Sample Wedding Day Timeline Template For A 4PM Ceremony

A well-planned wedding day timeline can make the entire wedding day feel seamless, joyful, and free of stress. With so many moving parts—hair and makeup, photography, transportation, and guest arrival—it’s important to build a timeline that gives you enough time for everything that matters. Whether your wedding ceremony and wedding reception are at the same venue or in different locations, this guide offers a detailed sample timeline to help you make the most of your big day. It’s packed with practical time blocks, and thoughtful suggestions that work with your own needs.

Wedding Day Timeline Breakdown

7:00 AM – Wake Up, Hydrate & Fuel Up

The first thing to do on your wedding date? Nourish your body. Eat a healthy breakfast and sip plenty of water to stay energized and maintain that glowy skin. You’re about to experience one of the best days of your life, and this small step can make a huge difference in how you feel all day long.

8:00 AM – Bridesmaids’ Hair & Makeup Begins

The makeup artist and hair stylist will arrive to begin working with the bridal party. Depending on the size of your group, this process can take a lot of time, so starting early helps keep everything on track. Rotate bridesmaids while others relax or enjoy coffee in the hotel room or suite.

10:00 AM – Photographer Arrives

Your wedding photographer begins capturing flatlays, bridal portraits, and candid behind-the-scenes moments. This is a great opportunity to photograph the wedding dress, accessories, and early interactions between the bride, maid of honor, and immediate family.

Read More: The Ultimate Wedding Planning Timeline Checklist Template

12:00 PM – Bride’s Hair & Makeup Wrap-Up

The bride’s final touches wrap up around noon. At the same time, the bridesmaids’ makeup and hair should be nearly complete. It’s a good idea to make sure the bride doesn’t go last, in case you’re running behind. This way, the bride’s hair and makeup is not the one getting rushed. And definitely add in some extra buffer here for any unexpected delays- it’s always a good idea to have that flexibility.

1:00 PM – Bride Gets Into Wedding Dress + Getting Ready Photos

It’s time for the bride to step into her wedding dress- a moment that can be emotional and beautiful. Capture those quiet memories with her mother of the bride, sisters, or other close family members. Snap a few family pictures and bridal party photos in the dressing area.

1:30 PM – Vendors Begin Setup

Your venue starts coming to life! Florals, chairs, signage, lighting—everything starts falling into place. Your wedding coordinator or wedding planner should oversee this portion so you don’t need to worry about a thing. Most venues give your vendors 2-3 hours for set up, so this timing really depends on your venue.

Read More: 24 Tips for a Stress-Free Wedding Morning

2:00 PM – First Look & Couple Photos

A first look gives you and your partner a private, emotional moment together before the ceremony time. It’s also a great way to knock out couple portraits while your hair and makeup are fresh. This also leaves more time to enjoy the cocktail hour later on. If you choose to not have the first-look, this would push back the time you start getting ready by about 90 minutes.

3:00 PM – Family & Bridal Party Photos

Next come family portraits and bridal party portraits. If you have a large family or bigger bridal party, allocate at least a half hour. These group photos are often some of the most cherished images in your wedding album.

3:30 PM – Guests Begin Arriving

Whether your ceremony and reception are at the same venue or different locations, guests typically start arriving 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. Assign someone to greet and direct them. Your wedding coordinator can help manage this arrival time smoothly.

4:00 PM – Ceremony Begins

The main thing you’ve been planning for is finally here: your wedding ceremony. Whether you’re having a formal affair, a non-religious ceremony, or something totally custom, plan for 20–30 minutes depending on your order of events.

4:30 PM – Ceremony Ends & Cocktail Hour Begins

After saying “I do,” take a moment to soak in that “just married” feeling. Guests head to the cocktail hour, giving you time for sunset photos, a receiving line, or a quiet moment together. If you’re at different venues, factor in travel time here.

5:30 PM – Reception Begins

Time for the grand entrance! Announce the married couple, introduce the wedding party, and let the evening festivities begin. This is often when your DJ or band gets the room excited and sets the tone for the night.

6:00 PM – Dinner is Served

Guests are seated, and dinner begins. Whether you’re offering plated service or a buffet, this part of the evening gives everyone a chance to recharge and reflect on the ceremony.

6:30 PM – Welcome Toasts & Speeches

Let the best man, maid of honor, or father of the bride take the mic. This time block is reserved for meaningful words, funny memories, and heartfelt moments. Keep this portion limited to a few speakers, and each speech about 2 minutes long, so things stay on schedule.

7:30 PM – Cake Cutting & Dessert

Cut your wedding cake and offer dessert to guests. This is also a sweet time (literally!) to sneak in the bouquet toss, if you’re planning to do one. Guests with little ones or earlier bedtimes will appreciate this early treat.

8:00 PM – First Dance, Parent Dances & Dance Floor Opens

Start with your first dance, then follow with the parent dances. After that, let the DJ or band open the dance floor—this is when the celebration truly kicks off. If you’ve been dreaming of a packed dance floor, this is the best time to make it happen.

10:00 PM – Late Night Snack

A late-night bite is a great idea, especially if you’ve had a long day. Offer something fun and casual- sliders, tacos, pizza- just enough to keep energy up through the end of the night.

11:00 PM – Grand Exit

Your grand exit is the perfect finale. Whether it’s a sparkler send-off, confetti, or a vintage getaway car, this last moment is one of the most iconic photo ops of the night. Of course, this is optional, and an Irish goodbye is perfectly fine.

11:30 PM – Vendor Cleanup

Vendors begin tearing down and packing up. If you’re leaving early, make sure your wedding planner or designated helper stays to oversee this final task so you don’t have to.

At-a-Glance: Wedding Day Timeline (for a 4PM Ceremony)

Time	Event
7:00 AM	Wake up, hydrate, and eat a nourishing breakfast
8:00 AM	Bridesmaids’ hair and makeup begins
10:00 AM	Photographer arrives
12:00 PM	Bride’s hair & makeup done; bridesmaids finishing touches
1:00 PM	Bride gets into wedding dress; portraits begin
1:30 PM	Vendors begin setting up
2:00 PM	First look and couple photos
3:00 PM	Family and bridal party portraits
3:30 PM	Guests begin arriving
4:00 PM	Ceremony starts
4:30 PM	Ceremony ends; cocktail hour begins
5:30 PM	Reception begins
6:00 PM	Dinner is served
6:30 PM	Toasts and speeches
7:30 PM	Cake cutting and dessert
8:00 PM	First dance and parent dances
10:00 PM	Late night snack
11:00 PM	Grand exit
11:30 PM	Vendor cleanup

Wedding Day Timeline Template PDF

To make it easier, we’ve included a free downloaded pdf template. simple click on the image and save it for later!

Concluding Thoughts: Every couple is different, and your own preferences should guide the flow of your day. A thoughtful, well-paced wedding timeline template gives you the structure you need for a truly perfect day. With enough breathing room, smart scheduling, and a focus on what matters most, your day-of timeline will make sure you get to enjoy every laugh, every hug, and every unforgettable special moment.