Free wedding tool
Wedding day timeline builder
Enter your ceremony time and a few details, and get a realistic hour-by-hour wedding day schedule — from hair and makeup through the last dance — that you can hand to your planner and vendors.
- 11:30 AMHair and makeup begin
- 1:00 PMPhotographer arrives — detail and getting-ready shots
- 2:00 PMGet into your attire
- 2:15 PMFirst look and couple portraits
- 3:00 PMWedding party photos
- 3:30 PMGuests arrive; couple tucks away
- 4:00 PMCeremony begins
- 4:30 PMCeremony ends
- 4:30 PMCocktail hour begins
- 5:30 PMGrand entrance and first dance
- 5:45 PMWelcome and dinner service
- 6:45 PMToasts
- 7:05 PMParent dances
- 7:20 PMCake cutting
- 7:30 PMOpen dancing
- 8:20 PMLast dance and send-off
Shaded rows are before the ceremony. This is a starting point — every wedding runs a little differently, so share it with your planner and adjust.
How the timeline is built
The schedule anchors on your ceremony start. Everything before it — hair and makeup, getting-ready shots, and a first look if you choose one — is planned backward from that moment, and everything after it flows forward through cocktail hour, dinner, toasts, and dancing. Adjust the sliders and the whole timeline recalculates.
See your wedding aesthetic in 60 seconds
Take the quiz and get a full pack of Pinterest-ready visuals — mood board, palette, florals, and an invitation card — built around your style.
Frequently asked questions
- What time should a wedding ceremony start?
- Late afternoon is the most common, roughly 3 to 5pm, which leaves room for photos in good light before the ceremony and a full evening reception after. Work backward from your reception end time and your venue's access hours.
- How long should a wedding day timeline be?
- From hair and makeup to send-off, plan for about ten to twelve hours. Getting ready usually starts four to five hours before the ceremony, and a typical reception runs four to five hours after.
- Should we do a first look?
- A first look lets you take couple and wedding-party photos before the ceremony, which shortens the gap for guests and means you can join more of your own cocktail hour. Without one, those photos happen during cocktail hour instead — this tool adjusts the schedule either way.
- How long is a cocktail hour?
- Usually 60 minutes. If you are not doing a first look, keep it a full hour (or a bit more) so there is time for family and wedding-party photos before you make your entrance.