How to create the perfect wedding day plan: sample step-by-step timing

Buffet

Approximate time: about 1 hour

You can set aside time for cocktails and a light snack both before the ceremony (if the guests have gathered in the morning) and after (if the gathering of guests was planned immediately before registration or if the ceremony and banquet are taking place in different places).

This is the perfect time to greet all the guests and take photos together. And if after the ceremony you and the groom are planning a photo shoot, the buffet will allow guests to get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere at this time and not get bored. Good entertainment for them will be live music, various master classes, etc.

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Photo by: Yulia Kaptelova | Wedding of Sergei and Karina

What should be the wedding program?

Wedding program: planning

A traditional wedding includes not only the official registration of marriage. The bride and groom must get married according to all church canons. And in order for such a grandiose event as marriage to become a real fairy-tale performance and be remembered by your guests for a long time for its originality, you need to carefully think through the entertainment show. Qualified specialists available in every marriage agency will help you draw up a plan for the wedding program and organize the celebration.

A modern wedding show should involve professional performers. Incendiary dances, small miniatures with fairy-tale characters in leading roles, mysterious illusionists, interesting competitions and charades will make guests forget about their problems for a while and completely plunge into the world of beauty and celebration. Behind such a grandiose show is the enormous work of all the artists of the original genre. In some rooms, both guests and the newlyweds must actively participate. This will help create a relaxed atmosphere and feel the wonderful mood of the celebration.

But we should not forget that the main characters of any wedding are not the artists or the guests, but the newlyweds. The holiday script should be drawn up in such a way that all its numbers and performances only emphasize its main theme.

Entertainment show program

If you want to make your wedding an unforgettable event, which will be remembered for its positive attitude and fabulous atmosphere, you should include several exclusive numbers in the show program. They will cause children's delight, boundless fun and a state of joy, peace and comfort in those around them. After all, your guests will have the opportunity to see something that will not leave them indifferent. Real art will become the main theme of your celebration, and the host's boring jokes and boring entertainment will remain a thing of the past. This requires a lot of effort and imagination, as well as calling on real artists: mimes, singers, acrobats and magicians.

An original idea would be to invite a talented cartoonist to your wedding. The main thing is that his fleeting sketches not only do not offend the guests, but also bring good-natured smiles on their faces. Such skill is not available to everyone, because you need to have not only a keen sense of humor and dexterity of movement, but also tact.

Particular emphasis in the wedding program should be placed on dance numbers. Incendiary dances can cause real delight among guests. The main thing is that the theme of the wedding matches the dances being performed. A traditional European ceremony should be accompanied by exquisite choreographic numbers to classical or modern music. And for a celebration with a gypsy or oriental focus, groups specializing in a similar genre are perfect. Magnificent dancers in bright carnival costumes performing exotic numbers will add a special charm to your celebration.

Awkward, boring pauses are inevitable at any wedding. To exclude them, try inviting large live toys. These cute heroes of your favorite fairy tales and cartoons can delight your invited guests with just their appearance. Their songs, dances and simple jokes will involve the audience in the general fun. Every adult wants to return to childhood at least for a moment. Touching your favorite toys will help guests plunge into the fairy-tale world of the past and imagine themselves as children.

If you want to make your wedding celebration unique and extraordinary, include numbers with real animals in the show program. Believe me, this will cause an unprecedented sensation! Trained bears, monkeys or dogs will add noticeable excitement to the festive atmosphere. Every guest will want to pet or simply touch their four-legged pets. How wonderful it will be to take bright, cheerful pictures with trained pets! An interesting amusement for guests will be a real talking macaw parrot, which will entertain them with its conversations. And the dance floor can be decorated by two lovely peacocks who spread their gorgeous tails during the first wedding dance!

Well, if you prefer talented performers, then invite real show business stars to your wedding. Their participation at the celebration will cost a lot, but what pleasure you can get from touching real art. The higher the status of the star, the correspondingly more expensive the fee for performing the numbers will be. For example, “Ivanushki International” will attend your celebration for 8 thousand euros, and the “Factory” group for 15 thousand euros. The group “Brilliant” is not far behind them. And Dima Bilan will agree to come to your wedding for 60 thousand euros. If you are not short of money, make your dream come true and become a participant in a show with your favorite artist.

Program for toastmaster or presenter

One of the most important roles at any wedding is played by the toastmaster. Only an experienced host will be able to give the celebration the right mood, amuse the guests and fill the pauses with appropriate jokes. It is unlikely that even your most charismatic and talkative friends will be able to cope with this role. It is best to turn to a professional, because your wedding should literally take place in one breath and be remembered by the guests for its relaxed atmosphere. Any experienced host has his own wedding program, which he adds new numbers every year. The toastmaster performs accompanied by a permanent DJ, who helps to avoid awkward pauses and unforeseen surprises. Music is one of the main components of the festive show program, because against its background all competitions and games are held, toasts and wishes of the guests are made.

To begin with, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the entertainment program of the presenter, delve into all the details, and think over the style of the future celebration. If the toastmaster has no desire to share the nuances of his script with you, try to gently refuse his services. After all, such a grandiose event as a wedding should take place without unexpected surprises.

It is common for a true professional host to capture the mood of the guests. He must anticipate their desires and create all conditions so that those invited feel comfortable. It is very important to promptly invite the public to participate in a competition or dance together in a round dance. Songs, dances, jokes, competitions - the holiday program should be varied and original. The skill of the host is to create an atmosphere of an enchanting celebration at a wedding that will be remembered for many years. The cost of professional services is high, but you should not skimp on your own celebration, otherwise it may turn into an ordinary feast.

Bride price program

What wedding would be complete without a bride price! This ancient tradition, passed down from generation to generation, is still relevant today. Try to think through the redemption program in such a way as to make it interesting for both the newlyweds and guests. The main assistants in drawing up the ritual script will be the bridesmaids. They must prepare all participants in the action and rehearse the main points with them.

First of all, you should start decorating the room in which the bride will wait for the groom. It is better to devote the eve of the wedding to cleaning the entrance. The staircase can be decorated with multi-colored balls, satin ribbons and garlands of fresh flowers. And above the entrance to the entrance you should hang a small message to the groom, preferably in verse. And don’t forget to warn your neighbors about the upcoming holiday to avoid unpleasant moments.

In order not to miss anything or get confused, it is better to make a list of things needed for this event. The newlywed's room should not be cluttered with unnecessary furniture, it should be spacious. The bridesmaids devote the morning of the wedding celebration to preparing for the ransom ritual and decorating the room. It is necessary to repeat the poems and phrases again, rehearse the main points and help the future wife to bring beauty.

What is the role of the bride in the scenario of her ransom? She must wait for the groom in her room, periodically looking out the window. The newlywed's appearance must be impeccable, so first of all, she should pay attention to her appearance so that her future husband will be amazed by her beauty.

Silver and golden wedding anniversary program

Years fly by, and now it’s time to celebrate the silver wedding anniversary. The scenario of the anniversary show program is similar to the wedding program and includes the same motorcade, a walk along the familiar streets of your favorite city, entertainment, and glasses of champagne. Spouses can visit the registry office and put their signatures in a special book intended for honorary anniversaries. If desired, you can exchange silver or gold rings. This is a very touching moment in the festive program.

The retro style will fit perfectly into the theme of a silver and gold wedding celebration. The celebrants, together with their children, grandchildren and close friends, can listen to the songs of their youth and dance to their favorite, well-known music. An unexpected gift for spouses would be a slide show or just a photo album, which will show the main stages of their life together. The couple's first dance to the sounds of a touching waltz and the applause of loved ones will be the key moment of the holiday.

Start of the banquet

Approximate time: about 20 minutes

This is approximately the amount of time your guests need to walk to the banquet venue (if the wedding is taking place at the same venue) or get out of their cars and get themselves in order. Guests then head to the seating chart and find their seats at the wedding tables. The more guests at the wedding, the more time they will need, but, as a rule, seating arrangements take 10-15 minutes.

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Photo by: Shefter Polina | Wedding of Anastasia and Alexander

Dinner and toast

Approximate time: 1.5 – 2 hours

The wedding dinner is usually combined with toasts from the guests, but the format of the dinner largely depends on the start time of the banquet, the style of the wedding and the number of people wishing to give a speech. It is better to entrust control over this part of the evening to the host: he will make sure that the guests have time to enjoy dinner and communicate with each other, and that the toasts do not last too long (5 minutes is enough to say all the most important things).

The order of toasts is also important: first of all, they are pronounced by the parents of the newlyweds, then by grandparents, bridesmaids and friends of the groom, relatives and, if desired, other guests.

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Author of the photo: Sveta Svetina | Wedding of Nadia and Zhenya

Wedding plan from A to Z

Preparation times for popular wedding dates on Saturdays from June to September:

In 6 - 12 months

• Select a date and submit an application to the registry office
• Tell your loved ones about the engagement
• Create a wedding notebook or Excel spreadsheet
• Select and book a restaurant
• Save all interesting ideas in your phone, diary or computer
• Count the number of guests and make a list
• Introduce parents
• Start selecting wedding contractors
• Visit wedding dress salons, try on different models

In 3-6 months

• Decide on transport
• Make invitations and deliver them
• Book a photographer
• Videographer
• Presenter with DJ
• Stylist

In 1-3 months

• Approve the menu and resolve the issue of alcohol for the banquet;
• Create a rough itinerary for your wedding day;
• Make a seating plan for guests;
• Put on a dance;
• Conduct a pre-wedding love-story photo shoot;
• Approve the playlist with the host;
• Honeymoon - plan a trip;
• Book a hotel room to start or end the day;
• Order a bride's bouquet and a groom's boutonniere;
• Buy a dress and accessories;
• Groom's suit and accessories;
• Wedding rings;
• Cake and loaf;
• Sparklers or fireworks to end the day.

In 2 weeks

• Close all unresolved issues;
• Carrying out shoes;
• Prepare replacement ballet shoes for the bride;
• Write down the numbers of all performers in your phones;
• Determine the timing of your wedding day.

In 3 days

• Control fitting of the dress;
• Follow-up call to all responsible persons. If there is an organizer, then calling on the eve of the wedding is included in his services. This is good confirmation that everything is going according to plan;
• Contact all contractors;
• Check the weather forecast. If it does not correspond to the main route of the walk, contact the photographer to adjust the photo shoot locations;
• Prepare money in small change bills, just in case;
• Give a manicure to the bride and groom;
• Pack your purse;
• Prepare passports;
• Pack your bags for the trip.

Preparation can begin 6-7 months in advance. The bride and groom will have time to calmly choose a suit and dress, determine the banquet menu, find a professional host, photographer and videographer, musicians, approve the script for their holiday, and also solve many other problems that inevitably accompany the pre-wedding bustle. But what should those who don’t have the required amount of time do? Solution below:

Entertainment

Approximate time: 1 – 1.5 hours

The time comes for the newlyweds' first dance, and then all guests are invited to the dance floor. At this time, in order to “stir up” everyone, you can offer several competitions or quizzes. While guests are not yet very tired, they can fill out a crossword puzzle about the newlyweds, as well as leave a few words in the book of wishes and take a few pictures in the photo zone as a souvenir.

At this time, it is worth planning performances by invited musicians and artists, as well as creative congratulations to the guests, and all sorts of surprises from the bride and groom. Dance, have fun and just enjoy what is happening!

WEDDYWOOD PARTNERS

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Photo by: Pavel Melnik | Wedding of Sergei and Anastasia

Planning a wedding: highlights

1. Choosing a wedding host. Planning wedding programs is impossible without this person - he is next in importance after the newlyweds. He should not be the star of the show - the stars here are the bride and groom - but he should be the one who constantly reminds the guests of this. A professional toastmaster knows how to organically unite different age generations of guests and create the atmosphere of a magical holiday that will not be forgotten. Be sure to meet with the host, tell him in detail about yourself and the guests in order to make his task easier - to entertain you for at least 7 hours.
2. Planning entertainment in the welcome area. With a well-designed schedule, the wedding day begins an hour and a half before the ceremony itself. To prevent guests from getting bored, in addition to a table with champagne and drinks, you need to offer them several entertainments. This could be a beautifully organized photo zone, a corner for wishes to the young.
3. Creative numbers. They are definitely included in the event program. These can be dance shows by artists, role-playing games with the participation of guests, performances by magicians, acrobats and other masters of the genre. Any celebration with original numbers in the program will become an unforgettable event. But the main thing here is not to overdo it. A large number of shows and performances can distract attention from the main thing - from the newlyweds, who are the central characters of the holiday.

Taking out the cake

Approximate time: 30 minutes

Near the end of the wedding, it's time to cut the cake. It should not be too early, but also not too late, when all the guests are already tired and getting ready to go home. A professional officiant or wedding coordinator will advise you on the ideal time depending on the situation.

Cutting a cake is a beautiful tradition that deserves a beautiful frame, so you can hold it in a photo zone or in a ceremony area, the decor of which is complemented with lights and candles.

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Author of the photo: Igor Sazonov | Wedding of Alexander and Anna

What should be included in the plan: key stages

What should be included in an ideal wedding plan? Here's an example scenario:

1. Getting ready, photo shoot “morning of the bride”, ransom . All this happens in the morning, approximately 3-5 hours before registration. If the young people already live together, then the ransom can be excluded, since it will no longer be relevant.
2. The road from the house of the bride and groom to the registry office . In big cities, you need to allocate more time for this stage, otherwise there is a risk of getting stuck in a traffic jam and being late.
3. Wedding or painting . The average duration of a wedding is 1 hour, painting is 20 minutes. You can combine these two events, first registration, then marriage in church.
4. Photoshoot . It is better to leave up to 3 hours for it, also taking into account the travel time to the restaurant.
5. Banquet . Usually lasts about 5 hours.
6. Transporting guests home (optional) takes approximately 2-3 hours.

Of course, the bride and groom can add any details to the routine as they wish.

Between each stage you need to leave time (approximately 40-60 minutes) that will be spent on the road. If you do not take this parameter into account in advance, the event will begin to shift, forcing the newlyweds to be late and worry.

To avoid having to worry too much about lack of time on a holiday, you need to choose close locations. For example, the registry office should be located closer to the bride’s house, and the site for the photo shoot should be located near the restaurant.

Before you make a plan, you need to choose the right wedding date. Here are tips on how to do this, taking into account the opinions of astrologers, various signs, the work of registry offices and other nuances.

And now about the wedding planning itself. It says here what needs to be done depending on the time remaining before the celebration. You will learn where to start and what to do next.

A wedding requires a huge list of things. Read here what exactly. You will learn what needs to be prepared for redemption, what should be taken into account when choosing a menu, who serves the on-site registration, etc.

Since there is a lot of work to be done, make sure to take time off for the wedding in advance. We carefully studied the labor code and gave a comprehensive answer to this question in another article.

Here's what the wedding planner advises:

Wedding finale

Any holiday is coming to an end, and it is very important to put a beautiful final point. There are many options to do this in style and taste: from the classic launch of paper lanterns or fireworks, to a mesmerizing fire show or lighting sparklers.

Also, the wedding can end with a romantic evening ceremony, when the newly-made husband and wife say their vows and light up the family hearth. A good idea would be a final toast from the newlyweds with words of gratitude to all guests.

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Author of the photo: Anya and Andrey Bezyayev | Wedding of Nina and Tolya Heading photo: Dmitry Shentyapin

Touching wedding moments

The first dance together, cutting the wedding cake, the wedding bouquet... Every step at the wedding is an opportunity to come up with something unique.

• The bride and groom can sing a duet song instead of dancing.
• Instead of throwing a bouquet into a crowd of friends, give it to the one who dreams of marriage the most.
• Come up with an easy, humorous task for those guests who want to shout “Bitter!” - let them shout and perform to the delight of the newlyweds and guests.
• To determine who will be born first to newly-made spouses, let the newlyweds play on a game console.

The wedding evening must end brightly. You can arrange a grand fireworks display, invite a fire show, or launch lanterns into the sky. And you definitely need to thank the guests for coming to your wedding and sharing this happy day with you.