A Sample Modern Wedding Day Timeline

Here is a sneak-peek into what your modern wedding day timeline might have in store. This example includes some of my favorite details such as: first look, bouquet dedication, vendor details, & more.

Note: This “Sample Modern Wedding Day Timeline” is only an example of how a wedding day can proceed. All pieces of this timeline are editable. Terms such as “bride” and “groom” are used here generically, however this timeline welcomes couples of all genders to take inspiration from this sample and make it their own.

Please see the Index at the end of this post to help explain any unfamiliar terms used throughout.

Sample Modern Wedding Day Timeline

– Day Before Wedding Timeline –

Rentals: All rental items & signage set-up at venue
Catering: Set-up kitchen (if necessary)
Rehearsal: Aim for same time as the wedding ceremony to-be (4:00 PM)
Rehearsal Dinner: Wedding Party + Immediate Family (5:00 PM @ Location: ________)

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– Wedding Day: Preparations Timeline –

8:45 AM
Hair & Makeup: Arrival & set-up
Bride: Eat breakfast

9:00 AM
Bride: Hair & Makeup Begins – bride, bridesmaids, mothers, etc. (4 hours)
Florist: Arrival – begins set-up at wedding ceremony and reception (4 hours)
Wedding Planner: Arrival – checks in with Wedding Party & assists vendors with set-up

12:00 PM (noon)
Groom: Eat lunch then begin getting dressed – groom, groomsmen, fathers, etc. (1.5 hours)
Photographer: Arrival – captures “getting ready” photos with wedding party

1:00 PM
Bride: Eat lunch then begin getting dressed – bride, bridesmaids, mothers, etc. (45 min)
Catering: Arrival – begins preparations for cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres and reception dinner
Florist: Delivers personals (bouquets, boutonnières, corsages & petals) to wedding party
DJ: Arrival – begins set-up at wedding ceremony and reception (2 hours)
Cake: Arrival – dropped off at reception

1:15 PM
Florist: Adds florals to cake then Done (Total: 4.25 hours)
Photo: Ceremony & Reception Details (20 min, if time allows)

1:45 PM
Bride: Dress reveal to Father of the Bride (FOB), Mother of the Bride (MOB) & bridesmaids
Photo: Captures Dress Reveal (15 min)

2:00 PM – First Look
Bride & Groom: First Look
Photo: Captures First Look & Couple’s Photos (30 min)

2:30 PM
Photo: Wedding Party Group Photos & Portraits (30 min)

3:00 PM
Photo: Immediate Family Photos & Portraits (30 min)
DJ: Final Mic Check

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– Wedding Day: Ceremony Timeline –

3:30 PM – Guest Arrival
DJ: Music for guest arrival at ceremony location
Catering: Welcome Beverage for guest arrival at ceremony location
Bride & Groom: Reveal of Reception space (10 min)
Photo: Reception Details & Reveal (20 min, if time allows)

3:40 PM …10 min buffer
Bride & Groom: Last minute touch-ups
(its great to build in extra time for gathering people, late guests, surprises, etc.)

3:50 PM
Bride & Groom: Line up Wedding Party in preparation for ceremony
Officiant or DJ: “Guests please be seated and please turn-off all cell phones during the ceremony. Thank you.”

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4:00 PM – Ceremony Begins (30 min)
DJ: Processional Music (Wedding Party Song: ________ & Bridal Walk Song: ________)
Processional Order:
– Officiant (if not already standing at front)
– Groom & Mother of the Groom (MOG)
– Father of the Groom (FOG) & MOB
– Groomsman & Bridesmaid (add more rows of these as needed)
– Best Man & Maid of Honor (MOH)
– Flower Girl & Ring Bearer
– Bride & FOB

– Ceremony Ends 
DJ: Recessional Music (Song: ________)
Recessional Order:
– Bride & Groom
– Best Man & MOH
– Groomsman & Bridesmaid
– FOB & MOB
– FOG & MOG
(Flower Girl & Ring Bearer can remain with their family members)

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– Wedding Day: Reception Timeline –

4:30 PM – Cocktail Hour (1.25 hours)
Bride & Groom: Receiving Line (welcomes guests into cocktail hour)
Catering: Passed hors d’oeuvres
Bar: Open
Photo: Reception Details & Cocktail Hour candids

5:00 PM 
Bride & Groom: Take a moment to yourselves, away from the camera, to soak in the moment (optional)
Photo: Golden Hour Couples Photos (optional – sunset times may vary)
Bride: Bustle wedding dress

5:15 PM 
Catering: Fill waters at each table

5:30 PM 
DJ: Ask guests to please begin finding their seats for dinner
Catering: Drop bread baskets at each table
Bar: Soft Close – encourage guests to be seated

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5:45 PM – Dinner Reception (1.25 hours)
DJ: Wedding Party Grand Entrance (Song: ________) immediately followed by First Dance (Song: ________)
Bride & Groom: First Dance
Catering: Drop plated salads & pour wine table side

5:50 PM
Bride & Groom: Welcome Speech & Thank You

6:00 PM 
Catering: Drop plated dinner
Catering: Vendor Meals Served

6:20 PM 
Catering: Pour champagne table side for toasts

6:30 PM – Toasts
MOH: Toast
Best Man: Toast
FOB: Toast
FOG: Toast
Bride: Bouquet Dedication
DJ: Open Mic for Toasts
Catering: Cut sheet cakes

7:00 PM – Cake Cutting
DJ: Invite guests to please gather around Wedding Cake
Bride & Groom: Cake Cutting
Catering: Clear dinner plates & place sliced sheet cake at each place setting
Bar: Open

7:05 PM – Dancing (2.75 hours)
Bride & FOB: Father of the Bride Dance (Song: ________)
Groom & MOG: Mother of the Groom Dance (Song: ________)
Bride, Groom & Married Couples: Anniversary Dance (Song: ________)
DJ: Open Dancing & announce Cake Served
Other Entertainment Opens: 360 Photo Booth, Portrait Studio, Yard Games, Mini Golf, Audio Guest Book, Slide Show, Flower Favor Station, etc. (optional)

7:30 PM 
Catering: Coffee & Non-Alcoholic Drink Service

9:15 PM 
Catering: Late Night Snack (optional)

9:30 PM 
Bar: Last Call

9:45 PM 
DJ: Last Dance (Song: ________)

9:50 PM 
Bride & Groom: Sparkler Send-Off
Bar: Closed
Photo: Done (Total: 10 hours)

10:00 PM – End
All Vendors: Strike Reception Set
Catering: Done (Total: 9+ hours)
DJ: Done (Total: 9+ hours)
Wedding Planner: Delivers gifts, cards, toasting flutes, cake knife/server, cake top, etc. to Bridal Suite, then Done (Total: 13+ hours)

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– Index –

Anniversary Dance: Invite all married couples to the dance floor with the newlyweds. DJ announces various anniversary marks, such as “If you have been married for 5 years or more, please remain on the dance floor with our couple.” This continues until there is only one married couple, along with our newlyweds, on the dance floor. This “winning couple” provides a piece of marriage advice to the newlyweds.
Bouquet Dedication: En lieu of a bouquet toss, a bouquet dedication is rising in popularity. The Bride dedicates her wedding bouquet to someone special, such as her mother, and avoids any awkwardness of no one wanting to catch the bridal bouquet. Some people fear they will be labeled as desperate if they lunge for the bouquet toss and then the flowers just fall to the floor.
FOB: Father of the Bride
FOG: Father of the Groom
MOB: Mother of the Bride
MOG: Mother of the Groom
MOH: Maid of Honor
Personals (Florals): Bouquets are typically provided for the Bride, MOH & Bridesmaid(s). Boutonnières are typically pinned on the Groom, Best Man, Groomsmen, Fathers & Ring Bearer. Corsages are typically provided for Mothers & Flower Girl, along with her petals for tossing. Additional personals can be provide for other special persons, such as Grandparents or Siblings, not already included in the Wedding Party.
Sparkler Send-Off: Large sparklers held aloft by all guests in two rows. Once ignited, the bride and groom exit between the two rows and off to their bridal suite. Please ensure there is a bucket of water available to collected discarded sparklers. Sparklers are not available in every county or state. Please check with your venue to ensure this is an option before planning on this send-off.

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