Complete Wedding Day Timeline in Ireland – 8 Best Tips
Whenever I ask my couples what kind of wedding day they are dreaming of, almost each of them is hoping for a relaxed day. Marrying your best friend, seeing all your friends and family gathered in one place, and then spending the whole day with them and dancing the night away – who could think of a happier wedding day? Yet no matter how informal and fun you want your day to be, a relaxing wedding has one must – proper planning. And figuring out the best wedding day timeline is one of the key elements.
I have photographed over 300 weddings and have had a chance to see different timelines from start to finish. I’ve witnessed some amazing events that make your heart sing. And occasionally I’ve witnessed things go wrong – and usually due to lack of planning. So here are some of my top tips for making your wedding day timeline as relaxing as possible.
8 Best Time-Saving Tips for Your Wedding Day
Have a finish time for hair and make-up
Let’s start from the beginning! The first people you’ll see on your big day (besides your family and bridal party) will probably be your hair stylist and make-up artist. Make sure to tell your morning vendors what time they should be finished. I recommend 60-90 minutes before you have to leave the house (for example, if your ceremony is at 1pm and the church is around the corner, tell them you’ll need to be done by 12).
Cracking a bottle of prosecco with your bridesmaids, putting on your dress, letting your Dad see you for the first time – all those things take time. An hour and a half might sound like a long time but trust me, it flies! If you have some time left, your photographer will love you for it and you’ll get some gorgeous bridal portraits or family photos at home. If anything goes wrong (like the whole wedding party searching the house for your mother’s headpiece – true story!), you’ll have lots of extra time. The worst thing that can happen on the morning is you constantly checking the clock knowing you’re late for the ceremony and stressing out because of it.
Invite your guests 15 minutes before the actual ceremony time
Guests in Ireland are often fashionably late, and there’s not much you can do about it. What you can do, though, is just tell them the ceremony is 15 earlier than is scheduled – especially if it’s a church wedding! This way you won’t have stragglers come in after the start of mass.
When it comes to the ceremony time, a lot of couples choose to have a later ceremony. Check with your venue if you can bring the ceremony and dinner earlier. If you get married at 2pm and have your dinner served at 5pm the guests will only be happy and you’ll have the whole evening to party!
Consider doing a first look
If one of your priorities is to spend as much time as possible chatting and mingling with friends, have you thought about doing a first look? Seeing each other before the ceremony has more advantages than one. You get to share a really intimate and romantic moment together; you feel more relaxed when it comes to the ceremony. But most importantly, you don’t have to leave your drinks reception to have your photos taken!
Cut the cake during the drinks reception!
Traditionally the cake is displayed in your dining hall during dinner and the two of you cut it after the meal. However it also usually means that you don’t get to eat it until 11pm when the dancing is well and truly under way and… well, nobody really wants that cake! It will probably end up living in your freezer for the next 6 months.
Instead, display (and cut!) your cake during the drinks reception! Not only will the photos look gorgeous in the natural light but the guests can then help themselves to something sweet along with the canapes, and no one will be starving by the time dinner comes around. Trust me, they will still eat their dinner – they’re not 5!
Organize your families for stress-free group photos
Wedding family photos are rarely something couples look forward to. You’ve probably had some experience posing for group photos, and you might even have a painful memory of how long it can take… The thing is, it doesn’t have to take ages. There are a few different tricks to make sure your group photos are quick and easy but here are the main tips. Make a list beforehand. Let your families know where and what time the group photos are taking place (straight after the ceremony is the best time). Find a spot away from the rest of your guests (so you don’t have to pose for 10 smartphones at once).
Have your speeches during the drinks reception
It’s becoming more and more popular to move the traditional post-dinner speeches earlier. I often have couples who want to have the speeches before dinner or even during the drinks reception.
If your venue can accommodate all your guests in one room (or better yet – outdoors!) consider doing the speeches even before the dinner call. It’s a fantastic way to get the formalities out of the way, make the speeches a little more casual and also get to the food earlier. Your guests will love you for it!
Leave the couple portraits until the dinner call
This is one of my favourite time-saving tips! Most photographers suggest doing the couple photos straight after the ceremony, just as your guests are grabbing those first drinks and saying hello to each other… and you inevitably feel like you are missing out!
What if, instead, you get to your drinks reception as soon as possible, soak in all the excitement and the love… Then, as all the guests are getting seated for dinner and you have the grounds to yourselves, the two of you can actually enjoy the photographs! As a bonus – the evening light is so much lovelier and softer than the 3pm sunshine!
Use the time before party starts
You’ve had an amazing day, enjoyed your dinner, shed a tear at your Dad’s speech and can’t wait to get the party going. Only now you have to wait for over an hour for the staff to clear and move the tables and for the band to set up! There’s nothing that kills the vibe more than a lull before the dancing starts. Don’t let your guests get sleepy and bored! If there is no way for the band to set up beforehand, use this time wisely. Get group shots with your school friends, set up sparkler photos, have a few props or activities for your guests to enjoy. Get that party vibe going!
Sample Spring / Summer Wedding Day Timeline
8am – Breakfast and Getting Ready
11.30am – Photographer and Videographer arrives
12.30pm – Hair and Makeup finished, time to put on your dress
2/3pm – Ceremony (church service usually lasts 1 hour, civil ceremonies 30 minutes)
3.30pm – Greet your guests then make your way to the drinks reception
3.45pm – Family photos
4pm – Drinks and chats with your friends
5.30pm – Call for dinner, 30 minutes of photos at the venue while guests are taking their seats
6pm – Bride and Groom announced for dinner, short speeches, starters are served
8pm – Post-dinner sunset photos
8.30-9pm – First Dance and Party!
Sample Autumn / Winter Wedding Day Timeline
With daylight hours much shorter, make sure you have enough time for those outdoor photos! Check out my tips for planning your winter wedding.
7am – Breakfast and Getting Ready
10.30am – Photographer and Videographer arrives
11.30am – Hair and Makeup finished, time to put on your dress
12.30pm – First Look and Family Photos
1.30/2pm – Ceremony
2.30pm – Greet your guests, then make your way to your drinks reception
3pm – Drinks reception
5pm – Call for dinner
5.30pm – Bride and Groom announced for dinner, short speeches, starters are served
8pm – Sparklers or night time photos
8.30-9pm – First Dance and Party!