Welcome to part one of my three part series about putting together your wedding day master timeline! It can be a daunting task but I've put together information I've gathered from hours of research and my personal experience as a guest at several weddings!
We'll start this whole thing off with considering your guests and how they fit into your timeline. Here are four factors to consider that may get lost in the busyness and bustle of getting all the details in order. We'll focus today on ideas to help ensure the comfort of your guests! Being a hospitable and gracious hostess sets up your married-life relationships well and helps ensure that everyone will have a good time on your big day. You can be sure that the time you put into considering how you structure your guests' path through the day will pay off!
Let's get started!
Usually couples are mindful of taking care of these details if the ceremony and reception are happening at two separate locations, but it's just as important to be clear about your timeline in a single-venue wedding. Which room to go to next may not be so obvious to your guests without a little guidance. Consider...
Even when it comes to moving from room to room in a single-venue wedding, consider how much time it will take for however many guests you have to, for example, move out of the ceremony space, up the stairs, around the corner, and order their cocktail hour drinks. I'd recommend at least 15 minutes so that guests can figure out where they're going and get settled before the next event begins.
I hope these tips are helpful! Curating your timeline to ensure your guests' comfort is absolutely essential for a fun and hospitable wedding day!
Next week, we'll move on to part two of this series and talk through a couple important timeline tips to consider when working with your vendors. Stay tuned!
Imagine Your Guests' Experience
Walk through your wedding day from your guests' point of view; how will they experience your big day? If you only consider your own timeline, you may run off to take post-ceremony photos and leave your guests behind scratching their heads and wondering what to do next. Is there a cocktail hour? Where's dinner? Are we supposed to wait here until we hear from the wedding coordinator?Usually couples are mindful of taking care of these details if the ceremony and reception are happening at two separate locations, but it's just as important to be clear about your timeline in a single-venue wedding. Which room to go to next may not be so obvious to your guests without a little guidance. Consider...
- Sending out a timeline card with your invitation suite OR including one in your ceremony program
- Creating signs to point your guests in the direction they need to go
- Having your officiant or coordinator announce what's next at the end of each wedding event
- Having a post-ceremony receiving line to not only connect with your guests but also to guide them to their next destination
- Offer up a list of local coffee shops, bars, or parks where guests can have some downtime
- Provide a rest space with snacks, water, and coffee to keep your guests occupied: somewhere with plenty of seating so they can rest before the reception
- Make sure the hotel room blocks you reserve are close to either your ceremony or reception space so your guests can head back and recharge before the later festivities
It's easier to keep track of where guests are at if you have a shorter period of time between and ceremony and reception. I love the idea of hosting a cocktail hour. This 60 to 90 minute period is a good way to get your guests socializing and keep the energy and momentum of the day building. For longer breaks, make sure your reception start time is clear to all your guests.
Think About Transition Time
Give yourself and your guests plenty of time to transition from one part of your big day to another. Allow for plenty of commute time, considering traffic, parking, and navigation time between venues. Consider hiring a shuttle to make things easy for your guests, something that will bring them from the hotel through the ceremony and reception, and then back home at night.Even when it comes to moving from room to room in a single-venue wedding, consider how much time it will take for however many guests you have to, for example, move out of the ceremony space, up the stairs, around the corner, and order their cocktail hour drinks. I'd recommend at least 15 minutes so that guests can figure out where they're going and get settled before the next event begins.
Don't Forget to Greet Your Guests
Similarly, budget in some time to say hello to all of your loved ones! People who have traveled to experience your big day will appreciate at least a few moments of getting to wish you well. You can...- Host a receiving line after the ceremony
- Go around the room before or after dinner to say hello to everyone
- Wait at the reception entrance to say hello to everybody as they're entering the space
Setting aside the time to do this can be so meaningful to your guests and helps ensure that they feel seen, welcome, and essential to they day!
Budget in a Pre-Ceremony Buffer for Your Guests
Think about putting in a buffer time between when your guests are to arrive and when the ceremony actually starts. I'd say 15 minutes maximum, but you want to make sure that everyone arrives on time with plenty of time to drop off cards and gifts, sign your guestbook, greet each other, and get situated before the processional starts.I hope these tips are helpful! Curating your timeline to ensure your guests' comfort is absolutely essential for a fun and hospitable wedding day!
Next week, we'll move on to part two of this series and talk through a couple important timeline tips to consider when working with your vendors. Stay tuned!
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