Planning a wedding day timeline is the best way to ensure seamless celebrations. A detailed sequence of events will keep you punctual and eliminate any last-minute confusion. The process of crafting the right timeline will also give you a chance to think about what you envision and expect for your special day.
A 3 p.m. wedding offers room for flexibility in planning your timeline.
The late-afternoon timing presents a perfect opportunity to explore a different itinerary. Since the ceremony and reception are in between regular lunch and dinner timings, you can choose to forgo the traditional sit-down dinner and replace it with something more low-key. Or, you can opt to move to a different venue for a reception complete with a lavish dinner, drinks, and lots of dancing.
Whatever your vision, our timeline templates for a 3 p.m. wedding will provide you with a clear framework for your day. These can be modified and personalized to suit your specific requirements and include your traditions.
Cake and Champagne Reception
If you prefer the idea of a more low-key celebration, you can take inspiration from the old-school cake and punch reception and add a modern spin to it. This will allow you to replace a five-course dinner with an array of hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and champagne (or cocktails if you prefer).
Consult your caterers to create a menu that includes a variety of easy-to-eat foods. The idea is to make it easy for guests to eat while they mingle. If you curate the right menu, your guests will be fully satiated without a sit-down meal, and you’ll have a more relaxed but festive vibe.
Just be sure to convey your plans clearly in your invitations, so guests know what to expect. You can state, “celebratory champagne, cake, and hors d’oeuvres to follow.”
Pro tip: Explore lounge-style seating options instead of regular banquet tables and chairs to encourage guests to move about and mingle. This floor-plan will contribute to a more casual feel.
3pm wedding timeline with a cake and champagne reception
If you’re looking to host a more relaxed reception after your 3 p.m. nuptials, this timeline template will suit you.
It also includes a first look. This will give you and your partner an intimate moment together and a chance to take your couple photos before the ceremony, instead of having to do them during the reception.
- 10 a.m. — Bride and bridal party arrive for hair and make-up
- 11 a.m. — Photographer arrives for candid photos of the bridal party
- 11 a.m. — Groom and groomsmen get ready
- 12:15 p.m. — Photographer gets candid shots of the groom and groomsmen
- 12:15 p.m. — Bride puts on the wedding dress
- 12:15 p.m. — Bridal bouquet delivery
- 12:30 p.m. — First look with the bride’s father (or other family members)
- 12:30 p.m. — Groom heads to first look location to await his bride
- 12:40 p.m. — Bride heads to the first look location
- 12:45 p.m. — Bride and groom first look and photos
- 1:30 p.m. — Wedding party photos
- 2 p.m. — Family photos
- 2:30 p.m. — Bride touches up hair and make-up
- 2:30 p.m. — Photographer takes pictures of venue and guests arriving
- 3 p.m. — Ceremony begins
- 3:30 p.m. — Hugs and congratulations after the ceremony (formal reception line, if you choose to have one).
- 4 p.m. — Bride touches up and bustles dress with help from her mother or the maid of honor
- 4 p.m. — Reception begins. Cocktails/ champagne and hors d’oeuvres are served
- 4:05 p.m. — Wedding party makes an entrance
- 4:10 p.m. — Bride and groom make an entrance
- 4:15 p.m. — Toasts and/or speeches
- 4:30 p.m. — Cake cutting and dessert to be served
- 4:35 p.m. — Couple’s first dance
- 4:40 p.m. — Parent’s dance
- 4:45 p.m. — Dance floor opens to guests
- 6:15 p.m. — Bridal couple leave (the send-off)
- 6:30 p.m. — Guests begin to leave
- 7:30 p.m. — Vendors finish packing up and leave
Reception with Dinner and Dancing
Some couples feel their wedding day isn’t complete without a full dinner and lots of dancing.
This itinerary is for you if your wedding vision includes a reception with the customary aspects. Starting your ceremony at 3 p.m. will give you plenty of time to take your bride and groom photos, have a cocktail hour, and lead into the reception.
3pm wedding timeline with dinner and dancing
This timeline is for you if you prefer sticking to the standard wedding timeframe without a first look, and with dinner and dancing till late.
- 11 a.m. — Bride and bridal party arrive for hair and make-up
- 11:30 a.m. — Photographer arrives for candid photos of the bridal party
- 12 p.m. — Groom and groomsmen get ready
- 12:30 p.m. — Photographer gets candid shots of the groom and groomsmen
- 1 p.m. — Bride puts on wedding dress
- 1 p.m. — Bouquet delivered to the bride
- 1 p.m. — Groom and groomsmen take photos
- 1:15 p.m. — First look with father (or other family members)
- 1:30 p.m. — Bride and bridal party official photos (bride and groom to avoid seeing each other)
- 1:45 p.m. — Bride and family photos
- 2:15 p.m. — Groom and family photos (bride and groom to avoid seeing each other)
- 2:30 p.m. — Bride and bridal party freshen up hair and make-up
- 2:30 p.m. — Photographer takes pictures of venue and guests arriving
- 3 p.m. — Ceremony begins
- 3:30 p.m. — Hugs and congratulations after the ceremony (formal reception line, if you choose to have one).
- 4 p.m. — Cocktail and hors d’oeuvres to be served to guests
- 4 p.m. — Couple takes photos
- 4:30 p.m. — Wedding party and family photos
- 5:30 p.m. — Bride touches up and bustles dress with help from mother or maid of honor
- 5:30 p.m. — Reception starts, and guests find their seats
- 5:35 p.m. — Wedding party makes their entrance
- 5:40 p.m. — Bride and groom make a grand entrance
- 5:45 p.m. — Couple’s first dance
- 5:50 p.m. — Welcome speech (by couple or family member)
- 6:00 p.m. — Dinner is served
- 6:45 p.m. — Toasts and/or speeches
- 7:00 p.m. — Cut the cake and serve dessert
- 7:10 p.m. — Couple leaves for golden hour photos (Optional and also depends on the sunset time)
- 7:40 p.m. — Couple returns to the party
- 7:50 p.m. — Parent dances
- 8:00 p.m. — Dance floor opens to guests
- 10:00 p.m. — Last call for drinks
- 10:30 p.m. — Bridal couple leave (special send-off).
- 10:45 p.m. — Guests start to leave
- 11:45 p.m. — Vendors finish packing up and leave
Hosting the ceremony and reception in different venues
If you’d like to host your wedding ceremony and reception at separate venues, a 3 p.m. ceremony affords you enough time. You can request your guests to travel to the reception location and still start the celebrations on time. But to avoid creating a lag in the festivities, try to keep the travel duration less than 20 to 30 minutes.
To create the right timeline, include the travel time and push the post-nuptials sequence 20 to 30 minutes. Your guests can depart to the reception venue after the wedding ceremony. You and your wedding party can follow them after your photos. Be sure to be there before the cocktail hour ends to make your grand reception entrance.
