How to Create A Day-of Wedding Timeline That Focuses on Presence and Intentionality
Your wedding should never, ever feel rushed or stressful. It should be a day that’s all about you. Your love, your wants, your main character moment! And the best way to ensure that? A day-of wedding timeline that lets your day breathe. When you plan for a day filled with love, joy, and intentional moments, that’s exactly what you get. As a San Francisco wedding photographer, I’ve created many wedding timelines, so I’ve gotchu with my top tips for planning your day perfectly!
How Your Day-Of Wedding Timeline Impacts Your Day (And Your Photos!)
Every part of your day is based on structure. The way everything unfolds day of will fall back on how well thought-out the planning was, always. So when you create a wedding timeline, make sure it makes sense and gives you enough time for the things that you actually want. No fluff, no rushing. Just a day that flows naturally and gives you the space to breathe, connect, and be present!
And as a San Francisco wedding photographer, trust me when I say that having a good timeline to follow will ensure that you get natural, true-to-life photos. The best wedding pictures will come from a day where you feel like yourself and where you have room to breathe, and that all starts with a good day-of wedding timeline.
You deserve to romanticize your day and live in the moment, because this is the one day that you really get to do that. So make sure you let it happen with a good plan!
Planning Your Day-Of Wedding Timeline
Trying to make time for everything that you want can be tricky, but trust me, it’s doable. Something I tell my couples every time? Add in space. On your timeline, act like everything takes 30 minutes to an hour longer than it actually does. Really! Because trust me, having wiggle-room in your schedule will eliminate so much stress on your day and will give you the time to step back, take a deep breath, and focus in on the current moment.
Focusing on Your Priority for Your Wedding
Your wedding is all for you, so start by asking yourself what you want out of the day. If your main priority is visiting with your family, make sure that your timeline allows that. Add in a block where you go around to each table at the reception to say hi to everyone. If you want to be sure to have a quick moment or two alone with your love, plan for it, babe!
My top tips for planning your day-of wedding timeline? Decide what you want most out of the day and build your whole wedding timeline around that.
A Sample Day-Of Wedding Timeline
Now, you didn’t think I wasn’t going to give you an example, did you?! Here’s a day-of wedding timeline that’s all about intentionality, presence, and connection for you to copy and make your own.
9:00 am: Get ready with your favorite people – savor the moments of girlhood, friendship, and excitement leading up to your big moment
12:00 pm: Eat lunch, because being hangry does not make for a fun day, trust me
1:45 pm: A private first look and vows – a time for you two to focus on each other – followed by couple’s portraits
2:15 pm: Wedding party photos
3:00 pm: Family photos (pro tip: have a list of names of everyone you want photos with to make this quicker and easier!)
3:45 pm: A moment alone for just you and your partner to focus on each other before saying “I do,” and let the weight of the moment hit you
4:30 pm: Ceremony
5:00 pm: A moment alone to say, “Damn, we really just did that!”
5:15 pm: Visit with guests at cocktail hour
6:00 pm: Your big entrance, special dances, then dinner
7:30 pm: Sneak away for sunset photos, just the two of you (plus your photographer, hiii!!)
8:00 pm: Party with your fave people
Lois and Brandon’s Intentional + Romantic Wedding
Lois and Brandon had the most romantic day. It was so emotional, so full of love, and every detail was intentionally planned.
Lois was a bride with a vision and brought an insane amount of attention to detail to every minute of the day. And honestly? I love that for her. From her flat lay details to her scarf created with bills from her money dance, there were so many details filled with meaning and intention!
These two are so in love, and it shows. They had a true rom-com romance. Think Andie and Ben from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (the bride’s favorite movie!) level cute.
How Lois and Brandon’s Wedding Timeline Let Their Story Breathe
Both Lois and Brandon got ready in The Westin St. Francis (which had an unforgettable view of the city), before heading to St. Ignatius Church, where they said I do! And even this was a detail that had meaning, because the bride’s great-grandmother was a member of this church, and her cousin actually officiated the wedding!
After the ceremony, we all headed back to the Westin for the reception. I honestly loved this setup, because it gave the couple time to spend together on the way to and from the venues and created natural breaks within the day.
Every little piece of the day was planned precisely, and the flow of the day showed it. No stress, no drama, no rushing. Just a sweet, calm, effortless day. And I’ll be dreaming about it forever and ever!
Lani Leblanc | San Francisco Wedding Photographer
As your San Francisco wedding photographer, I’m always here to help you plan out your perfect timeline. I’ll help you focus on your main priorities for the day, and make sure you get exactly those!
And as a bonus, you’ll get a cinematic gallery that feels like your movie. Wedding photos filled with nostalgia and warmth that are rooted in honesty and authenticity.
Ready to chat? You can inquire right here.
See more wedding inspiration from these blog posts:
A California Wedding Venue That’s Giving Whimsical Forest Vibes
A Perfect California Wedding Venue for a Wedding Weekend: At The Bluff Wedding Venue
