Keep the whole day in one place
Build your timeline, run of show, guest list with RSVPs, seating and budget together — free to start.
Create your free dashboard →Need a wedding timeline by month?
The schedule above is your day-of timeline. For the months leading up to it, use the planning version:
What is a typical wedding day timeline?
A typical wedding day runs about 12 to 14 hours, from hair and makeup in the morning to the send-off at night, with the ceremony in the late afternoon. Here is a sample timeline built around a 4:00 PM ceremony — the same one loaded in the editable tool above:
| Time | Moment |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | Hair & makeup begins |
| 11:30 AM | Photographer arrives — detail shots |
| 12:00 PM | Get into the dress / suit |
| 1:00 PM | First look & couple's portraits |
| 1:45 PM | Wedding party photos |
| 2:30 PM | Family photos |
| 3:30 PM | Guests begin to arrive |
| 4:00 PM | Ceremony begins |
| 4:30 PM | Ceremony ends — cocktail hour starts |
| 5:45 PM | Grand entrance & first dance |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner is served |
| 6:45 PM | Toasts & speeches |
| 7:30 PM | Dance floor opens |
| 8:30 PM | Cake cutting |
| 10:45 PM | Grand send-off |
Use the tool above to make it yours — change the ceremony time and every row shifts automatically, then add or remove moments to fit your day.
What time should the wedding ceremony start?
Most couples start the ceremony in the late afternoon, around 3:30 to 4:30 PM. That leaves daylight for portraits beforehand, flows naturally into cocktail hour and dinner, and gives the reception a full evening. If you want sunset photos, work backward from sunset on your date and aim to finish the ceremony 60–90 minutes before it.
How long is a wedding ceremony?
A typical wedding ceremony lasts 20 to 30 minutes. A religious or full Mass ceremony can run 45–60 minutes, while a short civil or symbolic ceremony may be 10–15 minutes. Build in a few extra minutes for guests to be seated beforehand.
How long should cocktail hour be?
Cocktail hour is usually 60 minutes. Keep it to an hour if the ceremony and reception are in the same place; stretch it to 90 minutes if guests need to travel between venues or if you're doing all of your photos during this window.
Do I need a first look?
A first look is optional, but it makes the day calmer and the timeline easier. Seeing each other before the ceremony lets you finish most portraits early, so you can actually attend your own cocktail hour. Skip it and you'll move couple and family photos into the cocktail-hour window instead.
How do I make a wedding timeline by month?
A wedding timeline by month is a countdown checklist that spreads planning tasks across the 12+ months before the day — book the venue and big vendors first, send save-the-dates around six months out, finalize details in the last month. It's different from the day-of schedule above. Use our free wedding planning timeline by month for the full countdown, then come back here to plan the day itself.
Put your timeline next to everything else
Your day-of timeline is one piece. Pair it with the free budget calculator and RSVP estimator, or create a free dashboard to keep your timeline, run of show, guest list, seating and budget in one place.
Questions, answered
How long does a wedding day last?
A typical wedding day runs about 12 to 14 hours from hair and makeup in the morning to the send-off at night, with the ceremony in the late afternoon. The reception itself is usually 4 to 5 hours.
What time should the ceremony start?
Most ceremonies start in the late afternoon, around 3:30 to 4:30 PM. That leaves daylight for portraits, flows into cocktail hour and dinner, and gives the reception a full evening. For sunset photos, finish the ceremony 60–90 minutes before sunset.
How long is a wedding ceremony?
A typical ceremony lasts 20 to 30 minutes. A full religious ceremony can run 45–60 minutes; a short civil ceremony may be 10–15 minutes.
How long should cocktail hour be?
Cocktail hour is usually 60 minutes — long enough for the couple to finish photos and for guests to settle in. Stretch it to 90 minutes only if guests travel between venues.
Is this wedding timeline template free?
Yes. It's completely free with no sign-up. Edit it in your browser, print it or save it as a PDF, and it saves automatically on your device. Creating a free account lets you keep it alongside your guest list, seating and budget.