How a timeline can help you have a stress-free wedding day

A detailed wedding day timeline ensures that your special day is flawlessly organized, from the bridal party wedding prep to the last dance at the reception.

• There's a flurry of activity on the wedding day, long before the bride walks down the aisle to say "I do."
• A wedding day timeline should include an hour-by-hour description of what the bride, groom and their guests should be doing. On the timeline, include the time and location of each event.
• For instance, the bride and her bridesmaids might meet at a salon for hair and makeup, while the groom and his groomsmen spend the morning at a local hotel or home for brunch.
• Identify where the couple and their attendants should be and what they should be doing until the ceremony begins.

• Preparing the wedding venue for a grand celebration requires the coordination of a number of vendors.
• From the caterer and florist to the DJ or band, baker and photographer, vendors need to know where they should be on the big day.
• Coordinate with vendors to identify when they will arrive, and add those arrivals to the timeline.
• Even if you have a wedding planner, including these helpful items on your day-of timeline will ease any stress and ensure every member of your team is on the same page.

• From timing post-ceremony photos to ensuring food and drink are served on time, many events need to be well-timed during the ceremony and reception.
• Your wedding day timeline should include a breakdown of reception events, including the bride and groom's first dance, toasts, cocktail hour, cake cutting, bouquet, garter toss and the bride and groom's departure.
• Your wedding day should be one of the happiest days of your life. Don't let a poorly scheduled event leave you stressed and unable to simply relax.
• A well-designed timeline should be distributed to your bridal party, vendors and wedding planners to ensure that everyone properly placed when you say "I do."