Allows the bride/groom to preemptively identify and address issues (before they occur). In the same way that a “rough draft” allows a writer to edit mistakes before it is published, a wedding timeline allows the bride/groom to identify possible issues before they occur. There are many moving parts to a wedding and simply placing them on a piece of paper allows individuals to begin discussing the finer details. For instance, a bride might be dreaming of sunset photos with her groom, but in writing out her timeline, realizes that she will need to shorten some of her preparation time or start the ceremony earlier to accommodate. Without putting it all on paper, the bride might not have realized this oversight, resulting in disappointment.
Coordinates all necessary parties (i.e. vendors, wedding party, etc.). There is always someone who is notoriously “late to the party.” However, if you don’t have a clear wedding timeline, it may result in everyone being late to the party. Your maid-of-honor might not realize the importance of arriving two hours early for her hair and make-up if a wedding timeline is not provided. In the same regard, the photographer may not realize that you were intending on doing hair and make-up hours before the ceremony, if they are not provided a timeline or time of arrival.
Allocates a proper amount of time to each event Every bride and groom will place a certain level of importance on each event in their wedding. For some, the ceremony is the most important time of the day. For others, spending time with family at the reception is most important. By blocking out each part of the day on a wedding timeline, the bride/groom can allocate a proper amount of time for each part of the day based on what is important to them.
Takes stress off the bride/groom If a timeline is not provided, the bride and groom will most likely be inundated with questions on their big day. The day is already stressful enough for most individuals, but having to field questions from the mother-of-the-bride or the venue would definitely add to the stress. If all individuals come to the wedding with a general understanding of what the day is supposed to look like, it should alleviate a lot of the questions (and as I stated in #1) address issues before they become a problem).
