Your wedding day at http://www.admiralroom.comis one you’ll never forget — a day filled with excitement, joy, and all the little moments that make your love story shine. To make sure everything flows seamlessly, a well-planned wedding day timeline is key. From the moment you slip into your gown in our elegant bridal suite to your grand entrance beneath the soaring ceilings of the main hall, every detail deserves its moment to shine.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to create a wedding day timeline that keeps the day stress-free, organized, and perfectly paced — so you can focus on what truly matters: celebrating your love surrounded by family and friends in one of Buffalo’s most breathtaking venues.

Timelines have changed in the short 7 years we’ve been open here at the Admiral Room.

church wedding Admiral Room

1. Start with a Preliminary Timeline
Start plotting events  and then go back and estimate the time it takes for each of your key moments. Here’s a basic overview of time estimates for each event:
Bride and Bridesmaids Preparation: depends on how many are in your wedding party.  If you are getting hair and make up for 10-14 ladies you may )______4–6 hours
Groom and Groomsmen Preparation: 2–3 hours
First Look (Optional): 30 minutes–1 hour
Ceremony: 30 minutes–1 hour
Reception Cocktail Hour: 1 hour
Dinner or Reception Meal: 1- 1.5 hours
Dancing and Entertainment: 2–3 hours

Bridal Party/Family Photos: 1-2 hours

Cake Cutting: 5 minutes
Send-off/Exit: 10 minutes
Depending on the size of your wedding party, and the venue these times can be adjusted. Go ahead and start to visualize how you want your wedding timeline to unfold!

• Bride’s Hair and Makeup: Reach out to your hair and makeup artist and coordinate the schedule with them.  It’s typically best to begin your HMU around 4–6 hours before the ceremony. Don’t forget to leave time for the bridal party as well! ( when you have 12 plus people getting HMU done this timeline changes to earlier in the day.
• Groom and Groomsmen: The groomsmen are more concerned with which sporting event is on the tv and where the cold drinks are. They do need about 2-3 hours to get ready and snap a few pictures before the ceremony.
• First Look (Optional): Some couples opt for a “first look,” where the bride and groom see each other privately before the ceremony. You many want to consider leaving 30-45 minutes before the ceremony for your first look and longer if you want a first look with your grandparents as well.
• Pre-Ceremony Photos: If you’re doing a first look, you can also schedule photos of the couple and bridal party before the ceremony. This will allow you to enjoy more time visiting with friends and family at your reception. Schedule around 1 hour for portraits.

• Arrival of Guests: Guests usually arrive 20–30 minutes before the ceremony begins. Be clear and notify the guests when they should start arriving for the ceremony.
• Procession: The walk down the aisle! Typically, the groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, flower girls, ring bearers, and finally the bride all walk in a pro

  

  church wedding Admiral Room

  cession to the altar. Plan out the order and how long it will take for each person to walk.
• Vows and Pronouncement: The ceremony will likely include vows, readings from bride or groom  music, and an exchange of rings. The time length may  vary depending on your ceremony style.
• Exit: At the end of the ceremony, after the bride and groom are announced husband and wife, there will be a brief exit where the newlyweds walk down the aisle. This moment is often filled with excitement with your wedding guests standing as you exit the ceremony!