Free Wedding Day Timeline Maker
Type your ceremony time and get every moment of the day, from hair and makeup to the send-off. Change any line, then print it or send it to your vendors.
Updated November 2026 · Free from Happily Ever Iowa
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Sample wedding day timeline: 4 PM ceremony with a first look
Same place for the ceremony and reception, 4 people getting hair and makeup with 2 artists, sunset at 7:45 PM, done by 11 PM.
| Time | What happens | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 9:45 AM | Hair and makeup starts (4 people) | Hair & makeup team |
| 12:30 PM | Photographer arrives: details, rings, getting-ready photos | Photographer |
| 12:45 PM | Hair and makeup finished (the bride goes last) | Hair & makeup team |
| 1:00 PM | Get dressed | Bride, maid of honor, mom |
| 1:30 PM | First look | Photographer |
| 1:45 PM | Couple portraits | Photographer |
| 2:15 PM | Wedding party photos | Photographer, wedding party |
| 2:45 PM | Family photos (have your list ready) | Photographer, family |
| 3:00 PM | Ceremony sound set up and tested | DJ |
| 3:15 PM | Photos wrap up. Couple tucks away before guests arrive | Coordinator |
| 3:30 PM | Guests arrive. Prelude music | DJ, ushers |
| 3:50 PM | Wedding party lines up | Coordinator, officiant |
| 4:00 PM | Ceremony begins | Officiant |
| 4:30 PM | Sign the marriage license (two witnesses) | Officiant, witnesses |
| 4:30 PM | Cocktail hour | Caterer, bar |
| 4:35 PM | You join cocktail hour (your photos are done) | Couple |
| 5:20 PM | Wedding party lines up for introductions | DJ, coordinator |
| 5:30 PM | Grand entrance | DJ |
| 5:35 PM | Welcome and blessing | DJ, family member |
| 5:40 PM | Dinner is served | Caterer |
| 6:30 PM | Toasts | DJ, best man, maid of honor |
| 6:45 PM | First dance, then parent dances | DJ, photographer |
| 7:00 PM | Cake cutting | Caterer, photographer |
| 7:05 PM | Dance floor opens | DJ |
| 7:25 PM | Sunset portraits (10 to 15 minutes) | Photographer |
| 8:00 PM | Bouquet and garter toss (optional) | DJ |
| 10:45 PM | Last dance | DJ |
| 10:55 PM | Send-off | Coordinator, guests |
| 11:00 PM | Venue clear. Vendors pack up | Venue, vendors |
Sample timeline: 4 PM ceremony, no first look, 20-minute drive to the reception
Family and couple photos happen right after the ceremony while guests head to cocktail hour.
| Time | What happens | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 11:15 AM | Hair and makeup starts (4 people) | Hair & makeup team |
| 2:00 PM | Photographer arrives: details, rings, getting-ready photos | Photographer |
| 2:15 PM | Hair and makeup finished (the bride goes last) | Hair & makeup team |
| 2:30 PM | Get dressed | Bride, maid of honor, mom |
| 3:00 PM | Ceremony sound set up and tested | DJ |
| 3:15 PM | Wedding party ready and out of sight | Coordinator |
| 3:30 PM | Guests arrive. Prelude music | DJ, ushers |
| 3:50 PM | Wedding party lines up | Coordinator, officiant |
| 4:00 PM | Ceremony begins | Officiant |
| 4:30 PM | Sign the marriage license (two witnesses) | Officiant, witnesses |
| 4:35 PM | Family photos | Photographer, family |
| 4:35 PM | Guests travel to the reception (20 minutes) | Guests |
| 4:50 PM | Cocktail hour | Caterer, bar |
| 5:05 PM | Wedding party and couple portraits | Photographer, wedding party |
| 5:35 PM | You and the wedding party head to the reception | Couple, wedding party |
| 6:00 PM | Wedding party lines up for introductions | DJ, coordinator |
| 6:10 PM | Grand entrance | DJ |
| 6:15 PM | Welcome and blessing | DJ, family member |
| 6:20 PM | Dinner is served | Caterer |
| 7:10 PM | Toasts | DJ, best man, maid of honor |
| 7:25 PM | First dance, then parent dances | DJ, photographer |
| 7:40 PM | Cake cutting | Caterer, photographer |
| 7:45 PM | Dance floor opens | DJ |
| 8:40 PM | Bouquet and garter toss (optional) | DJ |
| 10:45 PM | Last dance | DJ |
| 10:55 PM | Send-off | Coordinator, guests |
| 11:00 PM | Venue clear. Vendors pack up | Venue, vendors |
Tips for a wedding day that runs on time
- Add a buffer. Getting ready almost always runs long. Put 15 minutes of breathing room before you get dressed.
- Give one person the timeline. A coordinator or a trusted friend keeps things moving, so you are not checking the clock.
- Make a family photo list. Names and groupings, in order. Family photos go fast with a list and someone who knows everyone.
- Feed your vendors during dinner. Your photographer and DJ should eat while guests eat, so they are ready for toasts and dances.
- Plan the license signing. Iowa needs two witnesses at the ceremony. Sign right after, with your officiant. See the Iowa marriage license guide.
- Share the same version. Send the final timeline to every vendor, your parents and the wedding party a week or two before. Give your DJ your songs with the free music planner.
Questions couples ask
How do I make a wedding day timeline?
Start with your ceremony time. Work backward for getting ready and photos, and forward for cocktail hour, dinner, dances and the send-off. The maker above does that for you. Then go over it with your photographer and DJ, who have done this many times.
Should we do a first look?
A first look means you see each other before the ceremony, so most photos are done early and you can enjoy cocktail hour. Without one, family and couple photos happen right after the ceremony, during cocktail hour. Both work. Pick Yes or No above and compare.
How long should cocktail hour be?
About an hour. It gives guests time to get to the reception and grab a drink, and gives you time for photos if you skip the first look.
How long does hair and makeup take?
Many artists plan about 45 minutes to an hour per person for hair and makeup together. Tell the maker how many people and how many artists, then ask your artists to confirm the start time.
When should we take sunset photos?
Slip out about 20 minutes before sunset for 10 to 15 minutes. Type your sunset time above and it adds the photos to your timeline. Look up the sunset time for your date and town a few weeks before.
Who should get a copy of the timeline?
Your photographer, videographer, DJ, venue, caterer, coordinator, officiant, the wedding party and both sets of parents. Everyone should have the same version. Copy it in one tap or print it.
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