Planning a wedding is no easy feat. But creating a wedding day timeline makes it easier.
A detailed schedule will ensure your guests are well-fed, entertained and photographed at the right moments. It’ll also help your vendors understand where they need to be and at what time. This means you can enjoy your big day without rushing through photographs or stressing over what time the hor d’oeuvres will be served.
Our timeline templates for a noon wedding will not only help you stay punctual, but also create a seamless flow for your celebrations. You can adjust these guides to craft your perfect version.
Be sure to share your timeline with your key vendors: your wedding planner, make-up artist, photographers, videographers, florists and caterers. They may be able to share their practical input based on their experience. Once you have a final version, let go of micromanaging and get set to enjoy your wedding.
How to Create a Perfect Timeline for a Noon Wedding
Day receptions are less common than evening affairs. But this doesn’t mean they need to be any less festive. A midday wedding can be followed by a leisurely lunch and plenty of time to mingle and, if you’d like, dance the day away with your guests.
A wedding and reception timeline with dancing
If you’d like to include dancing in your celebration, this wedding timeline could be the perfect template for your big day.
Pro tip: Consider providing breakfast and coffee for your bridal party for them to nibble on while they get ready. It’ll be a long day ahead, and it’s important to remember to eat.
- 8 a.m. — Bride and bridal party arrive for hair and make-up
- 8:30 a.m. — Photographer arrives for candid photos of the bridal party
- 9 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen get ready
- 9:30 a.m. — Photographer gets candid shots of the groom and groomsmen
- 10 a.m. — Bride puts on the wedding dress
- 10 a.m. — Bridal bouquet delivery
- 10 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen take photos
- 10:15 a.m. — First look with father (or other family members)
- 10:30 a.m. — Bride and bridal party official photos (bride and groom to avoid seeing each other)
- 10:45 a.m. — Bride and family photos
- 11:15 a.m. — Groom and family photos (bride and groom to avoid seeing each other)
- 11:30 a.m. — Bride and bridal party freshen up hair and make-up
- 11:30 a.m. — Photographer takes pictures of venue and guests arriving
- 12 p.m. — Ceremony begins
- 12:30 p.m. — Hugs and congratulations after the ceremony (formal reception line, if you choose to have one).
- 1 p.m. — Cocktail hour for guests
- 1 p.m. — Couple takes photos
- 1:30 p.m. — Wedding party and family photos
- 2 p.m. — Reception starts, wedding party makes an entrance
- 2 p.m. — Bride touches up and bustles dress with help from mother or maid of honor
- 2:10 p.m. — Bride and groom make a grand entrance
- 2:15 p.m. — Lunch is served
- 2:45 p.m. — Toasts and/or speeches
- 3 p.m. — Cut the cake and serve dessert
- 3:30 p.m. — First dance
- 3:35 p.m. — Parent dances
- 3:45 p.m. — Dance floor opens to guests
- 5:45 p.m. — Last call for drinks
- 5:55 p.m. — Bridal couple leave (special send-off).
- 6 p.m. — Guests start to leave
- 7 p.m. — Vendors finish packing up and leave
A wedding and reception timeline with dancing and a first look
A first look is a great idea for couples who want to spend a few intimate moments with each other before the ceremony. It’s also an opportunity to take pre-wedding photos so that you don’t need to take as many after the ceremony.
This timeline incorporates a first look for a day wedding and reception and still includes dancing. If you want to create a true daytime party setting and encourage people to get on the dance floor, you may want to consider a live band.
- 7 a.m. — Bride and bridal party arrive for hair and make-up
- 8 a.m. — Photographer arrives for candid photos of the bridal party
- 8 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen get ready
- 9:15 a.m. — Photographer gets candid shots of the groom and groomsmen
- 9:15 a.m. — Bride puts on the wedding dress
- 9:15 a.m. — Bridal bouquet delivery
- 9:30 a.m. — First look with the bride’s father (or other family members)
- 9:30 a.m. — Groom heads to first look location to await his bride
- 9:40 a.m. — Bride heads to the first look location
- 9:45 a.m. — Bride and groom get their first look and take photos
- 10:30 a.m. — Wedding party photos
- 11 a.m. — Family photos
- 11:30 a.m. — Bride touches up hair and make-up
- 11:30 a.m. — Photographer takes pictures of venue and guests arriving
- 12 p.m. — Ceremony begins
- 12:30 p.m. — Hugs and congratulations after the ceremony (formal reception line, if you choose to have one).
- 1 p.m. — Bride touches up and bustles dress with help from her mother or the maid of honor
- 1 p.m. — Cocktail hour (photographer takes candid photos)
- 2 p.m. — Reception begins, guests are seated
- 2:10 p.m — Bride and groom make a grand entrance
- 2:15 p.m — Lunch is served
- 2:45 p.m. — Toasts and/or speeches
- 3 p.m. — Cake cutting and serve dessert
- 3:30 p.m. — First dance
- 3:35 p.m. — Parent dances
- 3:45 p.m. — The dance floor opens to guests
- 5:30 p.m. — Last call for drinks
- 5:45 p.m. — Bridal couple leave (the send-off)
- 6 p.m. — Guests begin to leave
- 7 p.m. — Vendors finish packing up and leave
A wedding and reception timeline without dancing
Given the early start and the reduced alcohol consumption, you and your guests may not care much for dancing in the day. If you’d like to opt for a more relaxed afternoon, you can have a solo saxophonist or guitarist play during lunch. This will create a more subtle festive vibe.
A lunch reception without dancing will also allow you to wrap up early so that you and your partner can rest and enjoy a romantic dinner. Check out our day wedding timeline without dancing to help you plan your big day.
- 8 a.m. — Bride and bridal party arrive for hair and make-up
- 8:30 a.m. — Photographer arrives for candid photos of the bridal party
- 9 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen get ready
- 9:30 a.m. — Photographer gets candid shots of the groom and groomsmen
- 10 a.m. — Bride puts on the wedding dress
- 10 a.m. — Bridal bouquet delivery
- 10 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen take photos
- 10:15 a.m. —First look with father (or other family members)
- 10:30 a.m. — Bride and bridal party official photos (bride and groom to avoid seeing each other)
- 10:45 a.m. — Bride and family photos
- 11:15 a.m. — Groom and family photos (bride and groom to avoid seeing each other)
- 11:30 a.m. — Bride and bridal party freshen up hair and make-up
- 11:30 a.m. — Photographer takes pictures of venue and guests arriving
- 12 p.m. — Ceremony begins
- 12:30 p.m. — Hugs and congratulations after the ceremony (formal reception line, if you choose to have one).
- 1 p.m. — Cocktail hour for guests
- 1 p.m. — Couple takes photos
- 1:30 p.m. — Wedding party and family photos
- 2 p.m. — Reception starts, wedding party makes an entrance
- 2 p.m. — Bride touches up and bustles dress with help from mother or maid of honor
- 2:10 p.m. — Bride and groom make a grand entrance
- 2:15 p.m. — Lunch is served
- 2:45 p.m. — Toasts and/or speeches
- 3 p.m. — Cut the cake and serve dessert
- 3:30 p.m. — Bridal couple leave (special send-off).
- 3:45 p.m. — Guests start to leave
- 5 p.m. — Vendors finish packing up and leave
Day wedding with a first look/ without dancing
Incorporating a first look means you’ll have to wake up earlier, get dressed earlier, and be in your wedding clothes for longer. This can be tough with noon weddings which already require an early enough start.
This timeline is ideal if you know you’ll feel pressed for time or, prefer the traditional first glimpse as you walk down the aisle.
- 7 a.m. —Bride and the bridal party begin hair and make-up
- 8 a.m. — Photographer arrives for candid photos of the bridal party
- 8 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen begin getting ready
- 9:15 a.m. — Photographer takes candid shots of the groom and groomsmen
- 9:15 a.m. — Bride puts on the wedding dress
- 9:15 a.m — Bridal bouquet delivery
- 9:30 a.m. — First look with father (or other family members)
- 9:30 a.m. — Groom heads to first look location to await his bride
- 9:40 a.m. — Bride heads to first look location
- 9:45 a.m. — Bride and groom first look and photos
- 10:30 a.m. — Wedding party photos
- 11 a.m. — Family photos
- 11:30 a.m. — Bride freshens up hair and make-up
- 11:30 a.m. — Photographer takes pictures of venue and guests arriving
- 12 p.m. — Ceremony starts
- 12:30 p.m. — Receiving line (if you choose to have one)
- 1 p.m. — Bride bustles dress with help from mother or maid of honor
- 1 p.m. — Cocktail hour (photographer takes candid shots)
- 2 p.m. — Reception begins, guests are seated
- 2:10 p.m — Bride and groom make a grand entrance
- 2:15pm — Lunch is served
- 2: 45 p.m. — Toasts and/or speeches
- 3 p.m. — Cut the cake and serve dessert
- 3:30 p.m. — Bridal couple leave (special send-off).
- 3:45 p.m. — Guests start to leave
- 4:45 p.m. — Vendors finish packing up and leave
Additional Tip
If you choose to have a noon wedding, avoid hosting your ceremony and reception in different venues. The commute time will delay your lunch past 2 p.m. Asking hungry guests to travel to another venue will leave them feeling impatient, and you’ll likely also feel extremely pressured to remain punctual.
