Free Planning Guide

Tag Archives: brides

By now, we’re sure you’ve downloaded our planning guide (up in the header) and are using it to keep you on track and organized throughout the planning process. It’s super handy to let you know when you should be doing what task and it also has print outs for your entire bridal party letting them know their responsibilities and keeping them on track too.  Did I mention that it’s pretty? No? Well it is.

The one thing it does not have, is a Wedding Timeline. Why? Well because each of your timelines will be completely different and there’s really no good way for us to template one for you. This post is dedicated to helping you write out your very own timeline so that everyone, even your vendors, know what you and your sweet hubby-to-be expect. 

Image via Creative Commons by Chris Willis

So, what should a timeline consist of? Every event that will take place from the day or so before the wedding to the clean-up after the wedding. Below is an example of how a timeline should look:

Friday, April 12 ~

10:00 – Bridesmaids meet for bridal brunch.
11:30 – Bride and bridesmaid mani + pedis at Stunning Nails
12:00 – Set up begins at Beautiful Venue. Coordinator and Decor team on site. Rentals delivered by Perfect Rental Company.
5:45 – Bridal party to be at Beautiful Venue.
6:00 – Rehearsal begins
7:00 – Rehearsal complete.
7:30 – Rehearsal Dinner to begin at Yummy Rehearsal Dinner Venue.
10:00 – Bride + Maids to Lovely Hotel, Groom + Groomsmen to Handsome Inn.

The Big Day, Saturday, April 13~

8:30 – Bride + Maids breakfast at Lovely Hotel
8:45 – Groom + Groomsmen tee time at SoGreen Golf Course.
9:30 – Fabulous Stylist Team arrives for Bride + Maids hair and makeup.
9:30 – Coordinator on site at Beautiful Venue.
10:00 – Delish Cupcakes delivered to Beautiful Venue.
10:15 – Dreamy Flowers to arrive with floral at Beautiful Venue.
10:30 – Perfection Catering to arrive and begin prep at Beautiful Venue.
11:45 – Groom + Groomsmen complete golf and return to Handsome Inn to get ready.
12:00 – Captivating Photographer arrives at Lovely Hotel for getting ready photos. 2nd Shooter to Handsome Inn for Groom + Groomsmen photos.
12:00 – Visually Videographer arrives at Lovely Hotel to begin video shoot.
1:30 – Loud n Great Band arrives at Beautiful Venue for set up.
3:30 – Vintage Limo arrives to take Bride + Maids to Beautiful Venue. VW Bus to shuttle Groom + Groomsmen to Beautiful Venue.
4:00 – First look photos + video
5:00 – Family Photos
6:00 – Guests arrive and are seated
6:30 – Ceremony begins
6:45 – Ceremony complete, guest move to reception area for cocktail hour.
7:00- Bride and Groom off to take additional photos
7:45 – Parents, bridal party, and newlywed introduction
7:55 – First Dance to The Best Song Ever
8:00 – Newlyweds & guests escorted to seats
8:10- 8:20 – Maid of Honor toast
8:20 -8:30 – Best Man toast
8:30 – Dinner

I could go on and on and on but I think you get my point. Every single action that needs to take place the day before and the day of the Wedding needs to be written down. Talk to each of your vendors to be sure when each thing they are doing will happen and add it to your list. Create a sheet of Vendor Contacts to go along with your timeline. That way, if another vendor’s services are dependent upon another, they’ll have the contact information right from the timeline. This timeline should be given out to anyone in the bridal party, parents, vendors,  and anyone else that may be helping.

I think it is also important to note that if you have a Wedding Planner, they typically create this timeline for you. Ask to be certain, of course. They typically have a much better understanding of  how long things, like photos, usually take and can create a more accurate representation of your day.

All in all, a timeline is an organized Bride and Groom’s best friend. It’ll keep you mostly on time and moving forward on the big day.

Have you thought about creating a Timeline? Have any tips you’d like to share? Leave us a comment!

 

So here we go. Everything you want and need to know about Sunday’s bridal show! First things first, if any of you ladies went to the January show then you know we really changed up our booth. It was a bit smaller and more intimate and we feel it really conveyed the look and feel of our studio right there in the convention center.

Read more…

We at Wedding 101 LOVE accessories and Stella & Dot have some of the prettiest pieces by far! I think what we love most about them is how versatile the pieces are. You can dress up a easy jeans and tee look with the same pieces you’d wear on your wedding day. Looking for some styles for your maids? Here’s some of my favorite parings: Read more…

Pick up your ladies and join us for a fun Girls Night Out event this Thursday June 14th from 6:30 – 8:30! Read more…

Invite the girls to enjoy a fun evening, complete with hors d’ouevres, wine, and a bit of shopping with some fabulous home-based businesses represented at Wedding 101.

Check out jewelry from Stella & Dot, fun bags from Thirty-One Gifts, great Mary Kay cosmetics, cute Darby cards, slices of Sweet Temptations’ cake, and have a taste of Once Upon A Time Catering’s delish dishes! Read more…

There’s just something magical about a veil. It’s the one accessory that takes you from beautiful woman in a stunning gown to Bride. I realize that there was a short time when brides were opting out of veils but ladies, they are back. Here are a few details we are loving. Read more…