The Aisle Diaries Podcast

Timeline secrets every couple should know

• TAEPodcast • Season 1 • Episode 19

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🎙️ Welcome back to The Aisle Diaries Podcast with Sophie & Joella - the wedding podcast that tells you what REALLY happens behind the scenes of the wedding industry. From bridal chaos and supplier secrets to wedding planning tips and hilarious real-life moments, nothing is off limits. 💍✨

In this episode, Sophie and Joella break down the PERFECT wedding day timeline for brides-to-be planning their big day. From bridal prep timings and ceremony schedules to speeches, wedding breakfasts, cocktail hours and evening entertainment - this is the ultimate guide to creating a stress-free wedding day schedule.

If you’re newly engaged, planning your wedding, overwhelmed by timings, or wondering how to make your wedding day run smoothly, this episode is packed with expert advice from a wedding coordinator and bridal makeup artist who see weddings every single weekend.

✨ In this episode:
• The ideal wedding day timeline for a 2pm ceremony ⏰
• What time bridal prep should actually start
• Why buffer time is ESSENTIAL on your wedding morning
• Wedding breakfast timings explained 🍽️
• When to schedule speeches for the best photos & videos 🎤
• The truth about cocktail hour & room turnarounds 🍸
• Common wedding timeline mistakes brides make
• How to avoid running late on your wedding day
• Tips for church weddings vs venue weddings
• Why guests should NEVER arrive late to your ceremony 👀
• Bridal prep advice from a real wedding makeup artist
• Supplier secrets that will make your wedding day smoother
• How to create a relaxed, enjoyable wedding morning

Plus, the girls catch up on recent weddings, live podcast nerves, busy wedding season chaos, motherhood, energy levels, and behind-the-scenes stories from working in the wedding industry.

Whether you're planning a luxury wedding, a relaxed venue wedding, a church ceremony or a twilight wedding - this episode will help you build a wedding timeline that actually works for YOU.

💌 Got a wedding question, bridal dilemma or supplier confession?
Email us:
theaislediariespodcast@gmail.com

📍 Follow The Aisle Diaries Podcast:
Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube:
@theaislediariespodcast

✨ Follow the girls:

Sophie Brown Makeup
@sophie.brown.makeup

Seraphina Weddings
@seraphinaweddings_

Produced by TAEPodcast - www.taepodcast.co.uk

SPEAKER_01

Welcome to the IO Diaries Podcast, the place where you find out what really happens behind the chaos and graphatic. Because someone's got to tell you the truth. And it's never boring. With tips for your big day, I'm Sophie and I'm Joella. Right. Are we starting, are we? If you're ready. I'm ready. Are you ready?

SPEAKER_00

Let's get ready to rumble, ladies and gems.

SPEAKER_01

Hello. Welcome. God. How are we? How are we doing? Do you know what? I would just love for somebody just to reply to that. Like, you know, when we ask them, I ask everybody. How are we to us? Please just reply back. No, we know that we're probably you're probably listening to us in the car or you're watching us on YouTube or something like that. If you're watching us on YouTube, we're just trying to get ready at the same time.

SPEAKER_00

We are, yeah. I always think about that because you must always see our head like in in the cushions. I know, like literally looking at our numbering.

SPEAKER_01

Well we have two, that little apologies. Pure panic beforehand. I know. I always forget what more people actually do watch than we think.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I think more than we realize. I think more people hop onto YouTube and like watching, which is madness. But Ethan loves watching YouTube. Johnny's the same. I never watch YouTube. Really? I don't have the time. No. I mean, I'm glad you guys do. Thank you. Don't give up on us.

SPEAKER_01

Um I do. I I I would like to, but then I've just never I think I'd end up watching crap.

SPEAKER_00

I'd end yeah, I'd end up scrolling and doing does. He watches crap. I don't even know why he watches it.

SPEAKER_01

Like icky stuff.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. You can hear them in the background. Like all these American guys. I'm like, what are you watching that?

SPEAKER_01

So how are you anyway? We're all good. Where have you been? Um everywhere. I've not seen you in two weeks. Oh no, I saw you last weekend, sorry, but I mean, like for the pod wise. Yeah, God.

SPEAKER_00

Time flies. Um, yeah, been all over. I feel like my energy levels are under the can on the floor. I feel like my energy levels are low. Like I'm just tired. Yeah. I don't know. I mean, we are in May. It is also the we it is also the weather as well. Yeah, you don't really know where we're at with the weather, do we? One minute it's raining, one minute it's sunny, next it's hot.

SPEAKER_01

I know it was chuckling down rain this morning. Now it was sunny on the way here, and I was like, what?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, um I've had two weddings. Look at your diary. Yeah, where was I? What was I doing?

SPEAKER_01

Um I have to do it all the time.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, actually, I had um no, I had one wedding this weekend and then the weekend before I had two weddings. And um You painted my face! I did paint your face, but just going back to the weddings, I did the bridesmaid, one of the bridesmaids, twice on the bounce. So she was a bridesmaid from like the weekend before, and then this one. Oh my god, what a privilege. I know she's like been an OG for years, and to be fair, she's like shared my name everywhere, Emily. She's a legend. Um, but yeah, I was like, Sisi next weekend. She was like, Yeah. Oh my god. Yeah, so I did her sister last weekend, and then the weekend before I did a best friend Carly.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, I was gonna say, were the same people at the wedding or not?

SPEAKER_00

No, but they did all know one another, it was just separate friendship groups. But yeah, madness. Oh my god, that's really funny. So where were you? I was at excuse me. Um Didsbury House Hotel. The weekend just gone. Yeah, absolutely gorgeous. Have you been? Nice, isn't it? Yeah. Oh my word, how quaint and how nice. It's unexpected as well. Yeah, yeah, really nice. And I didn't realise King Street Townhouse are the owners of it, or they've just taken over.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I'd heard that they've just taken over, but I've not been since they've taken over. Yeah, Unreal, I loved it.

SPEAKER_00

Um it's quite quirky. Yeah. Yeah, but I really in a really good way. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um and then the weekend before I was at Where was I at?

SPEAKER_01

I do that. It'll come to me. I do this all the time. I've had you. I've had no week weddings for the last two weekends.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, but you have been busy with life, haven't you?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I've had the last two weekends. This is like my it's really weird having time off in April, like really weird, but obviously I did it for my 30th and then I've done it. Yeah. We had P's baptism, so the weekend before I was obviously in London, because I got back and we did filming. And then the weekend after was P's baptism. So I went to you and rollers and uh really early.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, because that was I know where I was now, it's coming back to me. I was like, a gorgeous house. I've just realised I did buy the last coffee because I bought it on that Sunday. There we go. Sorry, Gary. On the way to the podcast, it's like, whose turn is it to buy coffee? And Joel was like, I think it's my turn. And I was like, Do you know what, Joella? I'm all coffee'd out. I'm gonna have like a heart attack if I carry on drinking coke coke instead. Filled with caffeine. Um and uh was it make up? Oh we can't.

SPEAKER_01

You were you were at make up because I saw you just before you were going, weren't you? Yeah, so I've had a nice, like, a nice weekend off, and then everything's starting like go on, like from now. Go on. Um where are you at? Where am I at coming up? Where are we on my calendar? So we're in the middle of May. Oh my god. So this weekend we've got Swanley. Yeah. So by the time this comes out, we will have done the live podcast.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Ah that is very, very scary. Hopefully, I've survived and not died whilst I was there and you'll be fine. Riddled with nerves.

SPEAKER_01

And then the weekend after I've got um, so Johnny is actually an island for the weekend. Yeah. Um, so that's before you go away, isn't it? So yeah, so I've got weddings that weekend in Northwich, Hartford Golf Club is one of them, and then I'm at Alcumlow the week after, and then at Swanley the week after that. Um Rookery. Um, every weekend. It's every single weekend now, except Father's Day.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, did you book that off?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. I did get asked for a wedding and I thought I can't do that.

SPEAKER_00

No. You've got to you've got to prioritise.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I was like, I just can't.

SPEAKER_00

I'm at the plough on Friday, and then I'm at Heaton on Saturday coming up.

SPEAKER_01

Amazing, then it's only on Sunday.

SPEAKER_00

And then it's only on Sunday. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

It's really weird it's a really weird May. Wild. It's so it's like usually the beginning is so busy, like so busy, but like me for me, it's been really busy, and then it's just had like really random, like, four-week gap. But and then it's gone like really, really busy.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, but there's bank holidays, isn't there, at the start at the end.

SPEAKER_01

So maybe that I know, but well, it's not even on bank holiday, usually on bank holidays, absolute choker.

SPEAKER_00

Hmm.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so I'm well with it. You've enjoyed some nice. I am enjoying that time off as much as my can. It was so cute. Was it? Yeah, it was lovely.

SPEAKER_00

Were you tired?

SPEAKER_01

I was absolutely knackered. Because you started early with me. I started early with you. My child was also up from like but no, she wasn't up on that Sunday. She didn't get up, she was still in bed when I was.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, because you hot skip jumped out the house.

SPEAKER_01

I did hot skip jump out the house. I was like, I'm coming Sophie, even if it's a little bit earlier. That's why I got the coffees. Because I got need caffeine. So, and we've had um we've had quite a good response on socials at the minute as well, like in terms of like people commenting and Yeah, and the followers. Yeah, and so thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, thanks guys.

SPEAKER_01

Um, and a few kind of like questions as well that have been coming in, which I love seeing. I just want to answer them there and then, and I'm like, I know, hold off.

SPEAKER_00

Are we gonna answer some today? We can do, yeah. Yeah, definitely. Okay, so we've decided to do this episode um about the perfect schedule and how to plan and what we can suggest and put across to help hopefully do that and make it perfect.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, massively. So I think the way in which we'll do a I think we'll probably end up doing a couple of episodes on timelines because I've got a feeling that more questions will come through after this one. But also as well, each timeline is so different. So whether you're getting married at a venue, whether you're getting married at a church, whether you're getting married in a marquee, whether you're getting married abroad, whether it all things can just fluctuate to change them.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So I think if we just say for this episode, let's just take your bog standard venue, and let's just say you've just got a one-day set uh one day wedding, um, and your ceremony is at two o'clock.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And just stick to that and because it's for me, it's the most common time people do want to get married. Yeah. What's the most common time for you?

SPEAKER_00

Two. I think most people want to.

SPEAKER_01

Within uh within like also you've got to remember, like, each registrar's within different counties do different timings. Yeah. So you can do the most common for us in Cheshire East is 12, 2, or 4.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um, and the most common that people always want is two o'clock and they get booked up so quickly.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um but also um people do go for the 12 o'clock, but all I will say is when you go for a 12 o'clock ceremony, if you do go for a 12 o'clock ceremony, all I will say is it does depend on your guests and it depends on you too as well. Yeah. Because I have seen it go the other way.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

My other half has been one of those people that go the other way. It's better and got married at 12 o'clock and by nine o'clock he was like, Can we go home? I was like, Of course we can, hon. I'm ready when you are having ready for the we got rid of the child an hour ago, let's go.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, it it's full on, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01

It's a long, it's a long day, but not just for you. You've also got to remember the earlier your ceremony, if you've got a big group of bridesmaids and a big group of a bridal party, mums, whoever it may be, having your hair and makeup, you've got to get up earlier.

SPEAKER_00

You're you're getting up early, that's it. Like there's there's no other option. You are getting up 5am. Yeah. Like, if especially if there's only one makeup artist and hairstylist, which you know, sometimes it can be that. Um yeah, you you're definitely you you're getting up at 5 sometimes earlier. Yeah. And if you're not prepared to do that, then I wouldn't choose 5pm. Did you see that video that I want to remake it? I was like, that is so good.

SPEAKER_01

It is so good, it's absolutely brilliant. Um, so let's take a two o'clock ceremony for a start, then. Let's go from the very beginning in terms of hair and makeup, then. So from your perspective, let's take four bridesmaids and a mum and a bride. So you've got a party of six, yeah, and you've got a two o'clock ceremony. You need to be in your dress minimum, you need to be getting into your dress an hour and 15 minutes prior. So you need to be in physically having your touch-ups at one o'clock.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, so when you've said this before, my schedule doesn't always match up with that, but I'll tell you why. Yeah. So all my bridal party will be four to five minutes. Sometimes it'll be less than that, sometimes we might run over two minutes.

SPEAKER_01

And that's the same for hair is nine times out of time.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I'll gain time somewhere else.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

But I'll always say it's 45 minutes, but and then the bride is an hour, 60 minutes, and I don't want any shorter than 60 minutes. I want you to feel super relaxed, and that's that. And the bride will always be second to last in my group. Uh she will never go last.

SPEAKER_01

And the round of applause goes to Sophie.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. And the reason why I'm gonna kind of go back on what you've said is so I will then tell her in the next 30 minutes, even when you're the last person is still sat in my chair, you need to be staggering off your bridesmates to get in their dresses, and then you need to go off in the separate room and choose whoever that is who's get helping you in yours. Yeah. So that there'll be one person still in my chair, not in her dress. Yeah, but that's because everyone else has been staggered off, and then she'll get in her dress, and by that hour or hour and fifteen, everyone will then be ready. It has been known that top-ups can be done when they're dressed, and I'll just you know, read the room and wing it, pop a towel over the dress, powder down, tweet lashes, whatever it may be, and I'll do that when they're dressed. Yeah, but everyone will be topped up and everyone will be completed make-up-wise, an hour before in my schedule. Good. Yeah, so if if it's a 12 pm again, I know we're talking about two, you'll be done for 11. Everyone's topped up, and that's in the schedule. You can eat it even states makeup top-ups clearly at the bottom.

SPEAKER_01

And I think that's a really prime it needs to be said more because like also, like, so say for example, when I send out my final details, I'll send them to you, and then you can then correlate and look at your final details and see how things match up and everything like that. And it just if there's that sort of communication, it means that it's so smooth in the morning for you. You don't need to worry about when you've got to be in that chair, essentially. Yeah, you just need to know exactly what the time coming from you is. So, say for example, uh such and such is at half past ten or whatever, that always is helpful. Yeah, um, but essentially you're the person that's gonna be like such and such needs to be in it in 30 minutes, such and such needs to be in it in such and such time.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, and dependent if the if there's like a location change, because it's don't do it. Yeah, don't do it.

SPEAKER_01

And again, like No, I'm joking for a venue, don't do it. For church, it's completely different.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

But if you can for a venue, stay the night prior because it just makes everything ten times smoother.

SPEAKER_00

And that location change, well, there's extra fees sometimes as well. Yeah. Um, there is for myself because it takes so long to pack up, to go again. I schedule in for like 30 minutes and people are like, it's only down the road, but that you don't understand how long it takes to for me to then unload my kit, to set up my chair, to set up my light, get the right lighting for you.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

I think it's important for me to push that and make sure, you know, if you are a bride and you are listening to this, yeah, do you remember that what do you mean it's an extra 30 minutes in the schedule? It's only down the road, the next cottage. It doesn't matter.

SPEAKER_01

No, because also as well, like there's a difference as well when you're listening to this, by the way, if of having to getting ready and going to your venue, or uh getting ready and going to your venue and getting changed. So, say for example, there are a couple of ways you can do it, because I've seen you do it in a couple of ways where you can be at, say, for example, your mum's house, which might be 30 minutes away from the venue, yeah, fine, but you're getting into your dress at your mum's. Yeah. So it means that you don't have to change location. Yeah. When it becomes complicated, is when you only have access to the venue from 11 o'clock, but you want to get into your dress at the venue, you don't want to get into your dress at said like Airbnb or mum's house or wherever. That's when it becomes more of a you need to factor that in. So when we say like if you can stay the night prior, please do, because it's really, really helpful if you're wanting to have your dress put on at your venue.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Yeah, no, I agree. It is, it does it's really I it's bittersweet, like I get why. Yeah, I get why you want to get in your dress there. But if you do then But things can be staged as well for photos, yeah. Yeah, for photo purposes, and nine times out of ten, in my experience, that's what it's that's what it's for. So you know, don't get in your head too much of being like, well, I'm not getting in my dress there. And i i if you get in your dress at home and you save X amount on the makeup artist and hairstylist fees, do that, and they will stage and your bridesmaids' hands doing it up as it can be anyone's, like it, you know, they're so good and creative, yeah, massively. Uh meaning the photographers and videographers that is, you know, you don't don't get in your head too much about it, I'd say.

SPEAKER_01

I will I I agree with that massively. So, in terms of a two o'clock ceremony, if you are at a venue, say for example, for the sake of this, you're staying the night prior, you've got a room, you're getting ready. What time would you say to start for four bridesmaids' mum and bride to bridal party of six?

SPEAKER_00

Nine.

SPEAKER_01

I would say like half eight, nine o'clock, you've got to be at least prepared to be starting and in that chair by that time.

SPEAKER_00

But again, like I always give in the schedule, it states when I will be arriving, which is 15 minutes before, and it'll say makeup set up. So I'm saying nine, makeup will start at nine am. It will, you need to be sat, someone needs to be in the chair then, but I'll be there at 8.45 setting up.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly. Um knowing you, you'll be sat in the car for half an hour prior as well. Yeah, well.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, I just can't, I just nothing worse is there than like feeling anxious because you're late, or you like there could be a road closure, tractor. No, there's a baby. Honestly, I'm really sorry if this offends you and you like cycling, but I just Sorry, Zap. Zap list.

SPEAKER_01

I'm like, have you seen Have you seen where he's been at the minute? No, I haven't. Nobody follows Zap images on Facebook or Instagram. What did he do? Where was he? He was like, he's been to the lakes. He's been doing on his story, like Zap's um riding tours at the minute. He's a blessing. Oh literally love him.

SPEAKER_00

He was at the last the last wedding. Well, no, actually, a few before Jasmine's Phil's brilliant.

SPEAKER_01

So, two o'clock ceremony, you would start going backwards anyway, and you start around about eight, half eight, um, nine o'clock. So, you need to just take that into consideration. From also as well, when we're saying being in your dress an hour prior, the reason for that is because if you've got first looks with dad, mum, whoever it may be, but you've also then got one of your bridesmaids or your brother or whoever, whoever you, or even with each other, it doesn't matter. You need to factor that into the time and into consideration because And it eats away. That hour, we've said it before, it goes so quick. Like you literally click and it's gone.

SPEAKER_00

Unless you've done it, yeah, you don't get how quick that is. That is the fastest part of the day. I know it is madness. That just everything heightens, the noise level, your emotions, yeah, everything. People are flustered. Yeah. You're trying to share one bathroom between six of you to get in your dress, change your underwear, whatever. Yeah. Like it is a lot, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01

And if you can as well, like try and have two separate spaces. So for example, when you say, for example, if your mum and your dad are staying um over the night prior um for your wedding, say, for example, your bridesmaids could be in that room, all of and you, all of you having your hair and makeup done in your dress, if you think your your suite's the nicest, it could be hung up and that could be completely clear for photos.

SPEAKER_00

And your space to have a breather.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly. So around about 1.45 to 1.50 is when your registrars will come and have a conversation with you. It's literally like five, ten minutes.

SPEAKER_00

Um, it's not it's not long at all, and it's just like a previous episode.

SPEAKER_01

No, we've spoken about that with your ceremony before as well.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So your ceremony is start at 2 o'clock, your ceremony is no later than 30 minutes. Like it will not run over 30 minutes at all. If you're running a little bit like five minutes after, or if you're walking down the aisle and it takes five minutes to get your bright smace or anything, they will always factor that into consideration as well, anyway. But it will no longer be than 30 minutes. And you then will go into your drinks reception at 2:30. In your drinks reception, you'll do like confetti, you'll do group shots, you'll obviously go mingle, and you'll have your couple portraits as well. Um, all I will say is just make sure you have, and we always factor this into the timing, make sure you have time out to spend with each other because it's so important. Just even if it's like as soon as you've walked down the aisle and you've done that confetti, I try and take you off to go and get a drink for five minutes before you do your group shot photo. Yeah, whichever it may be.

SPEAKER_00

That ten minutes is a game changer, it's such a nice thing to do.

SPEAKER_01

Or even like five minutes before we're while we're setting up your confetti line. If it is in a different position, we'll take you off, we'll bring you back around, have a drink, have a breather, and just soak it all in because it's it goes so quick as well.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, oh that is I loved doing that. Did you? Yeah, and how did you do it? Pretty much straight after the ceremony. Um we went off and had like that kind of space, but prior to all that and the planning, we ordered our favourite cocktails. Love. Um and then what did you order? I had what did I have?

SPEAKER_01

Can I judge you massively now and then? Come on, give it to me. You've probably done like a Hugo space or an app roll. Hugo sprays, yeah. If you hadn't ordered a Hugo, there would have been something wrong.

SPEAKER_00

I'm obsessed. I did, I honestly love them. Um, but so what I've spoken about in previous episodes, obviously my dad and stepdad were involved. Yeah. A little bit awkward. Um and my dad originally wasn't doing a speech until like two days before. Um, but my stepdad wanted to do one. My dad was like, basically, seeing his ass. And was like, he's not a dang one. Um so instead, my stepdad wrote us a letter and put the speech in the letter. So when we went off and had our drink, we read it.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, that's beautiful because that's a moment for you two as well.

SPEAKER_00

And we were to be honest, like it was unreal. The letter was Very emotional and very, very nice. But we were fizzing with excitement, and I had FOMO, and I was like, Oh my god, we're married, kiss like nanna, like drink down our drinks, read this letter. I want to get back out now. And and and and we were both like it was just a bit like probably wasn't the right time to do it at. Yeah, reading the letter. But like it was lovely having that time out. Yeah. Um, and we were just like, what the hell's going on? kind of thing. So it was only like 10 minutes. It's not, it it's hardly anything. Yeah, but it was so nice to just be like, oh my word, we've literally done it. Yeah. Um, and then the letter did add to it, but we did read over it the following morning because we were just like, What does it even say?

SPEAKER_01

We're just crying. So by the time you've obviously had your ceremony, drink reception will start at 2 30. So we did forget to say, by the way, at the start of this, please get your pens and papers out. Yeah, because these notes will help you out massively. So you've got ready at half past eight. Um, that's when you start into half past eight, nine o'clock in the chair. Um, your ceremony's at two o'clock, your drink reception will start at half two, so your ceremony will be 30 minutes. Drinks reception tends to be around about an hour and a half, um, so which means it'll finish at four o'clock. And the reason why it's an hour and a half is because obviously your guests can mingle, you can go off, like I said, photos, confetti shot, everything, all of that you don't realise how much time it actually takes as well. And sometimes you feel like you haven't had five minutes to spend with your guests, even though you have. And I I do this all the time when like ever I've hosted anything like Paisley's Party and the baptism. I was like, I haven't managed to speak to anybody because you're running around. You feel like you're running around, but you're actually talking to people, but you're having like couple minute conversations and you're not having those long conversations. And I think when you're in it and it's your day, everything is just like a flash anyway. But all I will say is spend as much time as you can during that time together. The whole time, the whole the whole day, like make sure you are together and having the same experience because if you have two different days, it will be completely different.

SPEAKER_00

The best piece of advice you could possibly give that is like every time you feel because it will happen, it's priceless, but every time you're like, Oh, we're not together, make a conscious effort of meeting each other and getting to one another, whether he's at his friends or she's at her friends, just go over and just stay together. But it will naturally happen where you will unfortunately just drift, but just as long as you're a little bit conscious, yes, massively.

SPEAKER_01

Aw, yeah. Um, so your drinks reception tends to be, like I said, an hour and a half, so it'll finish at four o'clock. Um when I say it finishes at four o'clock, I mean this is when people start to get sat down. So, and just remember that sitting down, it takes people around about 15 to 20 minutes because it's like herding fucking cattle, especially after drinks reception. Uncle Bob will be in the toilet, somebody will have gone to a bedroom. This is when you see me running around trying to get every single guest in, and you're like, Where's such and such? And they're in, and there's a space missing. We're like, We're missing one guest, and they're in like a feat a field or something like ridiculous, like or they're trying to do put put on the makeup or whatever, taking photos. Literally, so it can take, and this is if there's any more than like a hundred people within your at your wedding as a guest, that will take longer than half an hour.

SPEAKER_00

Master's ceremony is so good. Oh, because they just like make the announcement and you know that it's next. Whereas like when you don't have that, you don't hear it, you don't you just see people fade in and you think they're just going off to get another drink. No, like you don't realise, do you?

SPEAKER_01

No, so big time agree with that 100%. So by the time you've got people into the room, it's 20 past four. So there's two ways you can do this. What some venues will do is they will start to seat people at 3 45 for four o'clock for you to be announced at five five past, but that can eat into obviously drinks reception, so you just need to think about what is important to you. So whether you want that to be okay, we're all seated by 20 20 past, um, and then you're announcing at 25 past. So for the sake of this, we'll say that everyone is started to be called to be seated at four o'clock. If you've done as you're told, and by the time everyone's sat down and everything like that, um, it's 20 past. You'll be announced in at 25 past. So you'll be announced into the room. When you are announced into that room, have fun. Oh my god. Like, just bring the party. Just everyone will be told to literally get the napkins out and to put the page.

SPEAKER_00

If you're a guest, then you're not doing that. Like, what are you doing? I if you're stood down. Go home. No, if you're studyed, you're like this.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I know. I know, like you need to be screaming them in. A guest needs to bring the vibe, but you also need to bring the vibe to that. And if you're doing an entrance as well with your bridal party, because some people do. Yeah, I love that. Again, that can take ten minutes. So you've just got to think about that. So by the time that has happened, you're talking that it's 4 30 already by the time everybody's seated.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

You've then going into your wedding breakfast.

SPEAKER_00

What if speeches are fair?

SPEAKER_01

Speeches.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, so speeches should be first.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Joking the fine. They can be whenever you want them to be. They're great when they're first, though. Does it not matter really? Speeches can be whenever you want them to be.

SPEAKER_00

I feel like the people that are doing the speech, it's nice to do them first to get them out of the way so they can relax.

SPEAKER_01

And it's also great from a videographer's point of view and a photographer's. And that's the reason why I say but.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So if you have your speeches after your ceremony, uh after your um wedding breakfast, you've got to remember that your photographer and videographer are going to be eating at that time. Because they get fed last.

SPEAKER_00

Right, okay.

SPEAKER_01

So what I always try and do is if you have got your speeches last, I will always speak to your caterer and say, can suppliers get fed? As soon as you serve bride and green before you serve guests. So, say for example, if it's just a top sweetheart table, as soon as you you've put the food down for bride and green first, just go straight to the suppliers and feed the suppliers, and then go straight to table one.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, that's fine.

SPEAKER_01

Just purely because by the time then that that last person has finished, your suppliers have finished and they can come back into the room then and set up for your speech.

SPEAKER_00

Are you saying like sometimes they get met, like the first bit gets met?

SPEAKER_01

I have seen it where speeches can start and a supplier has been just food's been put on the table, the spiral, leave it and go. Because obviously the supplier fall. Because the supplier is is has to get that footage and has to eat.

SPEAKER_00

Hundred massively. I mean you need to eat and the.

SPEAKER_01

But a supplier wouldn't like a videographer wouldn't just sit there and just eat. They'd they'd go and they'd go and do the speech and they'd go and video them and things like that. But they wouldn't probably eat. They wouldn't probably eat. And that's what you've got to take into consideration. So for this, we'll say speeches are before. Yeah. Because speeches are always great when they're before. Relax. Relax. They can start to to unwind.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, and then after they've done the speech, they'll probably end up having lots to drink.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Whereas maybe if they did the speech after the water. But people can be nervous.

SPEAKER_01

Of course you would.

SPEAKER_00

And but I just need this wine to just like get rid of my nerves, and then doing the speech, I'd be like, ah yeah. Especially off wine. But I know like I'd be so nervous. White wine time. No, you wouldn't catch me doing a speech anyway. I'm s I'm s I can't. I mean, you know what I'm like for Swanley. Even when we first started, I just no.

SPEAKER_01

I I rewatched the first episode actually, that's a different topic, but I was like, oh my god, we've changed so much. I know. But anyway, back to timeline. Um speeches, 30 minutes for three maximum. Um ten minutes each. No, three to five. But you've just said Yeah, but I'm saying max because sometimes people go off on a tangent.

SPEAKER_00

I think talking for five minutes is a long time. It's a lot longer than you think. Yeah. Yeah. And sat listening is a long time.

SPEAKER_01

If not, people get bored. I know they do. Yeah. And the other reason why speeches are great beforehand as well is because people don't go off to the toilet. So if you if you are having your speeches afterwards, you've got to ask yourself how important is that decor to be on that video and that photos for me. Because if you're wanting your main vocal point to be the decor on the table, do your speeches beforehand. Because if not, you're gonna have dirty plates, you're gonna have dirty cups, napkins, yeah. That's so good. Everything's not gonna be the same afterwards as it is before. Yeah. So that's another reason.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, that's really good.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Um, and the same for in between. So if you do it in between courses, doing it in between courses as well, you've just got to communicate that with your caterer, but also as well about that, that's dragging it out. But also as well, like you've got to take into consideration if you've given Uncle Bob 10 minutes, Uncle Bob's always a good uh example in my eyes. Uncle Bob. Um, if you've given him 10 minutes and he does 20, that catering's gonna be delayed. So that's why you've got to take into consideration as well. So, like I said, speeches will be 30 minutes, that will take you to five o'clock. Your food, then if you've got a three-course meal, is approximately two hours. So from five to seven, that is the two hours. Um, and then your evening will start at eight because you'll have an hour for the room turnaround.

SPEAKER_00

And that's where the party starts. So I need to get on. What about talking about wedding breakfast? Yeah. If there's like entertainment within the wedding breakfast, because some people like a magician bands or wait, you know, thingy waitresses waiters.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so that always gets factored into the timing. So, say for example, your singing waiters would usually come out. That's what I meant.

SPEAKER_00

I said singing bands. Singing waiters.

SPEAKER_01

They'd usually come out for dessert. Right. Soon as dessert's finished.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

What are your thoughts on those?

SPEAKER_01

I think some are absolutely hilarious, but I've seen some been really, really bad.

SPEAKER_00

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

That's another episode. That is another episode. I think we need to get single we does on.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, we do.

SPEAKER_01

I'm gonna message them afterwards.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I really want them on.

SPEAKER_01

Because they must have some really good stories. Oh, big time. Yeah. Yeah. And they do they're really fantastic because the right ones do actually get But I just feel like they've been done so much.

SPEAKER_00

I just know. But we I know when they're gonna be done.

SPEAKER_01

They changing things now though, aren't they? I know when they're gonna be done because I've seen how their sets like being done. Yeah. Um, and how I've seen them at wedding fairs and I've seen them at physical weddings too. Yes, I've seen some being done really, really, really, really bad.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And some being done absolutely freaking fantastic.

SPEAKER_00

Like if I went to a wedding with Ethan, like, and obviously I'm just gonna do it. I know that it's coming. And I'd I'd be like that on each other.

SPEAKER_01

I did I I have done to Johnny before. I've been like, they're gonna sing, and he's like, What? And I'm like, no, they're gonna sing.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. But you kind of want to say it quietly because you don't want to ruin it for anybody else studio. Oh, but one of Ethan's friends really fell for it. Uh-uh. Like he actually felt sorry for him. No, loads didn't know, but he like made like a beeline and got up and was like, Oh my god, mate, are you okay? It was on video, like he's been so nice.

SPEAKER_01

I've seen this before, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And he was like, Are you sure? Are you sure? Like he fully thought they'd fallen. Oh and then boom, and he was just he walked off and went, For fuck's sake. He was like, everyone was like watching him. Yeah, oh no, I felt that sorry for him.

SPEAKER_01

I've seen a groom be like that before as well, yeah. Well, the bride surprised everybody and then her then the groom. Yeah, which is funny, and they are fantastic. We'll have to get them on, definitely. Right, so we've got to eight 8 p.m. Yeah, so just as a little bit of a refresh, obviously you would start 8 30, 9 o'clock, um, bride um or whoever, and then you would have your ceremony at 2 o'clock, you need to be in your dress by 1 latest. Um, 2.30 is when your drink reception will start, that will be an hour and a half. Four o'clock is then when your wedding breakfast will start in terms of getting people seated. Takes 20 minutes to get people seated, so that takes you to 25 past, five minutes for you to be announced in, so everything is done then for everybody to be seated and taking their seats ready for speeches by half past four. Speeches then are no longer than 30 minutes, which takes you to five o'clock, and then your three-course food is two hours approximately, which takes you to seven o'clock finish, and then your evening starts at eight o'clock. So, what happens from seven to eight? It's what seen is like a lull period. I call it it's obviously cocktail hour, but like everyone sees it as like a different kind of name. It can be your place where you can have your teen coffees outside of your room so that room turnover happens. Couple might go off for golden hour, couple well, depending on time of year, yes. Yeah, um, so you can go off for more photos, you can mingle with your guests at that time. Some people have a magician, some people have a marching band, some people do absolutely anything at this point. Um, you can do if you are gonna do cocktails in your cocktail hour, yeah. You can have two signature ones. Yeah, it's always a good suggestion. Um, again, like you say, you said go off for photos, you can really do anything within an hour. Or just enjoy it being with your guests, yeah. It's also when like your band, your DJ, whoever that is, and also venue, suppliers, me will strip that room and take it back. So we'll clear everything, your decor will stay on the tables, we'll take off maybe, say for example, your top table needs to be moved, um, your cake needs to be put into a different position for is that as well when most brides or or a couple have an outfit change? They can do.

SPEAKER_00

So do you suggest later?

SPEAKER_01

Some people do after the first dance.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, yeah, of course.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so it depends on if you want your first dance to be in your actual dress or if you want it to be in another dress. Um, so what would happen then is obviously your evening would start at eight, or you can even start it, say for example, at half eight. Um it depends on what band you've booked, it depends on how many sets they've got, everything like that. But say for the sake of this, you started at eight, you'd have your cake cutting at eight, your first dance at five past because it doesn't take no when it goes goes into it, doesn't it? And it flows into it. Um, but you can also then be announced into the room. You can also even do your cake cutting straight away after um your wedding breakfast as well, if you didn't want to do it in the evening. Yeah. Yeah. And then you just dance the night away. Yeah. Evening food, probably based on those timings, would probably be around about half past nine. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Okay. Does that sound good to you? Yeah, no, I'm just thinking about everything if we've done it for everything.

SPEAKER_01

And then if it's a church, it is different. Like I said, we'll go over that on a different day, but you've got to take it into consideration travel big time. Nobody does. No. Like I said, it's like herding flipping cattle. Yeah. Nobody ever wants to leave a church. Well, that's what that's what I'm on about. Guests are cattle in this case.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Traffic.

SPEAKER_01

Nobody wants to ever leave, then you don't know how traffic's gonna be. You don't know if it's any r random road closures, a car crash, anything. Yeah. So you've just got to take that's a different topic for a different day. But I think we'll put a post up about what the timeline looks like for a two o'clock ceremony. So you can always then just save it.

SPEAKER_00

Very helpful, yeah. I learned some things as well. Did you? Should have spoken to you before my wedding. So I'm just gonna ask you. Okay. If there's like one piece of wedding scheduling advice, what would it be?

SPEAKER_01

Um I've gone blank. I know. Um oh my god. Just one little piece. Listen to your suppliers.

SPEAKER_00

I feel like I learnt you I learnt when you said, well, if you want your decor in the shots and you want it to look nice, that's another reason why you should do speeches first. Like I feel like that's a good piece of advice.

SPEAKER_01

And your schedule doesn't always have to be the same as everybody else's. So if you are having a two o'clock ceremony but you don't want to eat until seven o'clock, don't eat until seven o'clock. It's entirely up to you. It's your day.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Like you can do whatever you want with the time after you're gonna do it.

SPEAKER_00

That's from my instance and when I was planning a wedding. Because I was they said no on loads of things, but I really pushed for it, and then eventually they did do it.

SPEAKER_01

Because your wedding doesn't need to be the same as somebody else's the day prior, and you don't have to be in this churning out continuously the same wedding every single day. Absolutely. So just because we've given you that schedule, my piece of advice would be on that take it and do what you want with it. And tweak it, make it yeah. That's just the average.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Mine would be Go on a bit of advice from like a make partisan like the morning is it's amazing having a schedule, but don't be really strict on it. Like I've seen it where it's like two minutes past ten. Bridesmaid now should be here, and then like the bride's head falls off because they're not there at two minutes past, but they're not there at five past. You know, you've got to have buffer times, uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01

Um but this is where I always do in in my schedule that goes to supplier, I always do the buffer times.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, like a buffer time is needed.

SPEAKER_01

So, like, I will always give you as well five to ten minutes by yourself or with your mum, or because some brides like, no, I just want to be around myself before the registrars come in, whoever it may be. I had a bride the other week that was like, No, I just want to literally sit here before I put my dress on and just take it in. Yeah. And she was watching all the guests outside from the window above and just having five minutes, and she was just feeling the emotion before then makeup came and did her top up, and then she got into a dress. Yeah. But we'd had those communications before that. So having someone as well who understands you two and your buffer times is ri and all of your suppliers and you communicating the same thing, don't just communicate what they want to hear, communicate your whole day because the more information they've all got, like you said, the easier it becomes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

So if the schedule did run over, fine. Which it will, like in in certain areas. It can do, yeah. Not like drastically, but if it did drastically, what what would you suggest are the easiest parts of the day to shorten?

SPEAKER_01

Your drinks reception. Yeah. Oh, sorry. Um, your drinks reception and your cocktail hour.

SPEAKER_00

Right, okay. So just shave off time those if something, God forbid.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Yeah. So we had a ceremony um that had Ranley, um this is when was this? Oh my god, my mind's gone blank. So it was a celebrant. Um she again was like, I want five minutes, absolutely fine. And then um the bridal party um was massive anyway, and it hadn't been this was like way, way, way before I was doing this, and it was actually while I was at a venue. Bridal party hadn't been factored into the time. And yeah, just went over. But that was taken back within the drinks reception. Right. Because I was still there.

SPEAKER_00

So what how much time did they lose? I didn't remember.

SPEAKER_01

We're talking like 2019.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, right, okay, wow. So it was ages ago. Okay. So I feel like this is we'll we'll probably end on this question that I've got. Oh god, go on. Um I feel like you've been saving this one. Yeah, well, just because for me it's like an eye roll.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Um, so how early should guests arrive before the ceremony starts?

SPEAKER_01

So you'll need to be seated around about 15 minutes prior. So if you've got a two o'clock ceremony, guests arrive at about one o'clock.

SPEAKER_00

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

Usually.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. And I just want to say, if you are the guest that's running late.

SPEAKER_01

Don't go in.

SPEAKER_00

Don't go in.

SPEAKER_01

Just wait. If you're but when we're talking, like when we say that, we're talking like if you've got a ceremony at two o'clock and you arrive at two o'clock, sit your car.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, don't even get don't even attempt to go and walk in because the bride will be really, really pissed off that you've seen her before everybody else. It's not even No, she won't. You would be.

SPEAKER_01

I'd be like It's not even that, it's just the fact that like if you were to walk in as the bride's walking down the aisle and you were in the back of those photos.

SPEAKER_00

Or if you were to get there just two seconds before and the door opens, all the guests are going to turn around and think you are the person walking down the aisle. Yeah. I just think wait, like, um but I'm talking like if you are really against the clock.

SPEAKER_01

I yeah, I we've had a couple of guests that um had a wedding last year, it was a church ceremony, and then they were over at the village hall for afterwards. There was around about three or four guests that were running late, and just literally just we were literally about to go click play, just went before everybody had stood up. Luckily, yeah, they went in. Um, but they literally just did they see they saw the bride, the bride was like, go, go, go, go. Um but that again, like they shouldn't they should have just waited.

SPEAKER_00

No, it's not ideal. And like I guess when you are in that situation, you probably would just be like, go, go, go, but you've startled the person who's waiting to go down the aisle.

SPEAKER_01

Whereas I've seen it from where I've had one bride that um not one bride, sorry, one guest. It was a lady, she was running 15 minutes late because she was stuck on the M6 because it was a crash. Yeah, and she texted somebody else and was just like, I'm running late, and they let me know, and I said, just text her back and just say, just wait outside if she's thinking about quarter past the hour, yeah. Just tell her to wait outside and then she can come in. Yeah, we can either sneak her in while whilst if it's a church and you can sneak her in at the back, absolutely fine.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, you'll make it work.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, if it's to the point where we can't and the dogs are gonna creak or anything like that. Like that, and everyone's gonna turn around and it's gonna win. Just wait outside. And that's the best advice I can. I agree with that. What you've just said.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, it just annoys me. Yeah. I'm like, you've literally ruined that poor person's well, it is like a big moment, isn't it? And you're just out there. Just wait. I know. Wait. Just wait. Just leave. Oh god. I feel like that is when Bridesilla Sofa would come out with a meeting. Was anyone late to yours? No, because everyone got picked up by the coach. Oh yeah. And I think they'd know if they if they were late.

SPEAKER_01

And also, you were in a different country as well, so everyone didn't really have it.

SPEAKER_00

No.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And I suppose if you're not in the industry, you probably would think, oh I'll just I'll just sneak in. But there's all different factors and it affects so much by just sneaking in when you're literally so close to the ceremony time. So yeah, I've I've learnt something, like I said. The venue decor. The venue decor and the speeches. So thanks for sharing that. And I'm I hope everybody helped.

SPEAKER_01

I hope so too. I hope it's helped. We'll definitely do one on a little bit more detail in terms of like a church.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, different kind of format and a different wedding, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and maybe to be fair, like a twilight one of how you can fit a four o'clock ceremony and everything in. Yeah, that's it. Because that's always a question that comes up.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Yeah, and they they're not often talked about, are they a twilight wedding? Because they don't come up that often.

SPEAKER_01

And if you've got any timeline for uh timeline photos, timeline questions, um just ask us because we can always go back to it on those episodes massively.

SPEAKER_00

Amazing. Well, thank you so much. I hope you enjoyed it. So if they want to follow us or listen again, where can they find us, Sophie?

SPEAKER_01

So you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcast, YouTube, and we are at the Ile Diaries Podcast. I try to think if there's any more then.

SPEAKER_00

At the Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, missed all those band boys.

SPEAKER_01

I know I do as well. I had to like reel it off in my head. That's why I like got lost.

SPEAKER_00

That's why you make me do it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And then what's the email address over there? See if you can read it.

SPEAKER_00

Ilediariespodcast at gmail.com.

SPEAKER_01

Whoop, whoop, is that because you wrote an email to ourselves today?

unknown

Yes.

SPEAKER_00

No, when I sent an email to ourselves, I was like, right, I'll remember that.

SPEAKER_01

And where can everyone find you, honey?

SPEAKER_00

Sophie.brown.makeup. And then the sister page is sp.bry.makeup.

SPEAKER_01

And you can find me at seraphina weddings on TikTok and Instagram. I am seraphina weddings underscore. Fabulous. See you next week, guys. Bye-bye.