MAKE A TIMELINE!
Your timeline is KEY to the smooth running of your wedding day. If you hire a planner, he or she will create this for you and use it as their bible to ensure you stay on time, your vendors stay on time and the important details of your event happen. If you aren't working with a planner, it is important that the bride create this as she knows most closely the nitty-gritty of the day. Use as MUCH detail as possible. This will tell people the story of your day and give them a full understanding of happenings.
Once your initial timeline is created, send to all of your wedding professionals for approval. You want to ensure enough time for the catering staff to serve dinner, your photographer to capture family photos, your transportation company to make multiple trips, and so on (and on and on and on)! It is imperative that your vendors sign off before finalizing. You want to set them (and your day-of timing) up for success.
Once your timeline is finalized, be sure to send to all of the people involved with your wedding. Bridal party, parents, and wedding professionals need to know what your expectations are and where they need to be when. The final timeline should be sent 1-2 weeks prior to your BIG DAY, but starting to spread the word sooner is always good, too.
While your timeline is imperative and acts as a guide throughout the day for timing and details, also know that timelines should also have a bit flexibility, too. Being off the timeline by 5-10 minutes often happens due to any unforeseen (and unplanned circumstances). You may not cut the cake at exactly 9:15pm and that's OK! But you do want to make sure certain events happen on time. Your ceremony, your cocktail hour and your dinner service.
Pass your timeline on. If you have not hired a planner, give the timeline to your Maid of Honor or MOB and ask them to keep an eye on it. The last thing you want to do on your wedding day is worry about timing and whereabouts. At that point, trust your timeline, trust your vendors and ENJOY your special day. You deserve it and only happens once!
xx, AE
