This wedding timeline calculator aims to help build the perfect tailored timeline for your event.
It complements deeper pieces of information on each element you should learn before using the calculator (see here).
Time to complete:
If you know what you want, it’s pretty straightforward and should take about 10 minutes to complete.
But if you are unsure, it might also raise some (essential) questions and take much longer.
In such a scenario, I recommend, again, reading the previous article mentioned above (which is a very long article).
The question that it will answer:
This tailor-made timeline will answer complex questions (the answer to which is often “It depends on what you want to do”), such as:
- How many hours of wedding coverage do I need?
- How many hours before the ceremony should I start to get ready?
- How much time do I need for the group photos?
Table of Contents
Disclaimer: Limits of this tool
Like every tool, this tool has some limits.
I listed the more common part of the day and their micro-events that take place on the “typical mid-west wedding day“.
Therefore, I have added some “add custom event” that you can use to add a specific micro event of your choice.
There is also a part to add additional information at the top of each section.
The typical wedding day I am using as a base.
On a typical wedding day, each part of the event has a specific duration. Here is a breakdown of the duration of each part:
- Preparation: 3h00
- Bride and Groom: 1h00
- Group: 1h00
- Buffer time: 30 min
- Ceremony: 30 min
- Cocktail hour: 1h30
- Dinner: 2h30
TIP before Starting: Add a Sunset session for the best couple pictures.
From April to October, the sunset light, often referred to as the golden hour, provides the best lighting for your photos. Take a 20-minute break to enjoy the sunset, and you’ll be thrilled to look back at those stunning images. But when is sunset on your wedding day? You can find out by using a golden hour calculator!
How to use this tool
It’s a straightforward, linear use. You need to accomplish each step one by one.
- Select the parts of the day you want and set their order.
Set a referral time (Ceremony by default, but could be the beginning of the day, or the end of the day). - For each part, allocate some time to each micro event you select, and adjust their order as needed.
- Display, share, print, save, and export your timeline.
For Deeper Help, jump at the end of the page to the Help Section.
Let’s Go!
👰🤵 Personalize Your Timeline
Enter the names of each partner to personalize your timeline.
Step 1: Arrange Your Wedding Day Timeline
Drag and drop the cards below to arrange the order of your wedding day events. Click the × to exclude an event from your timeline.
💡 Tip: Click the 🕐 button on any event to set it as your anchor time (the event with a fixed/known start time).
Step 2: Allocate Duration for Each Event
Adjust the sliders below to set the duration for each micro-event. Click on any category header to collapse/expand it.
| Total Time of Photography Coverage: | 0 hours and 0 minutes | |
*Consider all kinds of delays:
- Someone being late
- Going inside/outside
- You, answering people solicitations
- Elevators
- Issues with an outfit
- Something was forgotten in the car
- Something was forgotten at the hotel
- Packing and unpacking
Step 3: View Your Timeline
Toggle durations for planning details. End times show when each micro-event finishes.
Step 4: Save and Share Your Timeline
💾 Save Your Progress
Save your current timeline to continue later, or load a previously saved version.
Export a file to share with your photographer.
Step by Step Help to use the Wedding Timeline Builder
Overview: The 4 Steps
| Step 1 | Set Your Order — Arrange and prioritize your wedding events |
| Step 2 | Customize Durations — Fine-tune timing for each event and micro-event |
| Step 3 | View Your Timeline — See your complete wedding day schedule |
| Step 4 | Export & Share — Save, share, and collaborate with your photographer |
Getting Started: Personalize Your Timeline
At the very top of the calculator, you’ll find the Personalize Your Timeline section with two input fields:
- Partner 1 Name / Bride — Enter the first partner’s name (e.g., “Sarah”)
- Partner 2 Name / Groom — Enter the second partner’s name (e.g., “Michael”)
Once entered, these names will appear throughout your timeline, making it truly personalized. Names are automatically capitalized for consistency.
Step 1: Set Your Order
This step lets you organize the major events of your wedding day in the order they’ll occur.
Understanding the Event Cards
You’ll see cards for each major event category:
| Category | What It Includes |
|---|---|
| Partner 1 Preparation | Hair, makeup, getting dressed, detail shots |
| Partner 2 Preparation | Getting ready, attire, accessories |
| First Look | Private moment before ceremony (optional) |
| Couple Photos | Romantic portraits of both partners |
| Wedding Party Photos | Bridesmaids, groomsmen, combined party |
| Family Photos | Immediate family, extended family groups |
| Ceremony | The main event — your vows and “I do” |
| Cocktail Hour | Guest mingling, candid photos |
| Dinner / Reception | Toasts, first dance, cake cutting |
| Party | Dancing, celebrations, send-off |
How to Arrange Events
- Drag and drop cards to reorder them in your preferred sequence
- Click the X on any card to exclude events you don’t need (e.g., skip “First Look” if you’re doing a traditional reveal)
- Set an anchor time by clicking the anchor icon (⚓) on your ceremony card and entering your ceremony start time
- Click “Set This Order” when you’re satisfied with the arrangement
Step 2: Customize Durations
Now you’ll fine-tune how much time to allocate for each event and its sub-events (micro-events).
Understanding the Table
The table has four columns:
| Column | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Event | The name of the micro-event |
| Suggested | Recommended time based on professional experience (in gray) |
| Adjust Time | Slider to increase or decrease duration |
| Your Duration | Your selected time (shown in blue) |
Adjusting Times
- Use the sliders to adjust duration for each micro-event
- Set slider to 0 to skip events you don’t need
- Click the toggle on any row to temporarily disable it (it turns gray)
- Drag and drop rows within a category to reorder micro-events
- Watch the live preview on the right side to see how times update in real-time
Adding Custom Events
Need something special that’s not listed? You can add up to 10 custom events per category!
- Scroll to the end of any category section
- Click the “➕ Add Custom Event” button
- Enter an event name (e.g., “Shoe Game”, “Surprise Video”)
- Select a duration from the dropdown
- Click “Add Event” — your custom event appears with a ✨ prefix
Adding Location Information
Below each category, you’ll find a text area to enter location details. This is helpful when your wedding takes place at multiple venues (e.g., getting ready at a hotel, ceremony at a church, reception at a different venue).
Step 3: View Your Timeline
Once you’ve set your order and customized durations, your complete wedding day timeline appears automatically in Step 3.
Timeline Features
- Coverage Summary: Shows your total photography coverage time (e.g., “10:00 → 22:00 (12h)”)
- Category Blocks: Each major event is clearly labeled with start time
- Micro-Events: Every sub-event with exact start times
- Location Info: Venue details appear under each category
Display Options
Use the toggle switches to customize your view:
- Show Durations: Display how long each event lasts
- Show End Times: Display “10:00 → 10:30” format instead of just start time
Step 4: Export & Share
Your timeline is complete! Now let’s save it and share it with everyone who needs it.
Save Your Progress
- Save to Browser: Saves your timeline locally so you can continue later
- Load from Browser: Restore a previously saved timeline
- Clear Browser Data: Start fresh by removing saved data
Share with Your Photographer
The most important sharing feature:
- Click “📥 Export to File“
- A JSON file downloads (e.g., “wedding-timeline-Sarah-Michael-2025-01-15.json”)
- Email this file to your photographer
- Your photographer can import it, make professional adjustments, and send it back
Other Export Options
- 📅 Add to Calendar: Creates calendar events for each category
- 📱 Share via SMS: Opens your messaging app with timeline text
- 💬 Share via WhatsApp: Opens WhatsApp with timeline text
- 📊 Export to CSV: Creates a spreadsheet file
- 📄 Download PDF: Creates a printable document
Pro Tips for a Perfect Timeline
- ✓ Add buffer time: Always include buffer time between major events — things rarely run exactly on schedule!
- ✓ Consider travel time: If moving between venues, add extra time for transportation
- ✓ Prioritize golden hour: Schedule couple portraits during the hour before sunset for magical lighting
- ✓ Group family photos efficiently: List specific groupings to keep this session moving quickly
- ✓ Share early: Send your timeline to your photographer weeks before the wedding for feedback
- ✓ Use locations: Fill in venue addresses — it helps everyone know where to be
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I come back and edit my timeline later?
Yes! Click “Save to Browser” before you leave. When you return, click “Load from Browser” to restore your work. You can also export a file and re-import it anytime.
What if I don’t know exact times yet?
Start with your best estimates — you can always adjust later. The suggested times are based on typical weddings and provide a good starting point.
How do I share this with my wedding planner?
Use the “Export to CSV” option for a spreadsheet format, or “Download PDF” for a printable document that’s easy to share via email.
Can my photographer make changes?
Absolutely! Export your timeline as a file, send it to your photographer, and they can import it to make professional adjustments. They’ll send back an updated file for you to review.
What’s the “anchor” time?
The anchor is your fixed reference point — usually your ceremony time. All other events are calculated forward and backward from this time. For example, if your ceremony is at 4:00 PM, the calculator works backward to determine when preparation should start.
