Wedding day timeline 4 PM Ceremony Template

Planning your Wedding Day timeline 4 PM Ceremony time ? Then this example can be useful to you !

It is pretty easy to feel overwhelmed about your wedding day timeline!

Here are my tips for creating a super easy timeline with a First look based around the ceremony times. These guidelines are meant for spouses to-be, parents, best friends and all the ones chipping in to plan your beautiful wedding. If you have a wedding planner, I would suggest to consult with your planner first 🙂

(No First Look Timeline option is included below and on the PDF)

 Download the wedding day PDF template here!

a) Start with a rough draft around the ceremony.

Write down  the time you are planning for your ceremony which is usually 20 or 30 minutes ,  and write down 45 to 60 minutes before the Ceremony to freshen up and hide from guests!

This is also very common for some venues like churches, so please make sure to talk with your venue about these guidelines.

Let’s add the Wedding Day Timeline 4 pm Ceremony here!

3:00 Freshen up

4:00 Ceremony

4:30  End Ceremony / Ceremony Exit

 

b) Now go back up and add all the Photos before the Freshen up time. Note: If you are NOT having a First Look then jump to the end!  Add at least 30 minutes for the bridal party and family formals. Consider adding more for bigger bridal party, to even an hour for family if you have big families, kids, grandparents, or different locations.

 

2:30 Family Portraits

3:00 Freshen up

4:00 Ceremony

4:30  End Ceremony / Ceremony Exit

 

For Bridal Party Portraits even if we have more time, everyone in your party needs to be ready for pictures at this time!

 

2:00 Bridal Party

2:30 Family Portraits

3:00 Freshen up

4:00 Ceremony

4:30  End Ceremony / Ceremony exit

 

At this point you can see that  that you will have a bunch of people with you during the freshen up, all your family and bridal party. Consider offering a snack of food right after portraits (makes everyone happy too!) . Another option would be to show some videos, or even a family movie while everyone waits around in a room 🙂

c) Go back up!  Add 30 Minutes to 1 hour with couple, specially if you would like to have some individual portraits or if you are traveling o a different location (the bridal party can come at the same time or join us later!)

 

1:00 First Look & Couple Portraits

2:00 Bridal Party

2:30 Family Portraits

3:00 Freshen up

4:00 Ceremony

4:30  End Ceremony / Ceremony exit

 

Couples photos are the favorite part of the day for  us photographers, because we see you alone and relaxed, and because we love-love-love being able to capture the most unique portraits for you two! This is why we recommend an hour, so we can get a lot of good pictures and we can make sure you are the most relaxed . The first minutes of photos of the first look are more about you two just looking at each other and catching up about your day, then we take photos of each of you alone and together!

d) Add 1 to two hours for getting ready shots , basically for when you want your photographer to arrive. This is typical one hour before you put on your outfits or more.

I recommend that your parents , siblings, personal attendants and all wedding party get as ready as you can because they will be with you in the pictures putting on your dress.  Otherwise, nice “bridesmaid”, “wedding party” tank tops or something like that works perfect!  Make up should be getting done about when photographer is arriving so they can take some pictures of that as well.

Details: This time allows time for candids and details- jewelry, wedding dress, shoes, flowers, stationery and rings. Have everything ready for your photographer or leave a designated “stuff” person that can point us to the brides or the grooms “wedding stuff” .

 

11:30 Getting Ready

1:00 First Look & Couple Portraits

2:00 Bridal Party

2:30 Family Portraits

3:00 Freshen up

4:00 Ceremony

4:30  End Ceremony / Ceremony exit

 

e) Let’s go back down an add Cocktail Hour and Sunset photos!  Sunset photos are done after the ceremony one hour before the sun sets. You can check on Google for the sunset time on your wedding date and to find the best time for your golden hour photos just substract one hour or one hour and a half.

When is the best time for sunset photos?

This is usually during dinner in the summer,  during cocktail hour in the spring and the fall, and right after the ceremony in the winter.

 

11:30 Getting Ready

1:00 First Look & Couple Portraits

2:00 Bridal Party

2:30 Family Portraits

3:00 Freshen up

4:00 Ceremony

4:30  End Ceremony / Ceremony exit

5:00 Cocktail hour

5:30 Sunset Couple Photos (1 hour before sunset) 

 

f) Finish with Reception time, which should be easier because all portraits are done (and all transporting back and forth to places should be done hopefully – no more heels! ). For us, the  Photographers just need to be aware of what’s going on and when? The main thing now that you have so many people there: food again!

 

 

11:30 Getting Ready

1:00 First Look & Couple Portraits

2:00 Bridal Party

2:30 Family Portraits

3:00 Freshen up

4:00 Ceremony

4:30  End Ceremony / Ceremony exit

5:00 Cocktail hour

5:30 Sunset Couple Photos (1 hour before sunset) 

6:30 Reception / Grand Entrance

7:00-8:00 Dinner

 

g) Finish up by adding the dancing portion as well as any other events happening during the reception:

 

11:30 Getting Ready

1:00 First Look & Couple Portraits

2:00 Bridal Party

2:30 Family Portraits

3:00 Freshen up

4:00 Ceremony

4:30  End Ceremony / Ceremony exit

5:00 Cocktail hour

5:30 Sunset Couple Photos (1 hour before sunset) 

6:30 Reception / Grand Entrance

7:00-8:00 Dinner

7:40 Toasts

7:55 Cake Cutting

8:00  First Dances

8:30. Open Dancing

9:30 Usual full day of photography ends

 

h) Other considerations for the timeline would be:

• Set a start time and end time for when photography coverage happens, a full wedding day starts one hour before the putting on the dress and usually an hour  into the open dance
• Identify how important it is to be with your guests and how you want to spend your wedding day
• Leave time for transportation, considering the getting ready locations for bride and groom to be in the same building if possible.
• Make sure to let your photographer know when the following are happening in the reception:  toasts, first dance, cake cutting, bouquet toss, any other special events
• Find the time the sun sets on your wedding day.
• Consult with your photographer if you prefer having a second shooter
• 2 to 1 month before the wedding you will receive the Bridal Party and Family Photo Checklist to fill out!
• For big families and extended family photos:  This chaotic but precious time usually happens at Cocktail Hour.
• Choose a close friend or a family member who can help with locating people during photo time
• Have vendor meals for your vendors be served at the same time than your wedding party
• Extra time: less stress for everybody 🙂

 

 Download the fillable wedding day templates here!

 

No First Look – Traditional Timeline option can be found here!

12:30 Getting Ready

2:00 Bridal Portraits / Bridesmaids / Bride Family

2:30 Groom / Groomsmen / Grooms Family

3:00 Freshen up

4:00 Ceremony

4:30  End Ceremony / Receiving line

5:00 Cocktail Hour/ Family Formal Photos

5:30 Bridal Party Photos

6:00 Couple Photos

7:00 Reception / Grand First Dance

7:30 Dinner

 

For more tips on wedding timeline, the wedding blog A Practical Wedding has this awesome article I totally recommend to check!

I hope this helps a bit . We want you to have fun in your day, to have the pictures to remember it and for everyone else to enjoy you as well! Be in touch with us and don’t hesitate to ask away.