Your Chill Wedding Still Needs a Timeline

Photo by Jenna Van Valen Photography

I know, I know stick with me here! If you want a really chill, laid back wedding, you still have to write a timeline. In fact, it's super important that you do. I know it sounds like an oxymoron, but trust me. The more planning you do ahead of time, the more chill the day of can be. I got a comment on one of my videos once saying their mom had asked them for the wedding timeline and they were like, I don't know... good food, dancing, really chill vibes. I thought, Oh no! They're gonna wish they had written a timeline.

I know you don't want to do all that work, I know it feels like a timeline will make the day feel rigid and forced, I know you just want to go with the flow, but there's got to be a flow to go with. If you write a timeline, then you've got everyone on the same page of when they need to do what, where to go, what to expect, etc. otherwise that chill vibe is gonna turn into stress and total chaos before you know it.

Here’s an example of a simple wedding day timeline I might write for a “chill wedding” with around 50 guests and no wedding party (note: details are only examples and will differ for individual weddings dependent on venue rules, time of year, client wants, vendor contracts, etc.):

11am Venue access for vendors, floorplan set by venue staff

Wedding party getting ready onsite, no professional HMU

Noon Caterer & Bar arrival, sets linens, place settings, glassware, etc.

Coordinator arrival, sets DIY décor

1pm Floral delivery: centerpieces and personals

2:30pm Photographer arrives, final touches getting ready photos

3pm First Look and couples’ photos

DJ arrival

4pm Family Photos

4:30pm Guests begin arriving, couple tucked away

5pm Ceremony begins

Processional order:

Fill in names

5:30pm Ceremony recessional

Cocktail hour begins

Couple heads inside with officiant and witnesses to sign license, caterer brings up drinks and apps for couple

6pm Couple joins cocktail hour (do not announce)

6:30pm Guests find their seats for dinner

6:40pm Buffet opens: Couple first then Photographer, then tables released by Coordinator

7:30pm Toasts (2):

Fill in names

Followed by Couple thanks their guests

7:45pm First Dance

Followed by Open Dance floor, mingling

Dessert served (no cake cutting)

8:30pm Photographer departs

9:15pm Last Call

9:45pm Bar closes

9:53pm Last dance of the night (invite all guests up to dance)

9:57pm Informal sendoff, couple departs followed by guests

10pm Music off

Cleanup

11pm All out

Do you see how a chill wedding still needs a timeline? You don't have to follow it like a rule book. You don't have to go full Monica at Phoebe's wedding and there's no punishment if you're late for this or that, but it will help you and your vendors know what's next and keep things flowing. The more thinking you do ahead of time, the less thinking you will have to do on the wedding day. Trust me!

Happy wedding planning.

Andy <3