The wedding-day timeline, hour by hour.

Most wedding-day timelines are built backward from the ceremony. The ceremony is the fixed point; everything before it (getting ready, first look, portrait session) and everything after (reception, first dance, exit) anchors to it. Get the ceremony time right and the rest of the day mostly writes itself.

For destination weddings, the ceremony is usually scheduled for one to two hours before sunset, to give the photographer the best light for the ceremony itself and for the golden-hour portrait window that follows. The specific time varies by month and latitude, so look up sunset for your exact date and venue and work back from there.

The template below is a standard evening-ceremony Saturday, adaptable for any destination. Specific times shift by up to an hour depending on sunset.

09.00 · Late breakfast with the wedding party. Keep it light but real; a wedding day with no food is harder than a wedding day with a hangover.

10.30 · Hair and makeup begin. Plan for 60–75 minutes per person for hair and makeup; 90 for the couple. For a wedding party of six plus the couple, this is roughly a four-hour block.

11.30 · Photographer arrives for getting-ready shots. They work quietly around the hair-and-makeup chairs.

13.30 · First look (if doing one). Private moment between the couple before the ceremony. Saves time later in the day and produces some of the best photos.

14.30 · Wedding-party portraits. Groups, pairs, individuals. Work through the list the planner prepared.

16.30 · Guests arrive. Seating begins. Processional music starts ten minutes before the ceremony.

17.00 · Ceremony begins. Target runtime: 25 to 40 minutes. Longer than 40 minutes and guests start to drift; shorter than 20 feels rushed. The sweet spot for most destination weddings is around 30 minutes.

17.30 · Recessional. Couple walks back up the aisle. Guests move to the cocktail area.

17.45 · Cocktail hour begins. Signature drinks, passed canapés, light music. Couple takes 15 minutes alone together before joining.

18.00 · Couple and family portraits in the ceremony space (now empty) or a photogenic adjacent spot. Photographer chases the light; this is the golden hour.

18.45 · Guests move to the reception space. Couple makes their entrance. Set it to music and give it a beat.

19.00 · First dance. Short and sweet (3 minutes). Keeps the day moving.

19.10 · Welcome and opening toast, usually from a parent or the officiant. Three to five minutes.

19.20 · First course served. Guests sit. Service begins.

20.00 · Toasts during dinner. Best man, maid of honour, sibling. Keep each to under 3 minutes if possible. See our toast guide for the specifics.

20.45 · Main course. By now the room has warmed up and the conversations are good.

21.30 · Cake cutting. Photographable moment; keep it brief.

21.45 · Parent dances (if doing them), then the floor opens.

22.00 · Full dance floor. DJ or band builds the energy. Late-night snacks come out around 23.00 for guests who need fuel.

00.00 · Music curfew at most destination venues. Some coastal resorts go to 1am or 2am.

00.15 · Sparkler exit or planned farewell moment. Couple leaves in a car or boat, guests wave them off.

00.30 · Guests drift to the hotel bar or the after-party space for drinks until whenever.

Sunday morning, a long brunch. Nothing scheduled; nobody in a rush.