Wedding Day Timeline Example - From Getting Ready To The Grand Exit

Wedding Day Timeline Example – From Getting Ready to the Grand Exit

By Weddings By Wendi – Your Texas Hill Country wedding planner

Over the course of your wedding day, having a well-structured timeline ensures that everything flows smoothly, allowing you to enjoy every moment. Here’s a sample wedding day timeline to guide you from the time you start getting ready to the moment of your grand exit.

8:00 AM – Getting Ready
Your day begins early for final preparations. This is the perfect time for your hair and makeup artists to arrive. Allocate enough time for your bridesmaids to get ready as well. Capture candid moments by hiring a photographer to document the process.

9:30 AM – Bride’s Prelude
You put on your wedding dress. This moment is significant, so consider having your mother or a close friend assist you. Plan to have some time for portraits in your dress before heading to the ceremony.

10:30 AM – Pre-Ceremony Photos
Schedule time for first look photos with your partner, followed by portraits with your family and bridal party. These images will be cherished memories from the day.

11:30 AM – Travel to Ceremony Venue
Plan to leave for your ceremony venue around this time. Account for traffic and any unforeseen delays. Arrive early to ensure everything is in place.

12:30 PM – Guest Arrival and Ceremony
As guests arrive, your officiant or coordinator will guide them. The ceremony typically starts on time, so set an actual start time in advance—let’s say 1:00 PM.

1:00 PM – Wedding Ceremony
Your ceremony marks the heart of the day. Focus on the moments, vows, and emotions. It typically lasts around 30 minutes, but it can vary based on your preferences.

1:30 PM – Post-Ceremony Activities
As the ceremony concludes, take time for a few more photos while your guests enjoy cocktails and appetizers. This is a great time for the officiant to announce you as a married couple.

2:30 PM – Reception Setup
Weddings often feature a transition period where the reception space is finalized. Keep an eye on the clock, as guests will expect a timely start.

3:00 PM – Reception Introductions
The reception officially begins as you and your partner are announced. Enjoy being the center of attention as you enter the reception area.

3:15 PM – First Dance
Kick off the reception with your first dance, followed by dances with parents. This part of the day sets a romantic tone for the celebration.

4:00 PM – Dinner
Dinner service begins. Ensure your guests are comfortable and have everything they need. Take this time to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

5:30 PM – Toasts and Speeches
Schedule time for toasts from the best man, maid of honor, and family members. These heartfelt moments personalize your celebration.

6:00 PM – Dancing Starts
Invite your guests to join you on the dance floor. This segment is typically lively, creating a festive environment.

10:00 PM – Cake Cutting
Take a moment to cut the cake together. This tradition is a fun photo opportunity and brings a sweet touch to your evening.

10:30 PM – Send-off Preparation
As your celebration nears its end, prepare for your grand exit. Choose a special way for guests to bid farewell, such as sparklers or confetti.

11:00 PM – Grand Exit
Your wedding day concludes with a spectacular grand exit. Savor this moment as you step into your new life together.

Aaron V.

19:49 03 Oct 25

I don’t even know where to start. Wendy has truly become a close family member. She made this wedding possible and rescued us when other vendors/venues failed us. South Padre Island should look at Wendy’s quick thinking, organizing, and management skills as a reference. She is South Padre Island. She is the Anna Wintour of weddings planning. Wendy is a blessing and a gift. She made my wife’s wedding perfect and impeccable communication skills and commitment. I can write a whole novel about Wendy and the experience we had with her. She’s truly amazing. Also her prices are more than fair. She does this because she loves it. Also Martin is a fantastic!! Amazing photographer.

FlowerMom

18:55 20 Sep 25

My husband and I got married in South Padre in 2021( during covid times) Since we were from Houston, we trusted Weddings By Wendi with all her recommendations for photography, caterer, hair/makeup, etc and couldn't have been happier! On our wedding day a storm rolled in causing us to go from plan A to B but her and her team made sure our special day was perfect even with the unexpected weather! Still think about our wedding everyday!

Loren M.

20:42 17 Aug 25

We absolutely loved working with Wendi and Martin for our family photos. They helped us with how to get the best shot while also making sure to get some poses that we wanted. Wendi did amazing getting our almost one year old to smile too! They are kind and great to work with. We cannot wait to hang the photos in our home!

Abigail C.

20:09 27 May 25

I cannot thank Wendy enough for everything she did to make our wedding day absolutely perfect. I was in the middle of finishing my finals and incredibly stressed, but Wendy took care of every detail and made the entire planning process so easy and stress-free for me. I wanted a micro wedding—something private, intimate, and personal—and she delivered exactly that! The view was breathtaking, and my dream of having a sunset wedding was delivered.

Martin also played a big role in making our day special. He made both my husband and me feel completely comfortable, and we can’t wait to see the photos! I highly recommend!

Khristine

04:29 18 Apr 25

We were truly fortunate to have had such a flawless day! Wendi was exceptional, and every detail was meticulously planned. From subtle touches to expertly managing challenging guests, she demonstrated remarkable resilience and poise. Her outstanding reputation on the island was evident, as everyone seemed eager to accommodate her requests. Wendi delivers outstanding results, and when she commits to you, she consistently delivers. She and Martin have created a one stop shop, which is perfect for destination or out of town weddings. We are happy to know them and would highly recommend Weddings by Wendi to anyone in the South Texas area and Austin who is planning a wedding soon. Wendi is your go to girl and will make sure your day is as perfect as ours was!!

Sara S

01:48 25 Nov 24

Every single thing about our wedding was perfect. Wendi did every thing I wanted and the wedding was super smooth. The photos were magical and really captured the beauty of the night. She thinks about everything and has connections for anything you might want.

Rebecca C.

20:15 26 Oct 24

Wendi, you are amazing. Everything was so perfect. You exceeded our expectations. Our wedding was everything I envisioned.

Michael J.

01:25 25 Sep 24

When it comes to wedding planning, let Wendi take the wheel! She took all the stress off of us and planned the perfect day for me and my wife! You won't lift a finger and all your wedding dreams will come TRUE!

Meghan M.

17:35 23 Sep 24

Wendi and Martin are an excellent team! I had a wonderful experience with both of them. I used them to take my maternity photos and plan my baby shower. I couldn’t say enough positive words about them both. They make you feel comfortable and bring your vision to life. So happy with how everything turned out! Would highly recommend them for photos and events.

Sarah S.

19:55 18 Jun 24

I have no words to express how grateful I am for Wendi… from day one she has been helpful, sweet and answered any questions or concerns that I had. She made accommodations for my wedding and made sure that my husband and I felt comfortable and happy with how everything was going to turn out, even my dog was able to participate which was a big deal for me. My wedding day was a dream come true thanks to Wendi, we had beautiful photos taken during the sunset, Martin did an amazing job at taking these photos. I highly recommend Weddings by Wendi

Sharon B.

14:17 18 Jun 24

Wedding’s by Wendi ! God truly blessed us the day we met Wendi she makes your dreams actually come true … she is very detailed in her work from beginning to the end our day ! It was magical like a fairytale ! If pictures could speak if you can just see the beauty in every picture & all the love & dedication then Wendi’s you go to girl ! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts❤️

Kayla A.

23:41 01 May 24

Our wedding came out so stunning. Having Wendi plan out our wedding took so much weight off our shoulders before and during the event. She has a keen eye to every detail and is such an amazing advocate for our vision of how our wedding should look like.
A true wedding planner icon of the island, highly recommend to seek her wedding services.
Also.. the Picasso house is so gorgeous I already miss it.

Samuel R.

21:23 29 Sep 23

Just wanted to thank Wendi and her family for a wonderful wedding ceremony!! We loved the setup and the sunset wedding!! It was a magical day for us!! We loved South Padre Island!! We are gonna try to make it out every year for our anniversary!!