How to Build Your Wedding Day Timeline
One of the most common questions I get from couples is: "How do we figure out the timing for our wedding day?" A well-planned timeline is the single biggest factor in reducing stress and making sure you actually enjoy your day. It also directly affects the quality of your photos — rushed timelines mean rushed portraits.
After photographing weddings across Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego, I've seen what works and what doesn't. Here's a practical framework you can adapt to your own day.
Start with Your Ceremony Time and Work Backwards
Your ceremony time is your anchor. Everything else gets scheduled around it. Here's a general rule: for every hour of photography coverage, plan to start getting ready at least 4–5 hours before the ceremony.
For a 5:00 PM ceremony, a typical timeline might look like this:
Sample Timeline: 5:00 PM Ceremony
- 12:00 PM — Hair and makeup begins (allow 45–60 min per person)
- 2:00 PM — Photographer arrives, detail shots (rings, dress, invitation suite, shoes)
- 2:30 PM — Getting ready photos (final touches, putting on the dress)
- 3:00 PM — First look or pre-ceremony portraits
- 3:30 PM — Wedding party photos
- 4:00 PM — Family formal portraits
- 4:30 PM — Buffer time (this is critical — things always run behind)
- 5:00 PM — Ceremony
- 5:30 PM — Cocktail hour begins; couple's sunset portraits
- 6:30 PM — Reception entrance, first dance, toasts
- 7:00 PM — Dinner
- 8:00 PM — Parent dances, cake cutting, open dancing
- 9:30 PM — Grand exit or last dance
Build in Buffer Time
This is the number one thing couples underestimate. Hair and makeup almost always runs long. Family members are hard to round up for group photos. Someone's boutonniere goes missing. Build at least 30 minutes of buffer into your timeline — ideally between portraits and the ceremony.
When there's no buffer, the stress compounds. When there is, the day flows naturally and you get to be present instead of rushing.
First Look vs. No First Look: How It Affects Your Timeline
If you're doing a first look, you can schedule most of your portraits before the ceremony. This frees up cocktail hour for mingling with guests and gives you golden hour for romantic portraits later.
If you prefer a traditional reveal during the ceremony, plan to do family and wedding party photos immediately after the ceremony. You'll need about 30–45 minutes, which means your cocktail hour should be long enough to cover that gap.
Golden Hour Matters
The best light for portraits happens during golden hour — the last hour before sunset. If your timeline allows, I always recommend stepping away from the reception for 15–20 minutes during this window. The difference in photo quality is dramatic.
Check the sunset time for your wedding date and plan accordingly. In Southern California, summer sunsets happen around 7:30–8:00 PM, while winter sunsets are closer to 5:00 PM — which significantly affects your schedule.
Talk to Your Photographer Early
Your photographer has done this many times and can help you build a realistic timeline based on your venue, guest count, and priorities. Share your timeline draft with them early in the planning process — they'll spot potential issues before they become problems.
At Bokeh Weddings, I work with every couple to build a custom timeline that accounts for your specific venue layout, travel time between locations, and the moments that matter most to you.
Quick Tips
- Coordinate with your DJ/MC — they control the reception flow and need to know the timeline
- Give your wedding party a simplified version — they only need to know when and where to be
- Factor in travel time — if your ceremony and reception are at different venues, add 30+ minutes
- Eat before the ceremony — seriously, you won't have time later and low blood sugar shows in photos
- Don't over-schedule — the best moments happen in the spaces between events
Need help building your wedding day timeline? Get in touch — I help every couple plan a timeline that works for their day.
More from the Journal
First Look vs. Traditional Reveal: Pros and Cons — Not sure which approach is right for you? Here's an honest breakdown.
Golden Hour vs. Blue Hour: When to Schedule Your Wedding Portraits — Timing your portraits around the best natural light.
The Colony House Wedding | Kevin & Rachel — A real wedding at one of Orange County's most unique venues.