The day, hour by hour
| Time | What happens | How long |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Hair & makeup begins | 2 h |
| 9:30 AM | Photographer arrives | 1 h |
| 10:30 AM | Getting ready photos | 1 h |
| 12:00 PM | First look | 30 min |
| 12:30 PM | Wedding party photos | 1 h |
| 2:00 PM | Ceremony | 45 min |
| 3:00 PM | Cocktail hour | 1 h |
| 4:00 PM | Grand entrance | 15 min |
| 4:30 PM | Dinner served | 1 h 15 min |
| 5:45 PM | Toasts | 30 min |
| 6:15 PM | First dance | 15 min |
| 7:00 PM | Cake cutting | 15 min |
| 7:15 PM | Dancing & celebration | 2 h 45 min |
| 10:00 PM | Grand exit | 15 min |
Move the ceremony time in the free wedding day timeline and every event moves with it.
What a 2 PM ceremony is good for
- Guests with children and older relatives, who enjoy a day that ends by evening.
- Venues with an early finish or a noise curfew.
- Couples who want a long, relaxed lunch or an early dinner instead of a late party.
Make it work
- Hair and makeup start at 7:30 AM: book your stylist early and plan a real breakfast.
- Midday light is bright and hard: ask your photographer about shade or indoor spots for portraits, or take more of them later in the afternoon.
- Serve a proper meal early — lunch or an afternoon dinner — and keep snacks for the evening.
- If you want an evening party too, a second, later meal or a late-night snack keeps people going.