 pm - Arrive at the Venue

Everyone arrives at the ceremony venue and proceeds to their respective preparation areas. The bride and her attendants may need time to freshen up their hair and makeup, and the groom and groomsmen can use this time to make any final adjustments. This is also a good time for the wedding party to relax and hydrate before the ceremony begins.

5:15 pm - Pre-Ceremony Touch-Ups and Photos

The bride and groom take a few moments for any last-minute touch-ups before the ceremony. This is also an excellent opportunity for the photographer to capture some candid moments of the wedding party getting ready, putting on final touches, and interacting with each other.

5:30 pm - Guests Begin to Arrive

As your guests start to arrive, they can be greeted and guided to their seats by members of the wedding party or ushers. This is also a good time for the bride and groom to do a final check of the ceremony space and ensure that everything is in order.

5:45 pm - Final Preparations

In the remaining time before the ceremony, the wedding party can take a moment to relax and prepare mentally for the upcoming celebration. The bride and groom can also use this time for any private traditions or rituals they wish to incorporate.

Remember, it is essential to allow some buffer time in your timeline to account for any unexpected delays or changes. This will help ensure that your wedding day runs smoothly and that you can fully enjoy every moment of your special day.

First look and family photos

The first look is a special moment where you and your partner see each other for the first time, away from the hundreds of eyes that will be watching you exchange vows during the ceremony. It is also a great opportunity to get some formal photos out of the way and to share a quiet moment together before the ceremony.

2:00 pm: Photographer arrives as you are getting dressed

2:15 pm: Photos of the bridal party together and the groomsmen together (one photographer for each)

3:00 pm: Travel to the location where the groomsmen are getting ready

3:15 pm: First look, family portraits, and bridal party portraits

4:15 pm: Travel to the ceremony venue

5:15 pm: Travel to the reception venue

If you are not doing a first look, you can instead take photos with your respective wedding parties separately before the ceremony. This will ensure that you only need to take combined group photos before the reception, giving you more time to mingle with your guests during the cocktail hour.

4:30 pm: You and your wedding party and immediate family take photos

5:00 pm: Your partner and their wedding party and immediate family take photos

5:30 pm: Couple freshens up for the ceremony; the photo team photographs the wedding ceremony and reception setups

For family photos, it is recommended to prepare a generous amount of time. It is often best to plan for as few combinations of photos that will still cover everyone you'd like to be photographed. Be sure to provide a list of all the family photos you'd like to be taken so that the photographer can ensure they get all the combinations.

Ceremony

A 6 pm ceremony is usually part of a twilight wedding, which takes place between 5 pm and 7 pm. This type of ceremony is often chosen for the cheaper venue rates and the opportunity to party later into the night. However, it's important to remember that an evening wedding isn't child-friendly.

Travel

If there is travel involved on your wedding day, be sure to factor this into your timeline. This includes travel between the ceremony and reception venues, as well as any other locations you plan to visit throughout the day (e.g. for photos).

Size of your wedding party

The number of people in your wedding party will impact the timing of certain activities, such as hair and makeup, getting dressed, and photos. A larger wedding party may require more time for these activities.

First look

Deciding whether or not to have a first look will impact your timeline. A first look is when the couple sees each other for the first time before the ceremony, usually for photos. If you choose to do a first look, you can finish your wedding party and family portraits beforehand and have more flexibility after the ceremony.

Portrait priorities

Consider how many family photos you want and whether you want to reserve sunset for newlywed portraits. If you're having a twilight ceremony, sunset portraits can be a magical addition to your wedding album.

Vendor time restrictions

Your photographer, videographer, and other vendors may have time restrictions on how long they can stay at your event. Be sure to communicate your timeline with them and confirm their availability.

Reception events

The timing of your reception events, such as the grand entrance, first dance, toasts, cake cutting, and bouquet toss, will impact the overall flow of your wedding day. Decide which events you want to include and work with your vendors to create a timeline that allows for a smooth transition between each event.

Now, let's look at a sample timeline for a 6 pm ceremony:

2:00 pm - Hair and makeup services begin for the wedding party.

3:00 pm - Your own hair and makeup begin. Bouquets are delivered, and suppliers start setting up at the venue.

4:45 pm - Wedding party photos. This is also a great time for some beautiful portrait shots of the couple.

5:30 pm - Your partner arrives at the venue, and guests begin to arrive. Members of the partner's party can help guide guests and provide information.

6:00 pm - Ceremony starts.

6:30 pm - Reception drinks and canapés are served.

7:00 pm - The couple departs for sunset or "golden hour" photos. This is a great time to capture intimate portraits during the soft, natural light of the setting sun.

7:30 pm - The couple returns and can mingle with guests and enjoy a drink.

7:45 pm - Cutting of the cake. This can be done in another area of the venue if staff need time to transition from the ceremony to the reception.

8:15 pm - Buffet/food is served, and toasts are made. This is a good time for the newlyweds to say a few words and thank their guests for coming.

9:00 pm - Dance floor opens, and the party begins!

12:00 am - Party finishes (or continues at another location).

Cocktail hour and reception

The cocktail hour is one of the most important times to focus on. It's a great time to take family portraits while guests enjoy drinks and light bites. Typically, the photographer will have their second shooter capture guest candids during the cocktail hour, while the main shooter handles the remaining family photos.

If you're not doing a first look, you can take your couple's photos during the cocktail hour. If you're doing a first look, you can use this time to take family and wedding party photos, or simply relax and enjoy the cocktail hour.

The cocktail hour usually lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. This gives about 70 minutes of photography time, including finding people during family photos. It's a good idea to wrap up photography about 10 minutes before the grand entrance, so the bride can bustle her dress and the couple can have a few minutes together.

After the cocktail hour, it's time for the grand entrance, which can be followed by the first dance. This is a great way to keep the formalities and the fun going. You can dance to the full version of your song, giving your photographer more time to capture those interactions.

Next, it's time for the welcome speech and dinner service. Toasts can be made during dinner, and it's recommended to keep them under 10 minutes each. After dinner, it's time for the parent dances, cake cutting, and bouquet/garter toss.

Finally, open the dance floor and party until the night ends!

Frequently asked questions