When you’re in the thick of wedding planning, it can be hard to see the wood for the trees. But if you plan out the schedule in advance—with the understanding that things can change, of course—it can help you stay on top of things.
So, what does a typical wedding day schedule look like? Read on to find out.
How long does a wedding ceremony last?
Generally speaking, a wedding ceremony is about 30 minutes to an hour long. It might be longer if you’re having a religious ceremony or if you’re including readings, music, or any other bits that are important to you.
Broadly:
- A registry office wedding can be as quick as 10-15 minutes. But usually, they’ll be closer to half an hour
- Civil ceremonies can take about 30 minutes
- A traditional church ceremony might take up to an hour. For example, a simple Church of England ceremony could be around 45 minutes. While a Catholic ceremony that includes a full mass could run over an hour
A typical wedding day schedule
Here’s how your wedding day schedule might look in practice. In this example, the ceremony is at 2pm.
7-8am: Wake up
Rise and shine, you’re getting married today! You might feel like a bundle of nerves—but also so excited that you’ll be tying the knot with your person later today. Get yourself up and showered, and be sure to eat some breakfast. Trust us, you’ll need the energy!
9-11am: Time for glam; suppliers arrive
Your glam squad arrives to do hair and makeup for the bridal party. This is when the fun begins: you’re all in your robes, chatting away (while possibly enjoying a glass of champagne). If you like, you can get some photos done of you all in your matching pre-wedding garb.
In the meantime, your suppliers will arrive at the venue to set everything up. You’ll have to arrange the exact time in advance with them and ensure they’ll have access to the venue.
12pm: Bride gets dressed
Now it’s time to put on your outfit. You’re getting married in just a few hours!
12:30ish: More photos
You might decide to take some more photos with your bridal party before things officially kick off. Or you can just bake this time in as a buffer—both are excellent ideas.
We’d recommend having a light meal or some snacks as well.
1-1:30pm: Guests start to arrive (and possibly your partner)
Your guests will start arriving at the venue. Traditionally, the groom gets to the venue early to greet all the guests. But that part is totally up to you. Some couples choose to hire an emcee instead, who welcomes the guests and makes sure they’re seated in time for the ceremony.
1:45: Leave for the venue
Get your bridal party together and head down to the venue.
2pm: Ceremony starts
It’s time for the day’s main event: the part where you get married to the love of your life. As mentioned above, ceremonies typically run for about 30 minutes to an hour.
2:30-3pm: Ceremony ends, drinks reception, more photos
If you want to get the famous confetti shot—you and your partner walking through rows of your loved ones, who shower you with confetti—now’s the perfect time. Usually, couples will wait 10-20 minutes after the ceremony ends while the wedding staff help arrange guests into lines and hand out confetti. Then, you’ll make your dramatic entrance.
After the ceremony, it’s also common for guests to line up and pass on their well-wishes to the couple one by one. Again, it’s up to you whether you want to include this part. Some couples do this before their confetti moment—others have it after. Your wedding planner and/or photographer can advise on what they’d recommend.
Then it’s time to treat your guests to a drinks reception while you take more photos. If you want to take group photos, be sure to leave a good amount of time for that: it can take up to an hour, depending on how many guests you have.
4:45: Seated for dinner
Your guests will be ushered to their seats so the evening meal can begin.
5pm: Dinner is served, speeches
Treat yourselves to the evening meal while enjoying the speeches. Usually, speeches happen in-between courses, but do whatever works for you. If you or your partner (or both!) want to make a speech, traditionally you’ll go last.
If you’d like to do the cutting of the cake, this can happen after dinner. But some couples choose to do this later in the evening, serving up the cake as a post-dinner snack. Again, it’s totally your call.
And just before sunset, you and your partner might nip out briefly to take some photos during “golden hour”.
7pm: Reception begins, evening guests arrive
Now, it’s time for the party. Change your outfit if you like and get ready to welcome the next wave of guests.
7:30-7:45pm: First dance
After your first dance, it’s typical for the happy couple to welcome everyone else onto the floor. This officially “opens” the dance floor.
7:45-8pm: Dance party
Get ready to throw some shapes with your favourite people. If you’ve booked a band, they’ll usually play first before you round out the night with a DJ or playlist.
Many couples choose to serve late-night nibbles as the festivities go on. At Kindred, we have a dedicated late night menu full of crowd-pleasing comfort foods, from grazing boards to pizzas, mac & cheese, and charcuterie.
12pm: Carriages
This is the typical time for a wedding to wind up. But some venues (including us!) can extend the festivities into the early hours.
How long should a wedding speech be?
There’s no hard-and-fast rules here. Generally, 6-8 minutes is a good speech length. You don’t want to rush things, but equally, you don’t want to lose your guests’ attention.
Having writer’s block? Check out our guide to writing the perfect groom’s speech.
Your wedding venue
Now that you’ve got an idea of how the day will run, what about your wedding venue? Choosing the right venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make about the day. It should match the vibe and feel of the festivities; a gorgeous backdrop for making lifelong memories.
Kindred is a much-loved West London wedding venue, right in the heart of Hammersmith. We’re the venue of choice for couples who are down-to-earth but appreciate the finer things. Our unique interiors blend modern and heritage styles, with spaces to suit any style of celebration.
For intimate weddings, our warm and sophisticated upstairs spaces are ideal—while our airy Hall can comfortably host larger parties of up to 150.
And then there’s the food, crafted by chefs in our on-site Hammersmith restaurant, Cellar. Our well-stocked private bars (there’s one on each floor of our building) will also be at your disposal.
Take a look through our wedding brochure to learn more about weddings at Kindred. To see the space for yourself, take a virtual tour or come and visit us in person—simply get in touch with our team to arrange it. We would be delighted to bring your dream wedding to life.
