Help! Wedding Day Timeline

elizabethandandrew

I had my meeting with my cake baker and she asked what time we will be serving the cake. My answer was "Uh... My ceremony is at three?". Needless to say, I think it's time I start figuring out a timeline.

How did you come up with your timeline? How far out from your wedding did you put it together? Any tips for how to do this?

It feels like a monsterous task...

tpender13

Most people do a cake cutting while people are eating dinner. If you know what time dinner starts, I would give yourselves (you and the FI) enough time to eat, and do the cake cutting after that. Your guests will still probably be eating, so that will give catering staff or whoever time to cut the rest of the cake to serve.

drdifabio

I asked my photographer for help and then ran it past my DOC and the coordinator at my reception site. They were very helpful in helping me put it together.

jnickers98

My timelines are listed in my bio.  I was kind of obsessive-compulsive about them.

hkiesling

Will your baker be serving the cake?  I guess what I mean is, doesn't your baker actually need to know when to have the cake set up by, not when it will be served?  You'll want it set up before guests arrive at the reception.

elizabethandandrew

Oh, LOL. I suppose I should have said- they are ice cream cakes- so they will go out/be served pretty much at the same time.

ttheisen

I'd suggest talking to your catering manager at the reception site - she set-up the entire timeline for me (dinner, dessert, toasts, first dance, etc.).  I would guess dessert would be about an hour or so from when you start dinner service pending if it's plated or buffet.  Hope that helps!