Free templatePlans
Wedding day timeline
An order of the day hung to scale from 13:30 to 23:30, solid where guests should be seated and fine where the day is theirs.
Free. It opens in the Motionix editor as your own copy.
Download the pictureWebP, 848 × 1200, free to use. To change the words or colours, open it in the editor.
- Size
- 1240 × 1754 px
- Pages
- 1
- Motion
- Yes, plays live and in GIF or video
- Category
- Plans
What it shows
- Timeline drawn to scale
- True italics
- A4 print
Good for
How to use it
- Open the template. It becomes a project in your account.
- Change the words, colours and pictures. Every part is an ordinary shape, line or text box.
- Press Play to watch it build, then present it or export it.
What is a wedding day timeline?
A wedding day timeline, often called an order of the day, lists everything that happens on the day in order with its start time and place: guests arriving, the ceremony, photographs, drinks, the meal, speeches, the cake, the first dance and the evening. Couples share a simple version with guests and give a detailed one to suppliers, so everyone is in the right place at the right moment.
When it helps
- A couple printing the order of the day for guests to find on their tables or at the entrance.
- A wedding planner briefing the photographer, caterer and band on exact times.
- Working out whether couple portraits can catch the evening light before sunset.
- Making sure older guests know when they must be seated and when they can relax.
Tips
- Build in buffers between parts. Weddings tend to run late, usually after the ceremony, and a timeline with no slack makes the whole evening feel rushed.
- Check the sunset time for the date and venue. Photographers often want a short session in the hour before sunset, and the timeline should leave room for it.
- Tell guests when they need to be seated and when they are free. Clear seated times prevent the speech that starts while half the room is still at the bar.
How to make a wedding day timeline
Fix the immovable times
Start with the times you cannot change: the ceremony, set by the venue or officiant, the meal, set by the caterer, and the end of the night, set by the venue.
Work out from the ceremony
Plan backwards for guest arrival and getting ready, and forwards for confetti, photographs and drinks. Allow about half an hour for guests to arrive and find their seats.
Give each part its true length
Allow realistic time for each part: group photographs take longer than anyone expects, and a three course meal with speeches can fill two to three hours.
Note places as well as times
Write where each part happens, especially at a venue with several rooms or gardens, so guests know where to go without asking staff.
Make two versions
Give guests a simple timeline with the moments that matter to them, and suppliers a detailed one with setup, arrival and contact times.
FAQQuestions
Common questions.
What is the order of events at a wedding?
A common order is guests arriving, the ceremony, confetti and photographs, a drinks reception, the meal with speeches, cutting the cake, the first dance and the evening party, with evening food later on. Traditions vary by country, culture and faith, and many couples change the order, for example holding speeches before the meal.
What is a wedding breakfast?
In the UK, the wedding breakfast is the main meal served after the ceremony, whatever time of day it takes place. The name is usually explained as the couple's first meal together as a married pair, from a time when weddings were held in the morning.
How long does a wedding day last?
From guests arriving to the last dance, a wedding with ceremony and reception at one venue often lasts around ten hours, from early afternoon to near midnight. Ceremonies are often under an hour, while the meal and speeches take two to three hours. The couple's own day starts earlier with getting ready.
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Timelines, schedules, itineraries and trackers.
