Friday, July 23, 2010

Sample Wedding Day Schedule & Tips

We know many brides are DIY brides, and planning the day is sometimes difficult. With so much to fit in one day, it can be stressful. We've put together a sample wedding day schedule to help.

We also highly recommend looking up the sunset time for the day of your wedding. Most couples are disappointed when they've spent money on a beautiful outdoor venue, just for it to be pitch black when the ceremony is finished.

This is the link to the sunset calculator on the weather.com: http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/weddings/planning/sunset

And always remember the schedule is a guide, try to be on time, but realize it might not always happen. Its best to plan extra time instead of right to the minute. This sample schedule is created for a relaxed and good flowing day.


7:30am
- Wake up! Shower and eat a large breakfast. You may not get to eat again till the reception. Load car with things you gathered over the past few days. *TIP* You may want to load these things the night before into your car to save time.

8:30am- Head for beauty salon for 9am appointment.

9am- Start beauty appointment. Tell them you need to leave by 11:45am. Getting ready photography is available at the salon if you request. *TIP* - Schedule a stylist for each bridesmaid so everyone will finish at the same time.

11:45am- Leave salon with hair and make-up done. (Your bridesmaids should be following the same schedule so you will all be done at the same time.)

12:15pm- Arrive at church, unload car, and check set up *This time can change depending on how far apart the locations are* *TIP* Try to fit in lunch if you can

1pm- Photographer starts getting ready shots with the bride and bridesmaids.

1:30 - Florist arrives to get ready in time for 2:30pm photos.

2:30pm- Photography starts of the bride and bridesmaids. Groom and Groomsmen must be ready by 3:00pm

2:45pm- The Groom and Groomsmen should be pinning on flowers at this time.

3:00pm- Finish photography and hide the bride, great time to touch up make up and relax before the ceremony! (we try to photograph the bride early so that she is hidden away before guests start to show up)

3:00pm - Start photography of Groom and Groomsmen.

3:30pm- Stop photography, and start letting guests be seated.

3:45pm- Start lining up wedding party.

4:00pm- The big moment!!! (Ceremony 30 min.)

4:30pm - Ceremony over. Keep everyone together. *TIP* Receiving lines are a great way for guests to congratulate the couple, but then move on to the reception without taking up much time before photos.

4:40pm- Start photography of couple together and family shots. Make sure that everyone you want in photos is aware of it and that they are to return to the sanctuary quickly. *TIP* This is when there would be a cocktail hour at the reception area for the rest of your guests while you are taking photos

5pm- Couple and Bridal Party leave for reception site.

5:20pm- Continue photography of bridal party and couple at reception location. *TIP* Try to leave at least 45min to one hour for photography after the ceremony for all family photos, bridal party, & couple pictures. If you are driving from one location to another (church to reception site), please try to remember to leave enough time for pictures and drive time. Example: 1 hr of photography + 20 min of drive time.

6:00pm- Photography ends. Bustle dress. Dj starts lining up wedding party.

6:05pm- announcement of wedding party.

6:10
- Dinner and mingle.

6:30pm- Toasts (This can be anytime during dinner)

7:10pm- First dance.

7:20pm – Father/Daughter Dance

7:30pm – Mother/Son Dance

7:40pm- crank up the dance floor!!!

8:00pm - Cake cutting

8:15pm - bouquet and garter toss.

8:30pm – Open dancing

At this point, you can keep the party going or arrange for a big send off to end the night!


We also recommend doing a "first look". This starts your day out a little earlier, but it gets all the photos out of the way so you can go directly to the reception after the ceremony, without your guests having to wait.

With a first look, we take the bride and groom aside for a private moment. We will have the groom turned around while the bride comes out, so that when she is ready, he can turn around and see her for the first time in her dress. Afterward we are able to get all of the bridal party photos, family, and couple photos before the ceremony. Doing this reduces much of the stress on the wedding day, and you still get that special moment when the groom see's the bride for the first time.

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