Junior Rasmussen
Planning a wedding day timeline can be challenging, especially if it is your first time organising a large-scale event. The ceremony start time is usually the fixed point for the day, with everything else working around it. The time listed on the invitation is for guests, as the day begins much earlier for the couple, the wedding party, and vendors. The wedding party should start getting ready early, with hair and makeup taking a couple of hours. The photographer should arrive 30 minutes before the couple is dressed and ready. The ceremony start time will depend on the type of ceremony, with civil weddings lasting 30-45 minutes, non-religious ceremonies lasting 20-45 minutes, and religious ceremonies lasting 60-90 minutes.
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What You'll Learn
Wedding photography
The first step is to decide whether you want a first look. This is where the couple sees each other in their wedding attire before the ceremony. If you opt for a first look, this is a great opportunity for the photographer to capture some intimate portraits of just the two of you at pre-scouted locations around the venue. This can be done hours before the ceremony, giving you more time and freedom on the day. It also means you can get all the photos done before the ceremony, including family formals. If you don't want a first look, you will need to start hair and makeup early to ensure there is plenty of time for outside photos.
The photographer should arrive 30 minutes before the couple is dressed and ready to capture shots of the wedding attire, rings, and invitations. The second shooter will usually arrive 10 minutes before the main photographer to capture the venue and details before guests arrive. It is important to capture the complete set-up of the ceremony before guests come in and start leaving their belongings on the seats.
After the ceremony, you will want to capture group shots and bridal portraits. This should take around 45 minutes and is best done before sunset. You can also schedule couple portraits to take place right before the reception or 20-30 minutes into dinner. The golden hour, the hour before sunset, is ideal for lighting as the light is softer and produces stunning images. You can also capture some great candid shots of guests hanging out and enjoying drinks after the meal and before the first dance.
Finally, you will want to allow time for the photographer to capture the reception details, including the beauty of the room before guests come in. This will take around 20-30 minutes and is usually about 30 minutes after the first dance.
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Wedding hair and makeup
Planning a wedding can be a stressful experience, but creating a timeline for your big day can help keep things running smoothly. One of the most important, and most personal, aspects of your wedding day is your hair and makeup.
If you are having your hair and makeup done professionally, ask your hair and makeup artist how long they will take. Generally, allow a couple of hours for bridal hair and makeup, and an additional 45 to 60 minutes for each member of your wedding party. Work backward from the start of your ceremony, factoring in travel time, getting dressed (this takes longer than you think—give yourself at least 30 minutes!), and the timings from your hair and makeup artist.
If you are doing your own hair and makeup, ask your bridal party how long they think it will take them to get ready, then double it! It's a good idea to factor in some time for breakfast and a glass of bubbles, too.
It is easier to have your makeup and hair stylist come to you, which will save time and stress. Many couples who get ready at home will have a family member or friend pick up food and set it out while everyone gets prepared together. If you are planning to get ready at a salon, consider travel time and whether you will encounter traffic.
Based in Angel, Central London, Izabella Bordignon London is a luxury hair and makeup boutique dedicated to delivering unparalleled service for brides. With over 10 years of experience, their international, award-winning team of hair and makeup artists are passionate about making you look your best. Aga Make Up and Hair is another renowned wedding beauty company located in West London, founded by an award-winning cosmetologist. Bride by Becky is an award-winning, luxury wedding hair and makeup service operating out of Ealing, West London, with 18 years of experience.
Other London-based wedding hair stylists and makeup artists include Nicola Beddoes, who specializes in beautiful, undone hairstyles and glowing wedding makeup, and Klaudia Wnuk Bridal, who specializes in soft glam looks that are lightweight, fresh, and glowing. MakeupSylvie is a Pro Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist based in Central and South East London, specializing in bespoke wedding beauty.
Remember, your wedding is a celebration of who you are, and your hair and makeup should reflect your distinct personality and style.
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Wedding reception
Planning a wedding reception timeline can be a challenging task, but it is crucial to ensure a smooth-running wedding day. Here is a detailed guide to help you craft a timeline for your wedding reception, focusing on a wedding beginning in London on a Saturday.
Pre-Ceremony Preparations
It is essential to start by determining the time required for hair and makeup and getting dressed. For bridal hair and makeup, allow a couple of hours, and for each member of the bridal party, an additional 45 to 60 minutes. The bridesmaids and/or mother of the bride typically get ready first, followed by the bride. Don't forget to factor in breakfast, lunch, and some refreshments during these preparations!
Photography Before the Ceremony
Photography plays a significant role in capturing the magic of your wedding day. Consider having a "first look" photo session a few hours before the ceremony to capture intimate portraits of the couple at pre-scouted locations. This also ensures more time for the couple and bridal party to take photos during the cocktail hour. The photographer should arrive 30 minutes before the couple is dressed to capture shots of the wedding attire, accessories, and stationery.
Guest Arrival and Ceremony Start
Most weddings start a little later than the time listed on the invitation, usually about 15 minutes after. The wedding photographer should arrive early to capture the venue and ceremony details before guests arrive. The second shooter typically arrives about 10 minutes before the main photographer to capture these details. The ceremony start time depends on various factors, such as the season, sunset time, and whether it is a religious, non-religious, or civil ceremony. The most common ceremony start times are around 1 pm or 5:30 pm, with adjustments made for earlier or later times.
Post-Ceremony Celebrations
After the ceremony, there are usually family formals, bridal party photos, and bridal portraits. If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, a timeline for a 2:30 pm ceremony could be:
2:30 pm – Ceremony
3:00 pm – Exit from Ceremony
3:15 pm – Family Formals
3:45 pm – Bridal Party Photos
4:15 pm – Bridal Portraits
5:00 pm – Entrance into Reception
The Reception
The reception is a time to mingle with your guests and enjoy drinks and canapes. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the drinks reception, ensuring enough time for mingling and capturing group photos. The couple session is ideally held about an hour before sunset, as the softer light produces stunning images. During the reception, the photographer can also capture the beauty of the reception room before guests enter, usually taking about 20-30 minutes.
Dinner and First Dance
After the reception, guests will move to the wedding breakfast location and find their seats, which typically takes about 30 minutes. The band or DJ setup can take around an hour, and this is a great time to capture relaxed, candid photos as guests hang out and enjoy the evening. The time between the meal and the first dance is perfect for photos, especially if it's during sunset or with creative lighting techniques for winter weddings.
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Wedding timeline
Planning a wedding can be stressful, but a good timeline can help to keep things running smoothly. While there is no one-size-fits-all template, here is a guide to help you create a timeline for your wedding day.
Morning Preparations
The time you start your morning preparations will depend on the size of your bridal party and whether you are having your hair and makeup done professionally. If you are having your hair and makeup done professionally, ask your stylists how long they will need, and work backwards from the start of your ceremony. As a general rule, allow a couple of hours for the bride's hair and makeup, and an additional 45 to 60 minutes for each member of your bridal party. If your bridal party is doing their own hair and makeup, ask them how long they think they will need, and then double it! Don't forget to factor in time for breakfast, lunch, and getting dressed—putting on the dress takes longer than you think, so give yourself at least 30 minutes.
Photography Before the Ceremony
If you are doing a "first look", plan to do this a few hours before the ceremony. This will give you and your partner more time and freedom on the big day, as you can take all the photos traditionally taken during the cocktail hour before the ceremony. This is also a good time for the photographer to capture some intimate portraits of just the two of you at pre-scouted locations around your venue. If you are both getting ready in the same venue, you can also get some photos of the groom and groomsmen getting ready.
Guest Arrival
About 15 minutes before the ceremony start time, have your family meet dressed and ready in the lobby of your venue. Make sure your photographer has a shot list of every family combination you want to be captured, and designate a family member to help the photographer identify everyone. Guests will begin arriving, and the photographer can capture some great detail shots of the venue and the ceremony setup before guests take their seats.
Ceremony
The ceremony start time listed on your invitations is just for guests. For the wedding party, the day begins much earlier. The wedding photographer should arrive 30 minutes before the couple is dressed and ready, to get shots of the wedding attire, rings, and invitations. The ceremony start time will depend on the type of ceremony:
- Non-religious ceremony: 20 to 45 minutes
- Civil wedding/partnership: 30 to 45 minutes
- Religious ceremony: 60 to 90 minutes
Drinks Reception
After the ceremony, you may want to use the ceremony location for some group pictures. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for your drinks reception, to give your photographer time for group and personal portrait shots, and to give you time to mingle with your guests and enjoy canapes and bubbles. If you want a longer drinks reception, be sure to keep your guests entertained with plenty of drinks and canapes.
Wedding Breakfast
Allow up to 30 minutes for guests to move from the drinks reception to the location of your wedding breakfast and to find their seats. If you are planning a receiving line, allow an additional 40 minutes.
Evening Reception
The time between the meal and the first dance is a great time for photos, as the light is softer which makes for better photos. It is usually about an hour for the band or DJ to set up, and if this is in the same room as the wedding breakfast, the guests will need to be cleared out.
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Wedding venue
Planning a wedding can be a stressful process, and creating a timeline for the day is one of the trickiest parts. The key to a smooth-running wedding day is all in the planning. While you don't need a minute-by-minute schedule, a basic structure or wedding day timeline of when you need to start getting ready, your arrival time at the ceremony, and when the wedding breakfast and speeches will be, will all make you feel more in control and relaxed.
The first step is to determine the ceremony start time and then work backward from there. The ceremony start time listed on the invitations is just for guests; for the couple, the wedding party, and vendors, the day begins much earlier. The timing will depend on the number of individuals having their hair and makeup done, but 11 am generally works for the average group of bridesmaids. If you're planning a wedding with two grooms or without formal hair and makeup services, you can adjust this timing. It's a good idea to start with hair and makeup services because this will impact the rest of your timeline. As a general rule, allow a couple of hours for bridal hair and makeup and an additional 45 to 60 minutes for each member of your wedding party.
Next, you'll want to consider the travel time to the ceremony venue and the time needed to get dressed. Give yourself at least 30 minutes to put on your dress, and don't forget to factor in breakfast and lunch! The photographer should arrive 30 minutes before the couple is dressed and ready to capture shots of the wedding attire, rings, and invitations. If you're doing a "first look," plan to do this a few hours before the ceremony so you can take all the photos during this time instead of during cocktail hour. This is also a great time for the couple to have a moment together and for the photographer to capture some intimate portraits at pre-scouted locations around the venue.
Now, let's talk about the ceremony. The length of the ceremony depends on whether it's religious, non-religious, or a civil partnership. Non-religious ceremonies typically last 20 to 45 minutes, civil weddings 30 to 45 minutes, and religious ceremonies 60 to 90 minutes. After the ceremony, you'll want to allow time for family and bridal party photos, as well as bridal portraits. Then, it's time to head to the reception! If the ceremony and reception are in different locations, be sure to factor in travel time.
The drinks reception typically lasts for 1.5 to 2 hours, giving your photographer plenty of time for group and personal portrait shots and allowing you to mingle with your guests and enjoy canapes and bubbles. If you want a longer drinks reception, be sure to keep your guests entertained and well-fed! The band or DJ will also need time to set up, which usually takes about an hour.
Finally, it's time for the wedding breakfast and speeches! Allow up to 30 minutes for guests to move from the drinks reception to the breakfast location and find their seats. If you're planning a receiving line, allow an additional 40 minutes. And don't forget to designate a few bridesmaids or ushers to direct guests and assist with the receiving line.
With this basic timeline in mind, you can now start thinking about the specific details of your wedding venue. Consider the following:
- The capacity of the venue: How many guests do you plan to invite, and will the venue be able to accommodate everyone comfortably?
- The location of the venue: Is it easily accessible for your guests, and is there ample parking or nearby public transportation?
- The amenities and facilities: Does the venue have everything you need, including a bridal suite, catering options, and audio/visual equipment?
- The atmosphere and decor: Does the venue match the theme and style of your wedding, and are there opportunities to personalise the space?
- The cost: What is the rental fee for the venue, and are there any additional costs or hidden fees?
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Frequently asked questions
The most common start time for a wedding ceremony in the UK is between 1 pm and 3 pm. However, weddings can start at any time, with some sources suggesting that the ideal time for a ceremony is between 1 pm and 6 pm.
Wedding ceremonies typically last 30 minutes to an hour, with non-religious ceremonies on the shorter end of that range and religious ceremonies on the longer end.
It is common courtesy to arrive on time for the wedding ceremony. However, most weddings don't start at the time on the invitation, so don't worry if you are running a bit late.
