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A wedding day itinerary includes every event on the day of, from getting ready and portrait-taking to the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Plan each segment in advance, including buffer time, to keep the day on track from start to finish.
Dreaming up the perfect wedding requires detailed planning. Why not start with breaking down the entire day, from start to finish, into a well-organized timeline? But how does this work exactly?
Well, it’s much like creating an itinerary when you go on vacation. You plan what you’re going to do the entire day: what time to wake up, how much time you need to get ready, where to eat, etc. You plan every hour so the day goes smoothly and no time is wasted.
The same goes for creating a wedding-day itinerary. Because there are a lot of things to do, let’s break the tasks into smaller pieces within the right time frame. Sounds hard? Not when you have this guide from experts at The Loft on King!
Before building your wedding day itinerary, confirm the season, venue count, ceremony length, and portrait timing. Ask yourself these questions to start:
All these aspects will affect how much time you should allow for each activity and your wedding day timeline and itinerary as a whole.
Source: Unsplash
Every wedding is unique, as it should be. But you can use these steps below as a general guide to ensure your wedding day has a good flow to it:
[Start five to seven hours before the ceremony, as it takes approximately two to three hours to finish]
Covers:
 Hair and make-up |
 Dressing Up |
There’s no such thing as starting too early in weddings. If the ceremony starts at 4 p.m., get up as early as 9 a.m. to have a healthy brunch and shake off some face puffiness.
You’d need at least 90 minutes to get your hair and makeup done. If your entourage is getting theirs professionally done as well, you’d definitely need more time.
Putting on your wedding dress takes a bit of time as well, especially if it’s elaborate and custom-made. With shoes and accessories, you’d need about 20 minutes to get dressed and ready.
You don’t want to have to rush, so start as early as possible!
| TIP #1: Your photographer should arrive 30 minutes before getting ready so he can get shots of the rings, dress, invitations, etc. |
[First look: 20 minutes. Solo portraits: 20 minutes. Wedding entourage: 30 minutes.]
As soon as you’re all glammed up, it’s time for your photographer to capture that special moment you and your partner see each other on your wedding day before everyone else. This is also the time to take some snaps with your family and the rest of your wedding party.
Between the first look, couple’s photos, and wedding party photos, it should take about 1.5 to two hours to finish.
| TIP #2: Don’t skip this part! It may be the only time to preserve a fresh first look before things get hectic. |
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[Arrive an hour before the ceremony]
If the ceremony venue is elsewhere, allow time for you and the wedding party to get there. Of course, the travel time depends on how far you are from the venue. Just be sure to arrive at the venue at least an hour before the ceremony, so you have some time to relax before it all begins.
[Around 30 minutes before the ceremony, which might take 15 to 20 minutes]
Covers:
 Allow guests to find their seats |
 Pictures |
You can ask the photographer to capture photos of guests arriving and those waiting at the wedding venue. This also gives those running late a little extra time and allows everyone to find their seats and take their own #selfies.
| TIP #3: Don’t forget to play music to set the mood and indicate that the ceremony is fast approaching. |
[Takes 30 minutes to one hour]
This time block depends on the type of ceremony you want. Secular weddings take about 15 to 20 minutes, while large ceremonies with rituals and readings usually last an hour.
[Takes 30 minutes]
If the wedding reception is at another venue, you must allow at least another half hour to get everyone there.
| TIP #4: It’s best to hold the ceremony and wedding reception in the same venue to avoid the hassle of transportation and traffic! |
[Photos and cocktail hour: approximately one hour]
Covers:
| Pictures |
 Cocktails |
Take pictures immediately upon arriving at the reception. You want to make sure all groups have photos with the newlyweds, so plan accordingly and get it done efficiently.
For family photos, give your photographer a rundown of family dynamics or a list to work with prior to the wedding to keep things organized. As you’re taking pictures, your guests can fill the time with light bites, cocktails, and music.
[Takes approximately 3 hours]
 Grand Entrance |
 First Dance |
 Wedding Toast |
 Dinner |
 Cake Cutting |
 Speeches |
 Bouquet & Garter Toss |
 Open Dance Floor |
After the cocktails, the formal reception begins with the couple’s grand entrance. This formally introduces the newlyweds to their guests as a couple and usually takes about 10 minutes. Next comes a rundown of what happens next:
All in all, these activities usually take between two and three hours.
Source: Pexels
[Takes approximately five to ten minutes]
Depart in style with an exit song and arrange for a firework display while you wave goodbye to your family and friends. Designate someone to throw confetti, hold sparklers, etc., as you dash toward your getaway car, hand-in-hand!
Not necessarily, but it makes the day significantly easier to manage. You eliminate travel time, reduce the risk of guests getting lost, and give yourself more flexibility with the timeline. If you do use two venues, build in at least 30 to 45 minutes of travel time for the full wedding party, not just the couple.
Before the ceremony, wherever possible. Post-ceremony portraits add time between the end of the ceremony and your arrival at the reception, leaving guests waiting during cocktail hour longer than planned.
Taking first-look, pre-ceremony photos before the ceremony, followed by the wedding party and family portraits, gets the bulk of the photography done while everyone is still fresh and the day is running on schedule.
The only item left on your wedding day itinerary: finding a venue that takes care of the rest. The Loft on King offers a stunning, fully customizable space in downtown Toronto with in-house catering, a full-service bar, and event specialists who have seen it all.
With our experienced team on your side, you can just have a blast on your wedding day and leave the rest to us.
Book a viewing today and come see what your day could look like!
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Contact us now to book a site visit, and see what our unique 4 floor venue has to offer.
