Building Your Wedding Timeline from Posh Occasions featured on Nashville Bride Guide

Building Your Wedding Timeline from Posh Occasions

If there’s one detail that is super important for the day of your wedding, it’s your wedding timeline! Having this allows your vendors to all know where they have to be and when, it allows you and your wedding party to know what’s happening at every point of the day, and it allows you a piece of mind knowing this has all been communicated and is set in place. There are various factors that can determine your timeline, so with the help of Ashley from Posh Occasions she’s sharing her insight on this topic! Keep reading to keep what she has to say!

Building Your Wedding Timeline from Posh Occasions featured on Nashville Bride Guide
Building Your Wedding Timeline from Posh Occasions featured on Nashville Bride Guide

Weddings are all so different! Can you give us a sample rundown of a wedding timeline?

Ashley: Weddings are so different! First you need to see how long you have in the venue and then determine a ceremony time. Once you have the ceremony time, it is pretty easy to slot in after that. Here is an example:

5:00 pm Ceremony Time
5:30 pm Ceremony End – Cocktail Hour Begins
6:30 pm Reception Begins Dinner Starts
7:30 pm End of Dinner, Formal Dances, Cake Cutting and Toasts
8:00 pm Dancing Starts
11:00 pm Reception Ends/Send-Off

Generally, how long do weddings run?

Ashley: I would say if you give 6 hours from ceremony start to send off, that would be ample time to fit everything in and not feel rushed.

Building Your Wedding Timeline from Posh Occasions featured on Nashville Bride Guide
Building Your Wedding Timeline from Posh Occasions featured on Nashville Bride Guide

Should a ceremony begin right on time? Or is it best to start a little later?

Ashley: I always try to start the ceremony right on time. There are special instances where guests are running late that I may pause it a few minutes, but I never start more than 10 minutes late.

How long should cocktail hour take?

Ashley: A lot of things happen during cocktail hour. The bride and groom are finishing pictures, sometimes there is a room flip to transition from ceremony to reception and the vendors are getting ready for dinner. I always allow the full hour for cocktail hour so that the photographer and the couple don’t feel rushed with pictures. I also always give the couple 15-20 minutes alone to have a drink and some appetizers and take a moment alone before the reception begins.

Building Your Wedding Timeline from Posh Occasions featured on Nashville Bride Guide
Building Your Wedding Timeline from Posh Occasions featured on Nashville Bride Guide

What is the best order of events for a reception?

Ashley: This is the flow that I like best but it also can be flexible depending on what is important to the couple: Bridal Party Introductions Newlywed Introduction Welcome/Prayer Dinner Toasts Cake cutting Formal Dances Dance Floor Opens Send-Off

At the end of the night, how much time should there be between the wedding ending and the time you need the venue cleared out?

Ashley: This varies by venue but typically 1-2 hours depending on how much was brought in and needs to be taken down.

Building Your Wedding Timeline from Posh Occasions featured on Nashville Bride Guide

Thanks so much for sharing this information, Ashley! If you’re a couple needing some planning assistance for your wedding day, (including your wedding timeline!) be sure to reach out to Posh Occasions!

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