Vendors & Venues
Fashion & Beauty
Weddings
Podcasts
Magazine
Events

Wedding Day Timeline

Creating a day-of timeline for your wedding

March 26, 2010

Amy Rubins of Fête Perfection created this hour-by-hour schedule for Regina Long and Justin Hoban’s Oct. 25th, 2008 nuptials at Nicollet Island Pavilion. Use their timeline as a guide for when things might happen on your big day.

8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. Breakfast with bride, her parents and bridesmaids at White Bear Lake Yacht Club.
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Bride and bridesmaids get hair and makeup done at Juut Salonspa in Edina.
12:00 p.m. Wedding planner Amy Rubins arrives to oversee setup at Nicollet Island Pavilion.
12:00 p.m. Venue staff begin setup (tables arranged, linens placed, etc).
2:00 p.m. Photographer Andrew Vick arrives.
2:00 p.m. Wedding party arrives (bride and bridesmaids in conference room; light snack and beverages available; Rubins provides “emergency kit”; maid-of-honor provides miscellaneous makeup and toiletries)
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Florist Martha of Martha’s Gardens arrives to pin corsages and boutonnieres and decorate tables.
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fête Perfection’s wedding planning staff arrives.
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Deliveries and setup by additional vendors.
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Wedding party leaves to take photographs.
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Family and VIP guests arrive.
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Family photographs taken.
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. DJ arrives for setup.
5:00 p.m. Wedding party retreats to conference room.
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Guests arrive.
5:30 p.m. Processional begins. Late-arriving guests held at door.
Ceremony takes place outside next to tent (DJ to provide microphones; unity candle on table; portable heaters available if necessary).

5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m. Recessional (receiving line immediately follows at entrance to tent).

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres (butler-passed champagne; outdoor bar closes at 7:00 p.m).

7:00 p.m. Groom welcomes guests, introduces wedding party, thanks parents and explains how food stations work.

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Food stations open.

8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Dancing.

8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Toasts during dinner, before dessert station opens.

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Dessert station opens.

9:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Additional guests may arrive for dancing.

11:15 p.m. Antique Bentley arrives for newlyweds’ getaway.

11:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Bar closes; remove gifts/cards and deliver to pre-determined relative; pack up toasting glasses, card box, unity candle and hurricane lamp.