You’ve scored the perfect venue and found vendors talented enough to bring your vision to life.

 Now’s the time to put it together. In order to pull the whole thing off, it’s essential you create and stick to a timeline.

 Each wedding is different, so you need to find a timeline that supports the reception activities you have planned.

 We’ve put together this handy list of dos and don’ts to help you draft your timeline and ensure your reception flows smoothly and beautifully.

 DO: Create an Outline of Your Reception

 This list needs to include a play-by-play of all the major aspects of the reception you need to make time for. Cocktail hour, your entrance, the dinner, the speeches and toasts, the first dance, celebrating, cake cutting, etc.

 As you go through each event, do your best to allot an amount of time you think each will take, and schedule in the transition time required to move from one event to the next. The average wedding reception lasts 4 to 5 hours, so make sure there’s enough time for everything you’ve planned.

 When in doubt, overestimate. That will allow time to iron out any technical difficulties, or accommodate a longer than expected speech.

 DO: Check in and Coordinate with Vendors

 Make sure your caterer has ample time to prepare the food and your guests have enough time to enjoy each course.

 Share your timeline with all your vendors to ensure it’s doable for them, and be open to any feedback and suggestions they have.

 Once you’ve finalized the timeline, make sure each of your vendors knows exactly when they are expected to be ready to cater to guests.

 Your DJ or MC will probably be the one who announces each transition throughout the night so they need the finalized timeline. So does your photographer—they need to be ready to capture all the major moments like the first dance and the cutting of the cake.

DO: Consider Your Guests

 Try to avoid long stretches of time where there’s nothing happening and guests are just milling about, unsure what to do.

 DO: Remain Flexible

 If something doesn’t go according to plan or something else completely throws the schedule off, it’s okay. 

Be flexible and adjust, and make sure the vendors and other key players are updated on any last minute changes in the schedule.

 DO: Find a Timekeeper

 Maybe it’s one of your bridesmaids who has a knack for sticking to a schedule, or it’s the MC. Whomever it is, it’s important to have someone keeping track of time, and making sure the necessary steps are in place to transition from one activity to the next.

 DON’T: Underestimate the Time You Need to Get Ready

 To not delay the ceremony and reception, it’s critical that you allot ample time for hair and makeup. Getting all those little delicate pearl buttons buttoned on the back of your dress takes time too. 

Your bridesmaids need time to get ready as well—they need to get hair and makeup done too—and should not feel rushed as they slip into their gorgeous Bella Bridesmaid gowns.

 DON’T: Overschedule

 Don’t try to pack in as much as you can in a short amount of time. Have a little breathing room in your schedule, and make sure it’s realistic.

DON’T: Let People Ramble

 Give your loved ones who are preparing toasts and speeches a time limit. Typical wedding speeches are between 3 to 5-minutes long.

DON’T: Fail to Announce the Next Event

 It’s important that your DJ or MC announces each event as it occurs so your guests won’t miss a thing.

 DON’T: Forget to Take Care of Yourself

 As the star of the show, it can be easy to get swept from one conversation to the next, and so on. People will be congratulating you, hugging you, and sharing their sentiments about how happy they are for you and how beautiful everything is.

 If you’re not careful, you’ll go through the whole day without eating, hydrating, and catching a one-on-one moment with your new spouse.

 Pencil in time to attend to your own needs and check in with yourself.

 DON’T: Hurry Through the Special Moments

 There’s no need to rush through the special moments—and there’s going to be a lot of them.

 Do your best to be present and enjoy this incredible day. You have plenty of people there ready to lend a hand if needed—try not to feel as though it’s all up to you to ensure everything runs smoothly.

 Final Tips:

 When creating the timeline, make sure you know when you’re allowed to arrive at the venue to set up. Factor in this time, as well as the cleanup and time you have to vacate at the end of the night.

 Additionally, you may consider posting an abbreviated version of the timeline for the guests to view. That way they know when to expect certain events, and when they need to head out at the end of the night.

 Conclusion:

 If you communicate with vendors, schedule transition time between events, and are realistic about how long each event will take, your reception will flow beautifully.