The Best Wedding Timeline: How to Plan a Smooth, Stress-Free Wedding Day

Planning a wedding is a balancing act of logistics, emotions, and unforgettable moments. One of the most important parts of the planning process? Creating a timeline that makes your day flow effortlessly—from hair and makeup in the morning to that final sparkler send-off.

At Allegro, we’ve seen it all. So we’ve gathered our top tips and a sample timeline to help you get started, plus a few key things to keep in mind along the way.

Why a Wedding Day Timeline Matters

Even the most relaxed weddings run smoother with a thoughtful plan. A well-structured timeline:

• Keeps vendors and the wedding party on the same page

• Helps you build in time to breathe and be present

• Ensures your photographer captures all the key moments

• Prevents stressful delays or forgotten details

  
  

Things to Consider When Creating Your Timeline

Before you start plugging in times, think about:

1. Ceremony Time This anchors your day. Everything before (getting ready, first look, pre-ceremony photos) and after (cocktail hour, dinner, dancing) revolves around it.

2. Sunset Time Especially at Allegro, where golden hour photos are a must, knowing when the sun sets helps you plan for dreamy portraits.

3. First Look (or Not) Doing a first look gives you more time for photos before the ceremony, so you can enjoy cocktail hour with your guests.

4. Travel Time Between Locations Not necessary at Allegro (everything’s on-site!), but if you’re getting ready off-property or shuttling guests in, you’ll need buffer time.

5. Vendor Hours Make sure your photo/video team and catering staff are scheduled for the key parts of the day you want them present for.

6. Personal Priorities Want extra time to relax with your wedding party? Prefer to sneak away for a private toast post-ceremony? Add that in!

Need help choosing vendors? We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite local partners to make the process easier. Check out our trusted vendors here.

Sample Wedding Day Timeline (With a 5:00 PM Ceremony)

9:00 AM – Hair & makeup team arrives at cottages

10:00 AM – Wedding party begins getting ready

12:00 PM – Photographer arrives; detail shots begin

1:30 PM – Bride & groom get dressed

2:00 PM – First look + couple’s portraits

2:30 PM – Wedding party photos

3:30 PM – Family photos

4:15 PM – Guests begin arriving

5:00 PM – Ceremony at Grace Chapel

5:30 PM – Cocktail hour on the lawn

6:30 PM – Reception begins in Baker Hall

7:00 PM – Dinner served

8:00 PM – Toasts, cake, & dancing

10:45 PM – Last song

11:00 PM – Grand exit

Bonus tip: Build in 15-minute buffers where you can!

Pro Tip: Let Your Venue Help

When you book Allegro, our team helps you build a timeline that reflects your style, priorities, and vision. We work closely with your coordinator and vendors to keep the day flowing smoothly so you can focus on what matters: making memories.

Ready to bring your wedding day to life? Come tour Allegro and see how our on-site amenities, stunning spaces, and seasoned team help make your perfect timeline a reality.