12 Tips To Stay On Schedule At Your Wedding

Need tips to stay on schedule at your wedding? You’re not alone!

When it comes to putting on a wedding, or any event really, the schedule is important. Yes, of course, you can just wing it when it comes to timing. However, when you do that, you run the risk of running out of time. People will have to leave. Certain parts of the event will have to be shortened. Vendors will get antsy. It’s a whole thing.

This is why having a plan to stay on schedule at your wedding is crucial. Not only so you can “fit it all in” but so you can have the full wedding experience that you are planning. It’s never fun when you plan out a wedding, and all the components you’d like to see at it, and then either feel rushed or have to skip something altogether due to timing. A much better way is to have a schedule and stick to it.

This post is going to give you twelve tips to stay on schedule at your wedding. All of the tips are common sense. And, all of the tips can be done by most people. There are a few tips that may involve vendors you’re not planning to hire. If that is the case, then don’t do those tips and do the others. The key is to tackle your plan to stay on schedule at your wedding from a few different angles. This is the best way to mitigate risk and stick to your plan.

Let’s get into it!

1. STAY ON SCHEDULE AT YOUR WEDDING BY CREATING AN ACTUAL SCHEDULE

First tips to stay on schedule at your wedding? Have a schedule.

Seriously.

There are so many couples out there that truly skip this step. Yes, they may have some high level goals to reach during their wedding, but the schedule isn’t detailed. Or, they only create it because a vendor prompted them to. It’s not ideal.

Here’s the thing. You need to list out everything you need or want to do on your wedding day. Assign time durations to each thing. And then order them. Take into account travel time, time for things to go a little wrong, and risk. And add a few extra minutes here and there. Write it all down and ask your vendors and partner to look it over. Your wedding planner and photographer will have the most input, in most cases. And then stick to it when your wedding day comes.

If you need help creating a high level wedding day schedule, this is the post for you.

2. PUT EVERYTHING ON THE SCHEDULE (EVEN THE LITTLE THINGS)

Alright, while it’s easy to create a high level schedule and all, the little things can add up when it comes to timing. So account for them.

Once you create a high level schedule, with the big items all there (getting ready, travel, photos, ceremony, reception, end of night), add the details. What will you actually do during these big chunks of time? Will certain people get ready in a certain order? When will you eat? Will you take photos before the wedding? What will happen during your ceremony? Will you have cocktail hour and take photos at the same time? How many courses will you have for dinner? What dances will you do? How long will there be dancing at your wedding? Will you have a late night snack?

As you can see, there are lots of questions, and the answers will help you create a detailed schedule. With a detailed schedule, you can see exactly how much time you need. Once you have that, you can work towards staying on schedule at your wedding.

3. GIVE YOUR SCHEDULE A LITTLE BIT OF BUFFER OR FLOAT TIME

The biggest trick to stay on schedule at your wedding, other than having a detailed plan, is to account for some float.

Float is a way to mitigate risk. It’s a buffer for a vendor stuck in traffic. Float helps give you time to find your veil. It allows you to spend an extra minute calming down before your wedding. Or, it gives you an extra five to take special candid photos with your fiancé. Float is your friend. And, it doesn’t need much. A couple extra minutes here and there is all you need to have buffer in your schedule and allow you to stay on track, stress free.

4. TELL ALL THE IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE SCHEDULE

You know what will help you stay on schedule? If everyone knows the schedule.

And look, by everyone, I don’t mean everyone. But I kind of do. Make sure your partner, wedding party, and families know the schedule. Your vendors need to have a hard copy handy, too. From there, you could put some signage out letting your guests know what to expect as far as timing. They don’t need to know the details of exactly everything, though.

The thing here is that when more people know what to expect, more people will help you stay on schedule at your wedding. They will be in the right place at the right time. They will speak up when it’s time to do something. That sort of thing.

5. ASK SOMEONE TO BE THE TIME KEEPER AND KEEP THINGS MOVING

Letting everyone know the plan isn’t enough to stay on schedule at your wedding. Someone at your wedding needs to actually police it.

By “police” it, I mean that someone needs to track the actual time. Know the players needed for each part of the day. Understand the plan to execute certain things. Take charge. And, this person should not be the people getting married. For most weddings, a day of coordinator or wedding planner is great for this role. Your venue may also have a person who can step in and help. Sometimes photographers will take the lead, or there may be different time keepers for different parts of your wedding day.

6. BE SUPER REALISTIC ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET READY

Various parts of your wedding day can have a domino effect on the others. This means that when something takes longer than expected, everything else can run late.

Because getting ready is usually the first thing you’ll do on your wedding day, you need to be really realistic about how long it will take. This is doubly true if you have a large wedding party and everyone is getting ready together. Add more time if people need to arrive early. It’s a whole thing when ten women need to get ready and half of them have issues with the 7am arrival time (which, who can blame them?).

So, time it out. Ask your hair and makeup artist for help. Be realistic. Have a loose plan of who will get ready first, but be nimble with it. All of that will help you stay on schedule at your wedding.

7. PRACTICE AND TIME YOUR BUSTLE

Bustles can be a whole thing. True story.

If you are going to wear a wedding dress, with a bustle, practice with the person who will help you bustle it before your wedding. Plan on practicing a few times. The first time my mom helped me with my bustle it took us over an hour to figure it out. My mom ended up adjusting the dress a little to help herself out, and we were able to cut that time to about fifteen minutes. Still . . . bustles can be complicated.

So, do yourself a favor, and time it out. Know what you’re doing, and give yourself some time between your ceremony and reception to bustle up your dress so people aren’t stepping on it while you’re dancing.

8. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO TRAVEL

Oh, travel time. You are such a beast when you want to get somewhere.

If you are getting ready at your venue, this tip isn’t really for you. If not, listen up. Travel time can eat away at your wedding day timeline. Maybe you’re just driving across town. It might be a quick drive. Still, when you are in a rush, and excited, it will feel longer. You’ll hit the red lights. There will be something in the road, slowing everyone down. Stuff will happen.

So, add some float to your travel time. An extra fifteen minutes. You’ll need it, and if you don’t, you’ll be able to relax. All good either way.

9. HAVE A PLAN FOR PHOTO LOCATIONS AHEAD OF TIME

Are you familiar with your venue? Is your photographer? If not, you both need to do some research ahead of your wedding day.

Photos tend to take up a lot of time on your wedding day. Even if the emphasis is on candid’s, you may still be in a variety of locations. And, you don’t want to waste time finding those locations. Or, finding a location after the fact that you wished you had photos at.

The key here is for your photographer (or you) to know exactly where you’ll take photos, and when, ahead of your wedding. This will help you maximize time so you can take photos and then enjoy your wedding to the fullest.

10. GIVE REMINDERS TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE, AND WHEN

Giving your people a schedule isn’t enough. They need reminders. Lots of time.

Telling your people things like what time you all need to leave, when the ceremony will start, when photos will be taken, when the first dance is, and things like that, will help them stay on schedule at your wedding. For example, your maid of honor might be giving a speech at your wedding. If she doesn’t know when, or doesn’t know what time it is, she may end up in the restroom when it’s speech time. Or, if your parents don’t know when your dances with the are, they may run out to their car to grab something even though everyone is gathered to see the dance. That sort of thing.

Reminders go a long way, even if they are redundant sometimes.

11. OVERTHINK THE SUPPLIES YOU MAY NEED

Weddings need a lot of supplies. While it may seem more convenient to go lean on what you bring to your wedding, I recommend you overthink things.

For example, have an emergency kit handy so no one is running to a store trying to pick up last minute items. Be sure there’s an extra knife for cutting the cake. A little extra cleaning supplies. Extra seating. Extra, extra, extra. If you need to have something, you’ll have it. If not, you don’t have to use it.

12. MOVE ON WHEN THINGS GET BEHIND SCHEDULE (IT HAPPENS), AND CATCH UP WHEN YOU CAN

Last tip! If you want to stay on schedule at your wedding, and things slip, please try to stay calm. You can handle this.

When things slip behind schedule (and some things will), adjust. Move the timing of other things. Cut something short. Cut something out, if you’re changing your mind. Your wedding ceremony and reception will not happen without you, so don’t stress too much. As long as you have a plan, and a plan to stick to the plan, you’ll mostly stay on schedule at your wedding.

THOUGHTS ON HOW TO STAY ON SCHEDULE AT YOUR WEDDING

Friends, it is possible to stay on schedule at your wedding. This is true even if you have a tight and detailed day. All you need to do is have a realistic timeline for your wedding day. Have your vendors take a look at it, and share it broadly with the people in your wedding. Have a plan for your bustle, photos, and keep extra supplies handy. You’ve got this! Happy wedding planning!

More Tips For Your Wedding Day From Hummingbird Wedding Advice

12 Tips For Grooms Getting Ready On Their Wedding Day

Common Wedding Day Disasters (And What To Do!)

How To Stay Present On Your Wedding Day

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