Franklin Dean
Planning a wedding can be stressful, but creating a timeline for the day can help ensure everything runs smoothly. The time of your wedding will depend on a number of factors, including the day of the week, the time of year, and whether the ceremony and reception are in the same place. Most couples get married between 12 pm and 5 pm, with ceremonies typically lasting 30 minutes to an hour, and receptions lasting four to eight hours. If you're having a royal wedding, like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, you might opt for a noon ceremony, with TV coverage beginning in the early morning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time to begin preparations | 10am-11am |
| Guests start arriving at the venue | 9am-30 minutes before the ceremony |
| Ceremony start time | 12pm-5pm (2pm-3pm are common) |
| Duration of the ceremony | 20-60 minutes |
| Drinks reception and photos | 30-60 minutes |
| Dinner | 60-90 minutes |
| Speeches and toasts | 30-60 minutes |
| First dance | N/A |
| Evening food | 9pm-10pm |
| Fireworks or sparkler exit | 11pm-12am |
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What You'll Learn
Wedding day schedules/timelines
Planning a wedding day timeline is essential to ensure that your special day runs smoothly and that you have enough time to enjoy every moment. The key to a wedding that runs smoothly is planning ahead, and the more detailed your wedding timeline is, the better. Here is a suggested wedding day schedule to help you create your own timeline:
Morning: Getting Ready and Ceremony
- 9:00 am to 11:00 am: Bridal prep, including hair and makeup. During this time, the groom and groomsmen can also get dressed and prepare for the day.
- 11:30 am: The wedding photographer should arrive 30 minutes before the couple is dressed and ready. They can capture shots of the wedding attire, rings, and other details, as well as scout the venue for photo backdrops.
- 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm: Guests start arriving at the ceremony. They can enjoy welcome music and settle in before the ceremony begins.
- 1:30 pm: Ceremony. This is the main event where the couple exchanges vows and officially becomes married. Ceremonies typically last 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the type of ceremony.
Afternoon: Drinks, Photos, and Reception
- 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm: Drinks reception and cocktail hour. The couple can escape for some photos with the photographer, including family portraits and shots of the bridal party.
- 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm: The couple arrives at the reception with a grand entrance, followed by their first dance.
- 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm: Dinner is served. This is also a good time for speeches and toasts from the best man, maid of honour, and other special guests.
- 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm: Cake cutting, bouquet toss, and other traditions. The dance floor opens, and the DJ or band takes over to keep the party going.
Evening: Celebrations Continue
- 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Evening food is served to give guests an energy boost before saying their goodbyes.
- 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm: The final hour of the wedding. Arrange your final song with the DJ or band, and say your goodbyes. If you're planning fireworks or a sparkler exit, this is the time to organise it.
Remember, this timeline is just a guide, and you can adjust it to fit your unique wedding plans and start time. If your ceremony and reception are at different venues, be sure to account for travel time. Additionally, don't forget to take advantage of the golden hour before sunset for some incredible natural lighting in your photos.
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Royal Wedding timings
The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at 12 pm BST (7 am ET) in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The ceremony was followed by a carriage procession through Windsor at 1 pm BST (8 am ET). The wedding broke with the royal tradition of weekday weddings and was not declared a bank holiday.
The Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated the ceremony in front of 600 guests. The bride, Meghan Markle, is American and worked as an actress, blogger, charity ambassador, and advocate before the wedding. She is also the first person of mixed-race heritage to marry into the British royal family. The groom, Prince Harry, is a member of the British royal family and was the fifth in line to the crown at the time of his engagement. On the morning of the wedding, Queen Elizabeth II conferred upon him the titles of Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel. Upon her marriage, Markle became a princess of the United Kingdom and gained the style Her Royal Highness and the titles Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel.
The wedding ceremony was noted for the inclusion of African-American culture. The bride wore a white dress with a long train and embroidered veil, carrying a bouquet with myrtle and lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, and hyacinth. The overall cost of the wedding was expected to be around £32 million, including £50,000 for the cake, £110,000 for the florist, and £286,000 for catering. The security costs were estimated to be between £2 million and £4 million, and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead spent £2.6 million on cleaning the town and roads.
The wedding was widely celebrated and commemorated, with a £5 coin issued by the Royal Mint and a set of commemorative postage stamps released by Royal Mail. The wedding was also broadcast and covered by media outlets worldwide, including ITV, BBC, and CNN.
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Guests' arrival times
As a guest, it is customary to arrive at the wedding venue 15 to 30 minutes before the time stated on the invitation. This allows for a timely start to the ceremony and accounts for any potential delays due to traffic or other unforeseen circumstances. Arriving early also ensures that guests can find their seats and get comfortable before the festivities begin.
However, it is important to strike a balance and avoid arriving too early. Showing up more than an hour in advance, as some enthusiastic guests tend to do, can potentially inconvenience the couple, who may be busy with final preparations, taking pre-wedding photos, or enjoying a private moment before the ceremony.
To ensure a smooth arrival experience for your guests, it is advisable to provide clear instructions and timing on the wedding invitations. Some couples choose to include a request for guests to arrive in time to be seated by a specified time, such as "Please arrive in time to be seated by 12:45 pm." This approach sets clear expectations and helps to avoid any confusion or overlap with the couple's preparations.
Additionally, consider the size of the wedding and the potential impact on arrival times. For larger weddings, guests may need a few extra minutes to locate the venue, find parking, and navigate their way to the ceremony site. Accounting for these factors in your timing considerations will help ensure a timely and orderly arrival process for all guests.
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The 'first look'
The first look is a modern wedding tradition that involves the couple seeing each other for the first time on their wedding day before the bride walks down the aisle. It is an intimate moment shared between the couple before the official formalities of the day begin. The first look is usually followed by couple portraits and can be a powerful moment for the couple to connect and ground each other before the ceremony.
One of the main benefits of doing a first look is that it frees up the timeline of the wedding day. It allows the couple to take most of their photos before the wedding, including family photos, leaving more time after the ceremony to spend with guests. This is especially beneficial for winter weddings, as there is limited daylight, and for short days in the winter months. By doing a first look, couples can ensure they have photos in daylight and don't miss out on parts of their wedding day due to photography.
Another advantage of the first look is that it can help to reduce nerves and jitters before the ceremony. It provides an opportunity for the couple to connect and share their excitement privately before walking down the aisle. It can also be a more relaxed setting for the couple to emote and react as they wish, without the pressure of doing so in front of all their guests.
The first look also offers flexibility in terms of location and lighting. Couples can choose a location that is special to them, such as somewhere close to home or where they are getting ready. This can result in more diverse and personalised photos. Additionally, by choosing the location, couples can ensure they have the best possible lighting for their photos, avoiding the harsh lighting that often occurs during the middle of the day.
However, there are also some considerations to keep in mind when deciding whether to do a first look. One concern is that the couple may need to wake up and get ready earlier, which may not appeal to those who are not morning people. Additionally, there is a chance that the wedding attire, particularly the bride's dress, could get dirty during the first look if it is done outdoors. Some couples may also prefer to stick with the traditional aspect of not seeing each other before the ceremony, as it is considered bad luck by some.
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The reception
Planning the Reception Timeline
Planning ahead is key to ensuring your wedding reception runs smoothly. It is a good idea to create a timeline for the reception, accounting for the full day, from getting ready to the last song of the night. The more detailed, the better. Typically, wedding receptions last for four to eight hours.
Food and Drink
Evening food is usually served between 9 pm and 10 pm to keep the party going. This could be an evening buffet, bacon butties, or a street food van. Alcohol is also an important consideration. It can help loosen people up and get them out on the dance floor, but it is important to keep an eye on known troublemakers and limit alcohol consumption before the reception to avoid things getting out of hand.
Entertainment
Entertainment is crucial to keeping your guests occupied and creating a fun atmosphere. This could include a live band or DJ, or something more creative like a drag performance, celebrity impersonators, or live circus performers. You could also set up interactive food services, such as a s'mores station, or a mini-golf course for guests to enjoy.
Traditions and Photos
Traditions are a great way to connect with your guests and create memorable moments. These could include the first dance, cutting the cake, and throwing the bouquet. It is important to schedule these events, so they do not interfere with the party and guests' enjoyment. The photographer should also be considered in the timeline, ensuring they capture all the special moments before they have to leave.
The Grand Exit
Finally, the grand exit is a moment to make a lasting impression. It is better to do an early fake exit to ensure more guests are present, rather than waiting too long and having only a few people left. Fireworks or sparklers are a dramatic way to make an exit, or you could try confetti cannons for a pretty photo opportunity.
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Frequently asked questions
The ceremony start time listed on your wedding invitations is just for guests. For the couple, the wedding party, and vendors, the day begins much earlier. The time you choose can also impact the overall tone and flow of your event. For example, a Friday wedding usually starts at 6:30 pm, while a Sunday wedding starts earlier at 5 pm.
Your photographer should arrive 30 minutes before you and your wedding party are dressed and ready. They can use this time to take photos of your wedding attire, rings, and the venue.
The time needed for hair and makeup will depend on the size of your bridal party and the complexity of the look. Your hair and makeup artists can advise you on this, but generally, an 11 am start time works for the average group of bridesmaids.
Guests should arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony starts so they have time to be seated, mingle, and settle in before the main event.
The reception should start no later than one hour after the wedding ceremony. This allows time for couple and family photos.
