non-traditional wedding timelines
alternative wedding timelines from real couples
Just because it feels like it’s always been done one way, doesn’t mean you have to do it like that too.
Posts like Hitched’s latest timeline examples are cis-normative, ableist and based entirely around white wedding traditions. They do not take into account folk with chronic illnesses, disabilities or neurodivergence’s that make traditional full days exhausting. They assume cis-het-ness and enforce the idea that weddings are for women to plan and not speak at, and men to rock up to and enjoy.
It is absolutely ok to follow a ‘traditional’ wedding timeline if you have interrogated and discussed if it all feels exciting, safe and enjoyable for you and your guests. If it doesn’t feel those things, there are endless alternatives out there.
a November wedding at the Matara Centre, Bristol
10.00am - After getting ready (no hair or make up team) Rhianna first look with her Dad, then first private look with Michael
10.30am - Legal ceremony in the woodlands with only their parents as witnesses, followed by a walk, tree planting ceremony and photos and chill time
1pm - Celebrant ceremony in the Zen Garden with the rest of their guests
1.45pm - Drinks, canapes, board games, some group photos, another walk in the woods just the two of them
3pm - Dinner, speeches and a pub quiz
5.30pm - Board games, sparklers, evening guests arrive, chill out time, quiet room open
7.30pm - First dance, DJ starts and pizzas
10pm - Home/after party in the rooms on site
A weekend in an air bnb with pals
Friday - Arrive and set up the bnb for the weekend, some guest arrive too
Saturday - More guests arrive late morning, myself and Louise from Kick Ass Gatherings arrive from midday to choose a spot for the ceremony
1pm - Celebrant ceremony outside on the deck with their 20 guests
1.45pm Board games, activities, quizzes, crafting, pizza making, drinks, lawn games,
5pm - Speeches outside as the sunsets
5.30pm An informal portrait session for everyone at golden hour
6.30pm Lighting the fire pit, sparklers, snacks
Sunday - Breakfast, a walk, then home
Old Marylebone Town Hall & The breakfast Club soho with 20 guests
12.30pm - I arrive to their weekend apartment where they get ready together with their best people. They separate for dresses going on
1.30pm - Parents arrive, they each walk with their parents to the closest park for a first look with each other. Parents leave as they read private vows
2pm - We travel through London taking photos and ride the underground to the Old Marylebone Town Hall
4pm - Small ceremony at OMTH followed by confetti, group photos and onto their Routemaster bus
5.45pm - Arrive at The Breakfast Club for cocktails and dinner
7.30pm - Speeches and cake cut
8.30pm - Music Bingo
10pm - Back to their apartment!
The seahorse & the royal pavilion in brighton
12pm - We arrive at their hotel to capture them getting ready together with their children and family
2pm - Walk to the The Seahorse to greet guests arriving. Buffet dinner, drinks and speeches
5.30pm - Bus trip across town to the Royal Pavilion for cocktails and cake
6pm - Ceremony in the Music Hall then photos in the gardens
7.30pm - Bus trip back to The Seahorse for cheese and pie ‘cake’ cut
9pm - Musical drag set from Snow White Trash
9.30pm - DJ and dancing
a festival-style wedding at henham barns
7am - A sea swim with all those who dare
12pm - Getting ready, guests arriving, first looks, the walk through the trees to the bridge
2pm - Celebrant ceremony on the bridge - abandoned by the rain and continued inside the barn
3pm - A run to the cottages to dry off - the sun returns for confetti, group photos, canapes and drinks
4.30pm - Band set in the courtyard
5.30pm - Speeches, dinner and cake cutting followed by a run around in the fields as the sun lowers enough for portraits
8.30pm - Dancing begins!
Chinese Tea ceremony & a Ceilidh at Tythe barn, Launton
10.30am - I arrive for candid photos of preparations as they get ready in different parts of the venue
12pm - Chinese tea ceremony in the Cow Shed with immediate famliy and best people, folllowed by family portraits
1pm - Greeting guests arrive, Sarah then gets changed into her next outfit
2pm - Legal. ceremony under the wisteria followed by confetti, a group photo of everyone then time to chill with a drink in the shade
5pm - Dinner and speeches
7pm - Cake cutting outside, sun is low enough (and temperate cooled!) for couple photos at golden hour before getting changed
8.30pm - First dance and the Ceilidh band begins
A chilled wedding day in Kingston with a visit home to feed the Guinea Pigs
11am - Ceremony at Kingston Register office. I arrive just before to capture guests arrivals
11.30pm - Confetti and group photos. Guests are free to do their own thing, we take a walk to their favourite places and grab a drink at a bar
1pm - Guests arrive at Glenmore House for drinks reception
2pm - Dinner and Speeches
5pm - Free time to check in hotels and chill out. We walk to their flat to feed the Guinea pigs. They check into their hotel and Han has an outfit change.
7pm - Back to Glenmore House for arrival of evening guests and drinks
8pm - Cake cut, first dance and playlist for dance floor begins
two ceremonies - civil and Hindu - in Cyprus
Thursday - Evening welcome drinks, speeches Sangeet and Mehendi party
Friday 12pm - Getting ready into their white dresses in separate rooms of the hotel. First looks with their families.
1.30pm - Civil ceremony on the hotel pier followed by a walk up to the garden for drinks, canapés, cake cut and group photos
3.30pm - D & K get changed into their next outfits, first look with each other then meet their best people for a Dholl Drummer procession
4pm - Hindu ceremony in the gardens
7pm - Dinner and speeches in the Taverna, a sunset portrait session on the beach
9.30pm - First dance and the DJ set begins
Brighton town hall legal wedding hitting our favourite spots
9am - Meet the fam for a sea-dip and sausage baps at Lex’s (our fav beach cafe in Hove)
10.30am - Get ready together in our hotel room, I did my own every day ten minute make up, sis-in-law did my hair
12pm - Meet our photographer @kittyws and videogapher (Tommo!) for some pics on the beach and a trip to Cult to buy a wedding day record)
1pm - Ceremony at Brighton Town Hall with our 35 guests (9 being kids!) followed by confetti and group pics. Say bye to Kitty & Tommo.
2pm - Walk to Shelter Hall, Skylark Bar. Casual set up, no seating plan, everyone orders their own food and drinks (on our tab)
7pm - Say bye the to the kiddos and head with 20-ish of us to the Lion & Lobster pub where we reserved a few tables
11pm - The 15 survivors head to Lucky Voice karaoke bar where we resevred a private booth
2am - Drunken Burger King
