Maximising Your Wedding Day: A Guide to Perfect Timing
Let's dive into one of the most crucial aspects of your wedding planning: timings.
I know, it might not sound like the most exciting topic, but trust me, getting this right can make all the difference in ensuring you have the most epic day ever.
So, buckle up for a bit of a chat, but I promise it'll be worth it.
First of all:
99% of people copy what the other 99% of people do on their wedding day and 100% of those people tell you that your wedding day goes by in the blink of an eye.
And it does, no matter what, BUT it goes by a lot quicker if you start your ceremony at 3pm, sit down for dinner at 4:30pm and try to include all your photos and seeing everyone in a 30 minute window in between.
Time Flies When You're Having Fun:
Seriously, your wedding day will zip by faster than you can say "I do." Everyone says it, you'll probably roll your eyes, but then the big day arrives, and boom, it's over in a flash.
My mission? To help you make the most of every single moment. And to do that, you need to seriously think about how the day flows.
Forget what everyone else is doing, ignore those generic wedding timelines you find on Google, and focus on creating the day you actually want!
Identify Your Must-Have Moments:
Sit down together and figure out what parts of the day are absolute non-negotiables for you. What are you most excited about? What moments do you want to savor, and which ones could you do without?
Let's be strategic and maximize your time. And hey, don't worry about what your mom or Uncle Tony have to say about it. This is your day, after all!
Not too bothered about the getting ready part in the morning? Let's trim it down and get married early!
Can't wait to mingle with your guests after the ceremony? Let's move things along and start the party sooner!
Eager to spend quality time with your wedding party in the morning? Let's make that a priority.
You get the idea—customizing your day to fit your vibe. Oh, and by the way, your venue might suggest a 2:30pm ceremony start time. No clue why, it's just tradition. But hey, let's shake things up!
For example:
On my wedding day, the real MVP moments were...
Drink Reception: Taking our time to chat and catch up with loved ones before dinner was a must. We didn't want to rush through this part!
Couples Photos: We wanted our photos to be relaxed and have enough time to explore our venue while still feeling present at the party.
Overall: We simply didn't want to feel rushed after the ceremony and wanted to soak up every moment with our guests while capturing amazing photos. So, we had our ceremony at 12pm and dinner at 4pm.
Some folks (hello, mother-in-law!) were worried about hunger, so we doubled the food and laid it out right after the ceremony. And as for the getting ready chaos, my wife started hair and makeup bright and early, offering her mother-in-law the first slot at 6:30am (she declined, of course).
Remember, it's all about planning the day that feels right for you!
Stay Realistic:
Sure, some timings are set in stone, but that's okay. Let's use them as a starting point and work around them to maximize your favorite parts of the day.
And here's a reality check: things take time. People dilly-dally, group photos drag on (more on that in another email), and in general, everything moves slower than you expect. So:
Be realistic.
Build in extra contingency time.
I'll be the behind-the-scenes timekeeper, making sure everything runs smoothly. But having some buffer time for unexpected hiccups or weather changes is always a good idea.
Ask for Advice and Trust Your Suppliers:
Not sure how long something will take? Lean on your experienced vendors for guidance.
We've been around the block (wedding block, that is) countless times, while you're doing this whole thing just once (hopefully!).
I’m so passionate about getting the timings right on your wedding day and not following what 99% of other people do that here is my offer to you.
Whether you’ve booked me as your photographer or not, let me know which parts of your wedding day are your MVP moments and then hit me up with your proposed timeline, and I'll give you my honest take.
And if you're still in the brainstorming phase, reach out, and we'll hash out the details together.
Of all the tasks on your wedding to-do list, nailing down the timeline can truly make or break your day.
Catch you later!
Adam