How to use this

Start with the ceremony time. Work backwards.

The easiest way to plan a wedding day timeline is to anchor on the ceremony and work in both directions. This template assumes a 3:30 PM ceremony with an outdoor venue — shift the times to match yours. The durations, though, are what we see actually work across hundreds of weddings.

Red flag on any timeline: less than 15 minutes between ceremony and cocktail hour, less than 20 minutes for family formals, no dedicated golden hour window. If those three show up, rework it.

The Timeline

1. 01

   Getting Ready

   2–3 hours

   10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

   Hair and makeup for 5 people takes longer than you think. Start 1 hour before you think you need to. Keep the room tidy for photos — no Starbucks cups in the background.

   From Mauricio: Arrive as hair finishes and makeup starts for the bride. Shoot dress, rings, invites, perfume, and shoe details first while you're relaxed.

2. 02

   Pre-Ceremony Portraits

   45 min

   1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

   Separate bride and groom (and their parties) until ceremony. Or — plan a first look (see below).

3. 03

   First Look (optional, recommended)

   30 min

   2:00 PM – 2:30 PM

   Private, intimate moment away from guests. Choose a quiet spot at your venue. Saves 60+ minutes on your reception timeline because you can knock out couple + wedding party portraits before the ceremony.

   From Mauricio: The single most valuable timeline decision you'll make. Couples who do a first look get 3× more relaxed portraits.

4. 04

   Bridal Party + Family (if first look)

   45 min

   2:30 PM – 3:15 PM

   Parents, siblings, wedding party. Build a shot list: who needs to be in which photo.

5. 05

   Guests Arrive + Hide

   30 min

   3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

   Couple hides. Ushers seat guests. Officiant and DJ do sound check.

6. 06

   Ceremony

   30–60 min

   3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

   Traditional religious: 45–60 min. Civil: 20–30 min. Outdoor: plan for wind and sun direction.

   From Mauricio: Two angles — one behind officiant facing you, one down the aisle. Never stop shooting during the first kiss.

7. 07

   Cocktail Hour

   60 min

   4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

   Guests drink and socialize. If you didn't do a first look, couple + wedding party portraits happen NOW while guests are occupied.

8. 08

   Family Formals

   20–30 min

   4:15 PM – 4:45 PM

   Most stressful part of the day if unorganized. Bring a pre-built family shot list. Delegate one person per side to pull people into frame.

   From Mauricio: Give me a family shot list 1 week before. I'll run it like a drill sergeant so we're done in 20 min.

9. 09

   Golden Hour Couple Portraits

   15–20 min

   Sunset minus 30 min

   The best light of the entire day. Sneak away from the reception. This is non-negotiable.

   From Mauricio: Google "golden hour [your city] [your date]" and block the window. Don't let a caterer or DJ talk you out of it.

10. 10

    Reception Kickoff

    45 min

    5:00 PM – 5:45 PM

    Grand entrance, first dance, parent dances, welcome toast, dinner.

11. 11

    Dinner + Toasts

    60 min

    5:45 PM – 6:45 PM

    Toasts during or after dinner — 2–3 people max, 3 min each. Bathroom break here for couple.

12. 12

    Cake + Open Dance Floor

    90+ min

    6:45 PM – 10:00 PM

    Cut cake early (by 7 PM) so photographer can get it and leave at contracted end. Dance floor stays open.

13. 13

    Grand Exit

    15 min

    End of reception

    Sparklers, bubbles, or a quiet walk to the car. Plan this with the venue and DJ — it doesn't happen by itself.

Five Rules of Thumb

• 01

  First look = more time, less stress

  You recover 60+ minutes of your day to spend with guests instead of posing for portraits.

• 02

  Add 30 min of buffer per transition

  Everything takes longer than you think. Traffic happens. Grandmas move slowly. Build cushion.

• 03

  Golden hour is not optional

  The light 20 min before sunset makes a set of portraits you'll frame on your wall. Guard it.

• 04

  Family shot list, delivered one week before

  Every "grandma with the baby" combination. Photographer runs it like a checklist. Done in 20 min instead of 45.

• 05

  Eat. Drink water. Sit down.

  Almost every bride we've shot has forgotten to eat. Schedule it.