How to Build a Wedding Day Timeline

A good wedding day timeline is the single most important document you'll create for your big day. It prevents every supplier arriving at the wrong time, every guest wondering what's happening next, and every photographer missing the shots they need. The key is to build it backwards from your ceremony time — not forwards from when you wake up.

The golden rule: add 15 minutes of buffer to every block. Weddings always run slightly late. The difference between a stressful day and a relaxed one is almost entirely down to whether the timeline has breathing room. If you think family portraits will take 30 minutes, schedule 45. If you think the ceremony will last 20 minutes, schedule 30.

Your photographer should receive a copy at least two weeks before the wedding. Your venue coordinator, band or DJ, and any supplier who needs to be in the right place at the right time should have it a week before.