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Your
wedding day is finally here. After months to a year or
more of planning, it will all be over in a few hours.
When planning your wedding day timeline, set everything
at least one to two hours earlier then your estimate.
Why? Because everyone tries to be on time, but
underestimate how long things will actually take. Tell
your best friend who is always late for everything that
she needs to be ready one hour before. Maybe she will
be on time. This applies to everyone, including the
bride and groom. Work out exact times with your wedding
planner, minister, wedding party, family and the
photographer. The three to four hours of your reception
will go by very fast. |
North Productions
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You should start your wedding day the night before, with
a full eight hours of sleep. If you are leaving for
your honeymoon immediately after the wedding, pack two
to three days in advance. Don't pack the night before
since you will be finalizing several last minute
details. Your wedding day should start with you and
your bridesmaids' hair and makeup preparation. Hair and
makeup should be applied before putting on your wedding
dress. You may wish for your photographer to capture
these candid moments while the bridal party is getting
dressed. Once the full bridal party is ready, most
photographers will take shots of the bride, her parents
and the bridesmaids. If you are having a second
photographer, you may wish for them to capture shots of
the groom and groomsmen.
CEREMONY
If you are having your wedding ceremony performed in a
church or synagogue, you should plan to arrive at least
15-20 minutes before the ceremony is set to start. This
allows time for traffic, and in case anyone is running
late. Before the ceremony, the bride should wait in the
limo or in the back of the ceremony location, if there
is an isolated waiting area. All attempts should be
made to stay out of view of the groom and your guests.
The ceremony should then commence, on time, in the order
it was rehearsed days earlier.
After the ceremony, you may wish to have your formals
taken at your ceremony location. This should be
discussed in advance with your minister, coordinator and
photographer. Having all your formals taken at the
ceremony location can save a lot of time.
RECEPTION
Your next step will be your arrival at the reception and
to take any additional formal pictures. Afterwards you
should have a 15-minute break for you and your spouse to
relax and eat alone, if possible. Next you will have
your first dance together, a dance with both sets of
parents, and then the full wedding party dance. Between
the end of your formal dances and the cutting of the
cake, you should mingle with your guests. This will
allow your photographer to capture shots of you with all
of your guests. All formal pictures, dancing, toasting,
cake cutting and the garter/bouquet toss should be
completed within the first half of your reception. You
will then be able to enjoy the entire second half of
your reception without having to worry about anymore
formal pictures or procedure. If you will be changing
into a going away outfit, it is best to do so
approximately thirty minutes to one hour before the end
of the reception.
Depending on your wedding size, your guests may bring
several hundred wedding gifts. If you are departing for
your honeymoon immediately after the reception, arrange
for someone to deliver the gifts to your residents. If
you are making a dramatic exit with bubbles, doves or
fireworks and/or leaving in a limousine or carriage, you
should exit before the majority of your guests leave.
Your wedding day experience will last less than 10
hours, so make the most out of the time you have.
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