3 Reasons Why a Wedding Timeline is Important

A wedding timeline is one of the most important things every wedding should have. I explained this in a previous Blog; however, I am going to list out 3 specific reasons why they are so important.

1. Organization. There’s a lot that goes into a wedding- the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, etc. You do not want things to go wrong just due to a minuscule hiccup in the schedule. Everyone in charge of something during the wedding day should have a timeline on hand always so they all know what is going on. Keeping things organized is most important and will make everything flow.
2. Flow. Without a timeline, things will be chaotic and confusing. If there’s a set time schedule for things, then there will be a good flow to the wedding. For example, the DJ can make sure they are ready to make an announcement for people to take their seats since the food will be served shortly since they have a timeline of this information and won’t have to search around for the catering company to ask them these things.
3. Stress-free. The last thing a bride wants on her wedding day is to be stressed. This should be the happiest day of her life, not one of the most stressful. With a timeline, everything is already planned out and communicated to everyone, and there should be no questions needing to be asked to the bride. Nobody wants the bride running around trying to find the rest of the bridal party for the reception. This will already be communicated and put into the timeline and everyone that needs to know will know exactly when the wedding party will be lined up and ready to be announced for the reception.

A LOT goes into planning a wedding, but I fully believe that a wedding timeline will allow for a more organized and stress-free wedding. 

Review on The Knot: Ultimate Wedding Planner and Checklist

There are so many different Wedding Planner Books and Checklists out there that people never know which one to buy! That’s why I’m here. I’m going to tell you that the one made from The Knot is top notch! 

I love this book and think that the way they organize it makes the most sense compared to other books available to you out there. There is a whole lot that goes into wedding planning, which I’m sure you already know, but having all the contact information on the first few pages so it is easy to find is the best way to do it! There is also a “wedding style worksheet” that can include a rough estimate on how many guests you’d like to attend, which season you’d like to have it in, etc. which is kind of what I spoke about in a previous Blog! These types of questions are vague and don’t have to be super specific right off the bat because you have time to decide things and set them in stone later. 

I think that this book organizes it in a way that allows it to be easily read and filled out. Other books out there get straight down to business and sometimes this can be overwhelming for a new bride that has a lot of decisions to make. This might work for some people, but I think that The Knot is the best choice for a newly engaged, busy, and excited bride! What do you think? Do you have a book that is maybe even better than this one?

Wedding Timeline... What's that?

A timeline is an essential component to the perfect wedding day. It shows exactly what time things are going to happen throughout the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. A wedding timeline is important to have because you can then give it to the caterers, DJ, officiant, and anyone in charge at the venue that should know what is going on. It can be a rough estimate on times; for example, if you assume the ceremony will be done at 4:30 and it is done at 4:35, that’s not a big deal. It just is a template of what is going on around those times, and what will be happening next.

If you have ever been to a wedding that is very unorganized, it is most likely because they do not have a timeline to go by and everyone is on different pages. To avoid this issue, you should always make a tentative timeline so things can flow smoothly.

The timeline can include things as small as when a toast will be happening to as large as when the exchanging of vows will be taking place. The more you include in your wedding timeline, the better. Including names of songs, the order of procession and recession of the bridal party, and even the order of tables being dismissed for dinner can help create the perfect day. If something ever goes wrong, you can always look back at the timeline to see what you missed or skipped over. It can help in many ways and is one of the most important components for creating the perfect wedding day!

I just got engaged... now what?

Getting engaged is the first step in starting the rest of your life with your significant other. After the engagement... then what? Sometimes it all happens so fast and you don't stop to think about the things that need to happen first. Here's a list of steps that can point you in the right direction: 

1. GET EXCITED!! This is the start of the rest of your life with your love. 
2. Don't Panic! It is a lot to think about, but things are going to be easy if you just relax and be calm throughout the process.
3. Pick a time of year that you would like your wedding to take place-- you do not need a date quite yet.
4. Decide whether you would like an indoor or outdoor wedding. Remember, you always need a backup plan if the weather is not on your side! 
5. Now is the time to go and see some possible venues! Pick out 3-5 places you'd like to see, and remember to keep an open mind.
6. Pick the “I do” date! This should be easy, since you have decided the general time of year you’d like to get married.
7. Get some pictures of you and your love and send out “save the date” cards to your friends and family that you’d like to share the special day with.
8. Go dress shopping with your favorite gal pals and look for a wedding dress, and possibly bridesmaid dresses as well.
9. Make appointments with floral shops and cake/catering places to see what types of floral arrangements and food offerings they have for weddings.
10. REMEMBER TO KEEP SMILING- this should be a fun process, and this is only the beginning!!

About I Do Weddings

Hi, I am Court, and I write IDoWeddingsBlog to help future brides get the help and resources they need to have the perfect wedding day while still being reminded to have fun and be stress-free! I am a college Senior graduating in May and started working for a wedding planning company in 2017 as an intern and fell in love with weddings, and everything that goes behind the scenes of that special day. I am now a planner with many experiences from past weddings. Unfortunately, it seems that most brides are busy enough while planning a wedding which makes it hard to meet in person with a specific planner, or it is just too pricey and can’t fit in their budget. I started writing this blog to help brides with the planning process by giving them tips and reminders of things that cannot be forgotten on their special day without breaking the bank. There are many details that need to be remembered throughout the process of planning a wedding. Don’t worry, I will cover almost every single one from checklists to reminders and everything in between! Every bride wants that “I do” date to be picture-perfect, and what better way for that to be done than by the bride herself? Take all the credit for your special day, and make sure to check in to my future blog posts for planning help and tools to have the most memorable day yet. To contact me, please email idoweddings2018@gmail.com