How to Plan the Order of Your Wedding Day

The order of your wedding day is primarily determined by two things – the time of your wedding ceremony and the start of your wedding breakfast. Depending on where you get married or who your suppliers are, they could have an impact on this, too. If you've hired a wedding planner, that's a good move! They will be able to advise you on the order of the day and liaise with your suppliers to make sure everyone is on the same page and working on the same timeline.

As with so much in modern weddings, everything is, of course, flexible and ultimately up to you. For example, couples having smaller, intimate weddings might choose to host this in the evening, or you may wish to cut some of the older traditions out of your day. But whatever you decide to do, remember that you have complete control, so go with whatever you want, not what you think you should do.

Your Wedding Ceremony

Almost every wedding day officially starts with the ceremony, which commonly take place between 12pm – 3pm in the afternoon. This allows enough time for you to get ready in the morning and ensures guests have plenty of time to travel to the ceremony venue. You are also giving your chosen suppliers time to get organised, whether that's food preparation, rehearsals or making sure the reception areas are set up and dressed for your guests’ arrival. This also gives you enough time through the day to allow for photos, a leisurely drinks reception, a special meal and the party afterwards.

The Reception

Regardless of whether you've chosen the same venue for your reception or one that's a distance away, make sure you allow for comfortable travel time between each location and have given clear directions for guests. The time between the end of your ceremony and the beginning of your wedding breakfast is the perfect time to mingle with your loved ones. This is also an excellent opportunity to get the confetti shot and have some official photos taken of the two of you, as well as family photos, groomsmen, and bridal party shots. At this stage of the day, once the official bit is done and dusted, it's time to relax and settle into the festivities. The drinks reception often lasts between one to two hours and is usually when the drinks start flowing, and catering staff circulate with canapés. Weather permitting, this is a nice time to play some games outside, let kids run off some steam, and generally allow guests to catch up with fellow friends and family.

The Wedding Breakfast

It’s essential to set a time for this part of the day and stick to it! Your hot food will be prepped and ready for everyone to be seated, so having a coordinator or someone in your wedding party on hand to usher people to their seats will be helpful at this point. No one wants cold food! The size of your wedding and the style of wedding breakfast you go for will determine how long you need to allocate for this part of the day. If you’re having a traditional three-course meal, followed by speeches, we’d suggest you need to account for up to four hours for this.

Wedding Day Timeline

Here's a sample wedding timeline. Of course, you can just tweak it to fit your own style and needs, but the following should give you an idea of how your big day might look: **8:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Breakfast and morning prep, including hair and makeup and getting dressed for wedding party members. Your photographer arrives **12:30 PM: Ceremony 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Drinks reception and wedding party photos 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Wedding breakfast and speeches 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Relax and mingle 8:00 PM: Cake cutting and first dance 8:30 PM - 12:00 AM: Party time! Dancing, drinks, and evening food and festivities 12:00 AM: Sparkler send-off or fireworks display

Remember, while planning is important, flexibility is key. Weddings are live events; sometimes, things run a little late or slightly early. Don’t be strict with yourself; simply go with the flow and enjoy each moment. After all, it’s your day, and it’s meant to be a joyous celebration, not a military operation!

It might be helpful to include the order of your wedding day on your wedding invitations and wedding website. Or, if you wish to keep it a surprise for your guests, a nice touch is to create a physical sign for the big day so that your guests know what to expect and when.

Optional / Extras

Once the ceremony time is confirmed and you’ve discussed the optimum time to start the wedding breakfast with your caterers, everything else can fit in. Whilst none of the following are obligatory, some elements you might like to consider include: Couple’s portraits: Take some time to capture those special intimate moments. Think golden hour shots and as many poses against beautiful backdrops as possible! Big group photo/ drone shot: Gather everyone for a massive group photo. It can be a bit chaotic and tricky for your photographer to organise, but so worth it. We’d recommend doing this straight after the ceremony while everyone is still together and not distracted by food, drinks and activities! Cocktail hour: This typically takes place after the ceremony as a pause before the reception. However, some couples will choose to have the cocktail hour upon arrival before the ceremony starts as a way for guests to catch up before the ceremony - it’s your call! Cake cutting: Whether it’s a towering masterpiece or a modest single-tier cake, this moment is a lovely tradition. If your cake is your dessert, then the venue will take over cutting and handing it out to guests First dance: Kick off the party with a dance to your special song. It’s your chance to show off your practised dance routine (or just wing it!) Evening guests: If you’re inviting additional guests for the evening, ensure they feel included in the festivities with a meet and greet and a welcome drink Group sparkler photo/firework display: End the night with a bang! Sparklers or fireworks add a magical touch and make for incredible photos

It's Your Big Day

Planning the order of your wedding day is all about finding the balance between structure and spontaneity. Make sure there’s enough time for everything you want to do, but also allow space for those unexpected moments that make your wedding unique.

Remember, this day is about you and your partner. So whether you stick to tradition or forge your own path, make sure it reflects both your personality and your love story.