Planning your wedding is, as doubtless you’ve already discovered, a big thing. Right? Sometimes though you have to step back and look at the overall picture. You have to put it into perspective. Because the fact is that all the planning for clothes, invitations, venues, registrars, flowers and cars - well they are important, obviously - but in truth the most important thing is the day. Your day. That’s the one you’ve got to get right. Everything centres on the wedding day itself. To make sure it runs as smoothly as you’ve dreamed it, you’ll need to plan it. In detail. You’re going to need a schedule. Take a look at these ten tips to create the ultimate wedding day schedule and download our FREE Wedding Schedule tool…..

1.  Start with the time of the wedding ceremony

Does that sound obvious? Think about it. When your day actually begins, is controlled by the time you choose for your ceremony. For example, if you’re getting married at noon the start point for the bride’s hair and make up is going to be a lot earlier than if your ceremony is at 4.00pm. Remember, a civil ceremony typically takes less time than a religious one. A church service can run to forty five minutes. A registry office wedding is more like thirty minutes. Fix the ceremony time and work from the first things towards it, and then beyond it for the rest of the day.

2.  Do not over-plan your wedding day schedule

Yes, that does sound out of place in this, the ultimate guide to planning a Wedding Day schedule. Fair point. But, once you’ve fixed the ceremony time it’s all about creating a structure for the day. It’s to do with getting the main parts of the day in the right order and having a timeline. You don’t need to plan it to a minute by minute level. For a start you won’t be able to be that accurate because there are too many tiny factors that can make a five or ten minute difference. And secondly if you set yourselves a ridiculously rigid schedule you will start to stress more. ‘It’s 4.17pm precisely and there’s no sign of the Pimm’s that were due at 4.09pm is not a worry you need. You just don’t.

 3. The wedding day begins

Let’s look at the start of the wedding day, before the ceremony. If, for example, your ceremony is fixed for 2.00pm you need to think like this -

9.00am / 9.15am Breakfasts, showers, the day begins

10.00am Your wedding videographer, and wedding photographer, need to be there for hair and make up sessions for bridesmaids. While we are here talking about wedding videography, Race Wedding Videography will actual be filming much earlier than this, starting at 8am behind the scenes, getting some fab drone videography of the wedding venue and shots of things like the wedding dress, the wedding rings etc.

11.00am Bride’s hair and make up now and things should be happening at the venue about now as well. Catering and suppliers need to be making preparations.

12.00 noon Bride - you need to be getting dressed. Let’s be clear here. If you’re both ladies, or you’re both guys, these timings are still more than relevant. This all takes time.

12.30 / 12.45pm Ready to go and looking great!

1.30pm The other half of the happy couple should be at the venue now. Guests will be arriving too - because you planned it that way with the invitations. Well done.

1.45pm The bride sets off for the venue. This timing can vary because of the distance to the venue, but that’s the point about planning. You can adjust the schedule to your own circumstances.

2.00pm The ceremony phew… and relax!

4. After the wedding ceremony

It’s all entirely up to you. You can have whatever kind of day you want. But, it might help if you look at the running order for a ‘traditional’ day. Once you see all the building blocks you can rearrange them to suit you. After the wedding ceremony its important to relax, soak it in, grab a drink, chat, hug and catch up with with friends and family - you are now married! You did it!

2.45pm  Confetti, wedding photography and Wedding Videography. Although you are investing in a wedding photographer and wedding videographer its important to ultimately remember that your wedding day is about you two, your story. The meal, celebration and wedding guests are of course a big part of it. Set around 20 minutes or so for some time with your wedding videographer and photographer to get some shots of you away somewhere quiet away from the wedding guests. You can also see this as a bit of break too - as a wedding is so manic and a beautiful whirlwind, you can use this time to chill and take a few minutes to take it all in without Auntie Jackie being annoying and trying to grab your attention!

3.15 - 3.30pm A bit of juggling is needed here. You’ll want to make sure you have all the family and wedding party pictures you want and guests will be expecting drinks and canapes. You might want another drink too!  Just stay calm. It will come together. My biggest recommendation from experience is this….. don’t ask your wedding photographer to do millions of boring group shots, it takes loads of time, and organisation, it’s boring for you, your wedding guests and guess what? These are the most boring wedding photos and you will never look at them! (rant over!)

4.30 / 4.45pm  Guests need to be seated for the meal

6.00 / 6.15pm  Wedding Speeches - followed by dessert. Or the other way round. Both work.

7.15pm  It depends on the time of year to an extent but around now is a great time for some ‘golden hour’ wedding videography and wedding photography. Sunsets, soft focus, romance. You get the picture. Your wedding videographer and wedding photographer will know when the best time to grab you is and they will have already found the best spot to take you to! These shots are usually the most beautiful of the day, using the power of the sun and the natural beauty of this time of the evening. Its important not to miss this, it may only be 15 mins or so but can create the most killer shots! If you remember your wedding videographer and wedding photographer will have taken you out twice in the day for shots of you and your both, this is normal and there is a reason behind this. It gets x2 sets of different shots daylight and evening gold hour light but also it cant be used as a safety net in case it rains or the weather isn’t great in the afternoon or the evening etc. This guarantees some great shots of you both.

7.45 / 8.00pm It’s another of those times when various things happen simultaneously. Evening guests could be arriving. The cake needs cutting. You could be staring to panic about that first dance routine you rehearsed in secret. Only joking!

8.30pm Do it. That first dance. You’ll be great. Generally brides and grooms tend to be more worried about the first dance than they do about getting married or indeed the wedding speeches! Just sway a bit, invite everyone on the dancefloor - that’s usually the best solution!

5. The evening wedding reception

8.30 / 8.45pm  Let’s see everybody on the floor. The DJ or band need to be on now. There will be some embarrassing shapes thrown but it’s not your problem. Really. It’s not.

10.00/10.30pm Evening food can be served - unless you’ve had it on offer all this time.

11.45pm The happy couple set off.

12.00 midnight The party ends and goodnight everybody.

6. Be a (bit of a) boss

No, this is not a suggestion that Bridezilla rules is ok. Nobody likes a tyrant. But, you do need to think like a boss. A bit. For example, make sure that you’ve briefed bridesmaids, ushers and the Best Man to keep an eye on guests. When you’re trying to stick to a schedule there’s always that guest who wanders off just when you want them in this shot. If a bridesmaid goes missing enlist someone to help you find them!

7. Allow time and some for wedding videography & wedding photography

In amongst the flexibility of your schedule allow plenty of time for the wedding videography. This will be the record of the day that lasts a lifetime. You will go back to it over years to come. So it’s worth a few extra minutes….

8. Wedding Speeches

You don’t have to insist on having final approval. Where’s the fun in that? But, do talk to those who will be making speeches and get a mutually agreed idea of the time allowed. If there is more than one speaker, five minutes each is plenty. But you need to know; so you can plan your schedule. Actually while you are here we suggest you take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Wedding Speeches!

9. The drinks

It’s all about pacing it. As the happy couple you two really do need to be careful. Guzzling bubbly from breakfast onwards may sound like fun but it will cause problems. As to the guests, if you’re serving early cocktails keep them light- ish. A Pimm’s is nice. Make sure there are always non alcoholic options available. It’s going to be a fabulous day - but it’s a long day. You know that. You’ve planned the schedule.

10. Remember - enjoy your wedding day!

Ultimately that’s what it’s all about. Enjoy your day. Fact is you’ll enjoy it all the more if you plan ahead. A schedule for the day will make all the difference. All the difference in the world.