Your Wedding Order Of The Day & Timeline

If you’ve ever wondered what a wedding day timeline looks like, wonder no more! Whether you’re a meticulous planner who loves a detailed checklist or someone who prefers to go with the flow, knowing the order of events can be a huge help. It gives you a sense of what’s happening next, when to take a breather, and how to make the most of each moment. So, to give you a clearer picture, we’ve compiled a sample timeline to help you envision the flow of a typical wedding day. From when to gather for photos to the best time for your evening guests to arrive, this guide covers it all. Of course, every couple—and every wedding—is unique, so think of this as a flexible framework rather than a set of rules. Now, let’s dive in and explore the traditional order of events for a wedding day!

How to put together the timeline of your wedding day 

Your Wedding Order of The Day 

Almost everyone's wedding day starts with their ceremony. You can provide an order of service for your guests if you so wish, separate from a general order of the day. A popular way we’re seeing this displayed is with wedding newspapers! Your wedding order of the day should really highlight the standout moments of your day that your guests should be aware of. For example, drinks, canapés, photo calls, carnival rides, garden games etc. This wedding day timeline has all the basic elements that you can then adjust to suit all your wedding needs. If your ceremony starts later or you need to add travelling to separate venues, just keep that in mind. 

Generally, speeches will follow dinner. Again, if you plan to do speeches before you eat (some like to do this to give nervous speakers a chance to say their bit and then relax and enjoy their dinner) or at a specific time during the wedding breakfast then you can specify that - you might choose to do it before dessert, for example. Traditionally, there would be a cutting of the cake after dinner. Again, include or omit this where applicable to you.

1. Rise and Shine 

Your wedding day is finally here. Now it's time to start your day your way. You should wake up early enough to give yourself time to get ready and relax before the ceremony. Take some time to have a hearty breakfast, enjoy some coffee (or a mimosa), and take a big deep breath. You and your party can get into some comfy getting-ready robes, pop a feel-good playlist on, and get excited. It's going to be a big day - and a fantastic day at that. 

2. Getting Ready 

It's time to get your hair and makeup game on. Now, of course, the way you get your hair and makeup done is going to differ massively from person to person. You might be getting it done at a salon, or getting it done at home with a makeup artist, or at the venue. Maybe you're a pro at doing makeup and want to do it yourself. Or maybe your mum, sister, brother, cousin or best friend is great at hair. However you decide to go about your hair and makeup, all that matters is it's done and fairly early on. Setting spray at the ready!

3. Getting Dressed 

Next up, it's time to get your glad rags on. Pop on your wedding dress/wedding suit and all your accessories. Again, the amount of time this will take depends on what your outfit is like, how many accessories you have, and what shoes you're rocking. If you're going for a gown, ensure that your wedding dress is steamed and pressed and that you have all the accessories you need. Remember to take a few deep breaths and enjoy the moment.

4. Wedding Ceremony 

At this point, your photographer and videographer will be there, snapping up a storm. You and your bridal party/groomsmen will be suited up and ready to go. You're in the venue, soaking up the incredible energy. So, you know what that means. It's ceremony time.  Ensure that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the ceremony to take some pre-ceremony photos - if you so desire. During the ceremony, take some deep breaths and enjoy the moment. Exchange your vows, and your rings and seal the deal with a kiss. HOORAY! 

5. Group Shots/Wedding Photos 

Now that the ceremony is over, it's time to grab your photographer, videographer and their cameras, and get some fun shots. Leaving the ceremony room is the perfect opportunity for some gorgeous confetti exit photos. After that, grab your wedding party and take some group shots. This could be in the form of a champagne bottle pop, a smoke bomb photoshoot, or anything that your heart desires. Let your hair loose, and take in the magical energy around you. 

6. Cocktail Hour/Wedding Games

After you've had some fun with confetti and smoke (out of context, sounds a little odd) it's time for my personal favourite part of the day. What is that, I hear you ask? Cocktail hour, I swiftly answer! Whether you choose to supply alcohol or not (and if you don't, no worries - non-alcoholic weddings are equally as fun) this is the time to get your cocktails or mocktails circling. It's also a brilliant time for some wedding games and delicious canapés. This is a great time for you and your guests to wind down after the ceremony with some delectable food and drink.

7. Wedding Breakfast

Bon Appetit! The wedding breakfast is the first meal shared by the couple with their guests after the ceremony. Despite the name, it’s typically lunch or dinner, depending on the wedding time. This meal serves as a moment for everyone to relax, celebrate, and enjoy delicious food together. Whether you’re doing something formal or more relaxed with grazing tables and food trucks, everyone enjoys this time! 

8. Speeches 

This is either everyone’s most or least favourite part of the day. Speeches are a time-honoured part of weddings, typically delivered by the best man, maid of honour, and close family members. This portion of the day allows loved ones to express their happiness, recount cherished memories, and offer good wishes for the newlyweds’ future. It’s also a chance for everyone to bond over shared stories and emotions, adding a personal and sentimental touch to the celebration.

9. Cake Cutting 

The cake-cutting ceremony is a sweet highlight of the day! Traditionally, the couple cuts the first slice of cake together as a symbol of their commitment to support and care for each other. Guests enjoy watching this fun, sometimes playful moment, and it’s a fantastic photo opportunity. The cake is then served to guests as dessert, marking the transition from formal dining to the more relaxed part of the reception. It’s a tradition that signifies togetherness and the “sweetness” of the journey ahead. We LOVE it when couples embrace a dessert table or other fun sweet treat if the couple wants to save the cake for themselves. You could even have a savoury take on this and opt for a cheese tower instead. 

10. Wedding Reception 

Get your dancing shoes on, because it's time to party. The night is slowly nearing an end, so what better way to celebrate the incredible day you've just had than with some dancing? Maybe you want a little ceremony to reception outfit change - now is the time to do it. You've got your first dance as a married couple, which is always an enormous crowd-pleaser. Get up close with your new beau and have a boogie - whether that's a slow dance or the robot. Then you can invite your guests onto the floor to dance the night away with either fabulous music, a live band, or something else of your choosing. Just remember to snap up those all-important mid-dance photos to look back on for years to come. Trust us - they're golden. 

11. Late Night Snacks 

Late-night snacks provide guests with a little extra energy to keep celebrating into the night. As dancing and socialising can work up an appetite, offering snacks like sliders, mini pizzas, or sweet treats is a thoughtful way to keep guests fueled and satisfied. These snacks often serve as a closing treat, helping to maintain the festive atmosphere and adding a touch of comfort as the night winds down and lets guests sober up a little bit too if they have been drinking. 

12. Farewell/Carriages 

And so, the end is near. Anywho, it's time to say goodbye to your guests and leave, whether that's for your honeymoon, your home, your on-site or off-site accommodation... Whatever your plan is, the night (sadly) does have to come to an end at some point or another. Ensure that you have someone to help you collect your belongings and say your final goodbyes. We at Rock My Wedding really love a sparkler exit at weddings - one final hurrah before you all leave. Take some time to reflect on your momentous day, and remember all the wonderful memories you created. 

Use our wedding day timeline to figure out the wedding order of the day and create signs or order of service booklets

Whilst the timeline of a wedding day might seem a little daunting at first, it's essential to plan it out to ensure that everything runs smoothly. You want to be feeling calm and collected before you walk down the aisle. But, as we said, this is just a basic timeline - and you can and should personalise it how you see fit on your wedding day. Besides your overall wedding order of the day, you might also be thinking about the order of your wedding speeches. We love a more inclusive speech order that includes brides and/or mothers of the brides too! What other signs do you need on your wedding day? Take a look at these five must-have wedding signs!