Wedding Layout

There are many ways for your wedding to unfold and figuring out the layout of the day with timings will help everything run smoothly. 

There are two main wedding day layouts:

1) “Traditional”

     a. Get Ready

     b. Ceremony

     c. Formal Photos

     d. Reception

This is often used by people who are a bit more old-fashioned/ traditional. 

Advantages

- Allows partners to see each other for the first time on the day of their wedding at the ceremony

- Share first looks down the aisle

- Allows time in between ceremony and reception for final details to be completed at the location of the reception

- Allows for time for guests to get from one location to another

Disadvantages

- Long time between ceremony and reception (Usually 2-4 hours)

- Guests that have traveled may not have places to go in between

- Depending on the time in between there may be less time for photos, especially if you are traveltravelingling to different locations. 

- May eliminate the possibility to thank guests for coming

2) “Modern” 

   a. Get ready

   b. First Look (opt.)

   c. Formal photos 

   d. Ceremony

   e. Reception

This is often used when the ceremony and reception 

are at the same location.

Advantages

- Allows partners to see each other for the first time on the day of their wedding, at a private location, where they can have a 

more intimate first look

- Helps eliminate pre-ceremony jitters

- Usually no location changes between the ceremony and reception

- Guests that have traveled don’t have to wait around in between, possibly with nowhere to go.

- Additional time to get ready /extra sleep in time

- Additional photography time

- Adds time before the ceremony for final touches at the ceremony/ reception venue

Disadvantages

- Eliminates the first look down the isle in front of family and friends

- Must plan how and where the first look will happen (groom blindfolded, standing facing a specific direction, etc.)