Planning your wedding timeline is one of the most important aspects of ensuring your big day runs smoothly. As Albuquerque’s premier wedding planners, we’ve seen firsthand how a well-organized timeline can transform a potentially stressful day into a seamless event. Without a wedding timeline, even the best-laid plans can lead to chaos (and trust us, no one wants that!). This guide will walk you through the essential steps of planning your wedding timeline, from the moment you say “yes” to the final “I do.”
But before we go into the details, are you looking for a New Mexico wedding planner? We’d love to be part of your special day! Whether you need full-service planning and design or simply month-of coordination, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today, and let’s start planning your dream wedding!
Now, let’s get into the steps that will help you map out the perfect wedding timeline, from start to finish!
The Importance of a Well-Organized Wedding Timeline
In case we haven’t said it enough, having a solid wedding timeline is the secret to a stress-free celebration! It keeps you on top of your to-do list, makes sure everyone—from your vendors to your wedding party—knows exactly what to expect, and helps the entire day run like clockwork. Without it, you risk missing important details and feeling overwhelmed when you should be enjoying every moment!
We also want to address a common misconception: having a wedding timeline does NOT mean that your wedding will feel too rigid. You can have as much white space as you want!
Does this already sound like too much? We’d love to take it off your plate, let’s chat!
Photo Credit: Christian Oth Studio/Oth Media Group
1. Set the Date
First thing first: you need a wedding date! You’ll want to think about important factors like the season, location, and your guest list. Are you dreaming of an outdoor wedding in the fall? Or a cozy indoor event in the winter? These details help you narrow down your options and set a realistic date.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to check in with key family members and your VIP guests to ensure the date works for everyone you REALLY want there!
2. Create a Planning Timeline
Now that you’ve got the big day on the calendar, it’s time to map out the months leading up to it. Planning your wedding timeline isn’t just about the wedding day itself—it’s about making sure you have a solid plan for everything between the engagement and the ceremony.
Sit down and make a list of the big tasks that need to get done, like booking vendors, sending invitations, and finalizing your guest list. We can help you with this! The best way to stay organized is to create a master timeline. This master timeline is essentially a calendar of all the important deadlines, appointments, and decisions that need to happen before your wedding day.
For example, booking your venue should happen about a year in advance, while dress fittings can wait until about six months out. Creating this roadmap helps you stay on top of things, so you’re not scrambling at the last minute!
3. Break Down Tasks Month by Month
A big wedding can feel overwhelming, but the process gets much easier when you break things down into smaller, manageable chunks. Once you have a general idea of your planning timeline, take some time to break it down even further.
Here’s a very basic month-by-month breakdown to help guide you through planning your wedding timeline:
12-9 Months Out
- Book your wedding planner: If you’re investing in a full-service planner, you’ll want to book BEFORE you even choose your venue (because we can help you with that!).
- Book your venue: Venues tend to book up fast, especially if you’re eyeing a popular spot. This should be one of the first things you check off your list.
- Hire key vendors: Photographer, videographer, entertainment, and caterer—these are the main vendors that typically get booked far in advance, so don’t wait!
9-6 Months Out
- Send save-the-dates: Let your guests know when and where the celebration will be.
- Find your dream dress: Bridal gown shopping can take some time, especially if you need alterations.
- Plan your honeymoon: Booking early will often save you some money, plus it’s fun to have something to look forward to post-wedding!
- Choose your wedding party: Decide who’s going to stand by your side. If this thought stresses you out though, don’t worry! More and more couples are choosing to skip wedding parties altogether (or choose just one person to stand by their side).
Photo Credit: Maura Jane Photography
6-3 Months Out
- Send invitations: Your official invites should go out around the three-month mark, but get started on them early.
- Finalize details with vendors: Touch base with everyone to make sure they’re on track (your wedding planner will do this for you!).
- Book hair and makeup trials: This is your chance to test out different looks and make sure you feel gorgeous.
3-1 Month Out
- Get your marriage license: This is a must-do—check with your local county on how far in advance you need to apply.
- Create seating charts: Once RSVPs start coming in, you can begin figuring out where everyone will sit.
- Final dress fitting: Any last-minute tweaks to your gown should happen now.
Final Weeks
- Confirm details with vendors: Reach out to your vendors one last time to ensure everything’s running smoothly.
- Get ready to enjoy your day: With everything lined up, you’ll be ready to relax and savor every moment.
A wedding planner can take this all off of your plate! This really is a very high-level overview, because the average wedding takes 300+ hours to plan (and includes hundreds of details). At Lace and Bow Bridal, we offer full-service planning and design and would LOVE to help you get started. Contact us today!
Photo Credit: Cam Storie Photography
Step 4: Day-Of Timeline
Now, let’s move onto the day-of timeline. Without one, you’re left wondering what happens next, and things can spiral quickly. Think of this as your wedding day schedule—it’s a step-by-step outline of who’s doing what and when. We like to create a rough draft as soon as the “main” wedding vendors are booked, but this is something we tweak many, many, times before the wedding day.
Here’s a sample day-of wedding timeline. The timing will depend on the specifics of your wedding day (like the ceremony start time, what time rental companies arrive, if you want a first look moment, etc.), but this should give you a solid start!:
9:00 AM – Hair and Makeup Begins
- The bride, bridesmaids, and close family members start getting ready.
- Hair and makeup can take 2-5 hours, depending on the size of your bridal party, so starting early is key!
1:30 PM – Photographer Arrives
- The photographer arrives to capture getting-ready moments, detail shots (dress, shoes, invitations, etc.), and candid moments with your bridal party.
2:30 PM – Groomsmen Arrive/Start Getting Ready
- The groomsmen should begin getting ready. Often, the groom’s side takes less time to get dressed, but leave buffer time for any last-minute details.
3:15 PM – First Look (Optional)
- If you’re doing a first look, now’s the time! This is when the photographer captures that special moment between you and your partner before the ceremony.
4:00 PM – Bridal Party Photos (Optional)
- If you opted for a first look, you can get group photos with the bridal party done before the ceremony. This will save time after the ceremony for you to enjoy cocktail hour or relax (this is a trend we are seeing more and more and are here for it!)
5:00 PM – Ceremony Begins
- Time for the big moment! The ceremony generally lasts around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your officiant and any special rituals.
5:30 PM – Post-Ceremony Photos (Optional)
- If you didn’t do a first look (or just want more photos done), now’s the time for formal portraits. Gather your family, bridal party, and of course, couple portraits. Plan for this to take about 30-45 minutes.
6:00 PM – Cocktail Hour
- Guests enjoy drinks and appetizers while you finish up photos or take a moment to yourselves before joining the fun.
6:30 PM – Reception Begins
- Time to make your grand entrance! The reception typically kicks off with introductions, followed by the first dance and dinner service.
7:45 PM – Toasts and Speeches
- Once dinner wraps up, it’s time for toasts. This usually includes the maid of honor, best man, parents of the couple and the couple themselves.
8:15 PM – Cake Cutting
- Cut the cake and kick off dessert service.
8:30 PM – Open Dancing
- Time to hit the dance floor!
9:30 PM – Bouquet and Garter Toss (Optional)
- If you’re planning on these traditions, this is a good time to do them once the dance floor is buzzing.
10:45 PM – Send-Off (Optional)
- Time for your grand exit! Whether it’s sparklers, confetti, or a special car, end the night on a high note.
11:00 PM – Reception Ends
- Every venue is different, so make sure to confirm your venue’s policy on how late you can dance.
It’s a great idea to have someone—like your wedding planner or month-of coordinator—to keep things moving along smoothly. (P.S. We offer month-of coordination AND full-service planning!) This way, you can stay present and enjoy each moment without worrying about what’s coming up next.
Photo Credit: Coryn Kiefer Photography
Step 5: Flexibility and Contingency Plans
We’ve talked a lot about timelines so far, but before we let you go, let’s talk about contingency plans. Even with the most detailed planning, weddings don’t always go exactly as expected. And that’s okay! Flexibility is the secret ingredient to a stress-free wedding day. When you’re planning your wedding timeline, build in some buffer time for things like traffic, weather, or a late guest (it happens!).
Having a backup plan for things like weather (hello, New Mexico summer storms!) or transportation delays can save the day. Just remember: as long as you and your partner are saying “I do,” nothing else really matters. Everything else will fall into place.
Photo Credit: Luna Del Sol Creative
Ready to Start Planning Your Wedding Timeline?
Planning your wedding timeline doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By breaking everything down step by step, you’ll feel much more confident and ready to tackle the process. With a solid plan in place, you’ll be able to fully enjoy your engagement, knowing that every detail is covered!
And if you would rather just pass it off to someone else to deal with, that’s okay too (trust us, we get it!). We would LOVE to help! To see if we’re the perfect fit to help bring your wedding dreams to life, check out our portfolio! Contact us today to start planning your perfect day!