Wedding Day Timelines: How I Build Them as a Month-of / Day-of Wedding Planner in South Florida

Timelines are, without question, the most important piece of a wedding day running smoothly. You can have the best venue, the best vendors, and the most beautiful design—but if the timeline is off, everything else feels stressful.

And here’s the truth most couples don’t realize: there isn’t just one right way to build a wedding timeline. Every month-of or day-of wedding planner in Palm Beach, Jupiter, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Marco Island organizes them a little differently. What matters is that your timeline is built intentionally, with your priorities, your photography, and the realities of the day in mind.

This post is here to show you how I build timelines for my couples at Hakuna Matata Weddings & Events, and why the structure matters so much.

Your Wedding Timeline Should Reflect Your  Vision

When I create a timeline, it’s not about forcing your day into a rigid template. My job as a month-of and day-of wedding planner is to give you professional guidance—based on experience, vendor flow, and photography lighting—while still making sure your wedding day feels exactly how you pictured it.

The timeline is built around:

• Your ceremony time (which should be based around sunset)

• Your photo goals

• Your priorities (time with family, cocktail hour, dancing, etc.)

• Your photographer’s lighting and shot list

• And how your venue actually flows

At the end of the day, it’s your wedding. I help you shape it so it runs smoothly and feels effortless.

The First Thing I Look At: Sunset Time

Before I ever lock in a ceremony or reception flow, I check one thing first: sunset.

In South Florida—whether you’re getting married in Palm Beach, Jupiter, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, or Marco Island—sunset plays a huge role in how your photos look. If you want a sunset ceremony and you’re not doing a first look, all of your couple portraits will end up being taken in the dark. That’s usually not what couples expect until we walk through it together.

This is where a month-of or day-of wedding planner becomes incredibly valuable. There are dozens of small timing nuances—travel between locations, family photo time, how long a dress bustle actually takes, when golden hour really happens—that most couples don’t realize until it’s too late.

My job is to see all of that before the day ever arrives.

Why I Build My Wedding Timelines in 5-Minute Increments

Some planners create timelines down to the minute. Personally, I don’t believe that works in real life.

We are dealing with people—not robots.

Hair runs long. Grandma needs an extra minute. A bustle button pops. A vendor arrives five minutes late.

If your timeline is built to the minute, it’s already setting you up to feel behind.

I structure all of my wedding timelines in five-minute increments. That gives just enough flexibility for real life to happen while still keeping everything organized and on track. It’s one of the biggest ways I help reduce stress for my couples on the wedding day.

Real Wedding Timeline Examples

Below, I’ll be sharing real-world examples of my day-of wedding timelines from:

• A Palm Beach wedding

• A Jupiter wedding

• A Marco Island wedding

Each one is different—because each couple, venue, and vision is different. That’s exactly how it should be.

If you’re planning a wedding in South Florida and want a timeline that actually works (and keeps you calm), this is what a month-of and day-of coordinator should be doing for you.

Sample Timeline: Four Seasons Palm Beach Wedding - Month of Day of Wedding Planner Palm Beach

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8:00 AM	Cake Delivered (placed in pastry cooler)
8:00 AM	Hair and Makeup Arrive
12:00 PM	Band Arrives
12:30 PM	Planner Lizzie Arrives, Photographer Taylor, Videographer Dan Arrives
12:30 PM	Florist Arrives
12:45 PM	Bridal Detail Photos/Video
1:30 PM	Hair and Makeup Completed
1:45 PM	Robe/PJ Photos and Champagne Pop
1:45 PM	Groom Getting Ready Photos with 2nd photographer/Videographer
2:00 PM	Bride into Dress
2:30 PM	Groom Formal Photos/Video | Location:
2:40 PM	Formal Portraits/video of Bride - In Foyer & Outside w/ Greenery
2:45 PM	Groom Family Photos | Location:
2:50 PM	Formal Portraits & Video of Bride with Maid of Honor
3:00 PM	Brides Family Photos | Location:
3:20 PM	Bride & Groom Tucked Away Separately | Guests Arrive
3:25 PM	Ceremony Details – Photo and Video
4:00 PM	Ceremony Begins
4:30 PM	Ceremony Ends | Cocktail Hour Begins
4:40 PM	Family Photos
5:00 PM	Ice Piece Arrives
5:00 PM	Bridal Party Photos
5:10 PM	Newlywed Portraits
5:40 PM	Room Reveal
5:45 PM	Bustle Dress
5:50 PM	Invite Guests into Ballroom
5:52 PM	Sunset
5:57 PM	Gather everyone around dance floor for intros and first dance
6:00 PM	Introduction of Bride and Groom | Song: Higher Love – Kygo & Whitney
6:00 PM	Venue Brings Food to the Stations
Immediately after	First Dance | Song: Creatures in Heaven – Glass Animals
Immediately after	Band makes announcement about food service
6:10 PM	Stations Open
6:15 PM	Vendor Meals | Location: Coco
6:25 PM	GIVE SERVERS HEADS UP TO PREPARE
6:40 PM	Toasts: Brother of the Bride Malone Locke & Best Man Joe
7:00 PM	Cake Cutting | Song: Lover- Taylor Swift
Immediately after	Father/Daughter Dance | Song: Daughters – John Mayer
Immediately after	Mother/Son Dance | Song: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Immediately after	Party Time!!!!
8:30 PM	Photographer & Videographer Departs
9:50 PM	Late Night Bites
10:00 PM	Wedding Ends

Sample Timeline: Jupiter Beach Resort Wedding - Month of Day of Wedding Planner Palm Beach

8:00 AM	Hair and Makeup Arrive
11:00 AM	Hair and Makeup Complete
11:00 AM	Planner Lizzie & assistant, Photo Team, & Video Team Arrives
11:00 AM	Bride Detail Photos
11:15 AM	Groom Detail Photos with photo 2 & video 2
11:30 AM	Bride Robe/PJ Photos | Grooms Gift to bride
11:40 AM	Groom Getting Ready | Brides gift to groom
11:50 PM	Trolley 1 Arrives | Groom & Groomsmen to Lobby
12:00 PM	Groom and Groomsmen Depart for Church in Trolley 1
12:00 PM	Bride into Dress
12:15 PM	Groom, Groomsmen dropped off at Church | Trolley Returns to JBR
12:15 PM	First Look with Bridesmaids | Trolley 2 Departs JBR for Church
12:30 PM	First Look with Dad in Room
12:25 PM	Bride and Bridesmaids to Lobby
12:30 PM	Trolley 1 Arrives | Bride and Bridesmaids Depart for Church
12:45 PM	Bride and Bridesmaids Arrive to church
1:00 PM	Ceremony Begins
2:00 PM	Ceremony Ends
2:10 PM	Extended Family Photos at Church
2:30 PM	Couple Portraits at Church
3:00 PM	Couple & Bridal Party on Trolley to go to JBR for photos
3:15 PM	Arrive to JBR – Photos around Resort
3:20 PM	Immediate Family Photos at JBR
3:40 PM	Bridal Party Portraits at JBR
4:00 PM	Bride and Groom Portraits at JBR (CAR PICS)
4:30 PM	DJ Arrives | Steel Pan Player Arrives
5:15 PM	Bride and Groom to Freshen up before Cocktail hour
5:30 PM	Cocktail Hour Begins | Champagne Served to Guests
5:57 PM	Sunset
6:30 PM	Cocktail Hour Ends | Invite Guest to be Seated
6:45 PM	Introductions | Song: Welcome to the Jungle – Guns n Roses/Hella Good
Immediately after	First Dance | Song: With Me – Sum 41
Immediately after	Blessing | Father Brian
7:00 PM	Salads Served
7:10 PM	Toasts: FOB Mike, MOH Gabby, BM Duncan
7:30 PM	Entrees Served | Vendor meals
8:10 PM	Cake Cutting | Song: Idea of You – Dave Matthews Band
Immediately after	Father/Daughter Dance | Song: I Loved Her First- Heartland
Immediately after	Mother/Son Dance | Song: What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Immediately after	PARTY TIME!!!
8:45 PM	Dance with Mother of Bride, Bride, Bride’s Sister | Miracles Happen
9:00 PM	Photo Departs
9:30 PM	Late Night Snacks Served
10:30 PM	Last Song: Misery Business – Paramore | Wedding Ends

Sample Timeline: Sale e Pepe Marco Island Wedding - Month of Day of Wedding Planner

7:00 AM	Hair and Makeup Begins at Hilton Marco
10:45 AM	Florist Arrives to Vineyards
11:00 AM	Photographer & Videographer Arrive to Hilton Marco | Detail Photos
11:30 AM	Planner to Pick Up Cake and Cookies at Publix
12:00 PM	Planner Assistant Dropped off at Vineyards
12:15 PM	Hair and Makeup Finished
12:20 PM	Getting Ready Photos
12:30 PM	Robe/PJ Photos
12:30 PM	Planner Lizzie arrives to Hilton Marco
12:40 PM	Guys Getting Ready Photos with 2nd photographer
12:50 PM	Bride Dressed | Girls Getting Dressed
1:10 PM	First Look with Bridesmaids
1:20 PM	Set for First Look
1:30 PM	First Look | Location: Lawn
2:00 PM	DJ & Band Arrives to Vineyard | Sprinter Vans Arrive at Hilton
2:00 PM	Wedding Party Photos
2:20 PM	Up to Room to Grab Personal Items
2:30 PM	Depart to Vineyards
3:15 PM	Arrive at Vineyards
3:25 PM	Portraits & Bridal Party Shots | Location: Golf Course
3:30 PM	Content Creator Arrives
4:00 PM	Immediate Family Photos
4:00 PM	Buses Arrive at Hilton & Load | Violinist Arrives to Vineyards
4:30 PM	Bride and Groom Away | Ceremony Detail Shots
4:45 PM	Buses Arrive at Vineyards
5:00 PM	Ceremony Begins
5:30 PM	Ceremony Ends | Cocktail Hour Begins
5:35 PM	Extended Family Photos
6:00 PM	Champagne Tower  | CIGAR PHOTO WITH GROOMSMEN
6:30 PM	Cocktail Hour Ends | Invite Guest to be Seated
6:45 PM	Introductions | Song: Best of my Love & Everlasting Love
6:50 PM	First Dance | Song: Yellow – Cold Play (End 1:55)
6:55 PM	Grandma Barb to give Blessing
7:00 PM	Salads Served
7:05 PM	Toasts: MOB Christine, BM Brian, MOH Alyson, Bride & Groom
7:30 PM	Entrees Served
7:40 PM	Vendor Meals
8:00 PM	Cake Cutting | Song: How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
8:05 PM	Mother/Son Dance | Song: My Wish – Rascal Flatts (end 1:24)
8:08 PM	Mother/Daughter Dance | Song: Stand By You- Rachel Platton
8:10 PM	Band Starts  Disco Inferno - The Trampps
9:00 PM	Band Breaks | DJ Takes Over
9:30 PM	Content Creator Leaves | Band Starts | TRUCKER HATS OUT
10:45 PM	Last Song by Band | Song: Sweet Home Chicago – Blues Brothers
10:50 PM	Load Buses | Bus 1 departs as soon as full
11:00 PM	Final Dance Bride and Groom Alone| Sky Full of Stars – ColdPlay
11:15 PM	Final Bus Departs

Every timeline you just saw was built around a real couple, a real venue, and real-life wedding day logistics. That’s what a true month-of and day-of wedding planner does — we don’t just plug your details into a template, we design a timeline that protects your photos, your experience, and your peace of mind. Whether you’re getting married in Palm Beach, Jupiter, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Key Largo, Islamorada, Naples, or Marco Island, your wedding day deserves a plan that is flexible, intentional, and created by someone who understands how weddings actually unfold. If you’re in the planning phase and feeling overwhelmed by timing, vendors, or how everything fits together, this is exactly where a month-of coordinator makes all the difference — and it’s what I do every single weekend for my couples.

Me - Lizzie - your palm beach month of day of wedding planner - getting a lovely bride into her dress.