Should We Include an Order of the Day for Guests?

An incredibly useful addition to your wedding celebration planning, an Order of the Day for guests is a great way to keep your special day running smoothly. Whether it's a sign, or printed on your ceremony booklet, it is a very simple step in planning that will help your guests know exactly where to be and when they need to be there.

After putting all the effort into organising the different elements of your day, this handy piece of stationery or signage helps to prevent your guests missing out should they wander off. Keep reading to see why you should add an Order of the Day to your wedding celebration.

Image by Dasha Caffrey via One Fab Day

What is an Order of the Day?

An Order of the Day is anything that has your wedding day schedule on it for all your guests to see, and though you can send it in advance on your invites or post it on your wedding website, a physical copy is particularly helpful on the day such as printed on your ceremony booklet or on a large sign at your venue where everyone can see it.

From your ceremony start time to when dinner is called, an Order of the Day covers all the essentials and any extras you have planned!

An Order of the Day can be included on:

• Your wedding invites
• Your wedding website
• Your ceremony booklet
• On packets of confetti or wedding favours, such as drinks koozies
• Signage at the venue (Your stationer can help you with this too!)
• Wedding newspapers
• Wedding welcome bags

Image by Cat Brant via One Fab Day

What to Include in an Order of the Day

With most weddings being day-long events, a few guests might wander off to their rooms after the meal and miss the first dance, or stop off at a pub for a cheeky pint and miss the speeches if you had planned to do them early in the day at your reception drinks. Having an Order of the Day lets your guests know your wedding timeline so they don't accidentally miss the speeches, the canapés or the cake cutting.

Image by Dasha Caffrey via One Fab Day

Everyone's timelines will be different, but here are a few ideas of what you can include in yours. Include what time each event begins in order. Here are some examples below...

• Ceremony guests arrive
• The ceremony
• Photos
• Drinks reception
• Dinner
• Speeches
• Cake
• Evening guests arrive
• First dance
• Anything else: Sparkler send off, Fireworks...
• Late-night nibbles
• Last orders
• Bus and other transport

Image by Georgia Rachael via One Fab Day

Benefits of Having an Order of the Day

A wedding Order of the Day is particularly important for those shaking it up with their wedding timelines, for example having your speeches during the drinks reception or having your first dance before the meal. It's there to put your guests at ease. The following are a few benefits of an Order of the Day:

• It's helpful for those who need to nip away for a short while during the day or who might like to rest.
• It lets guests who may be hungry know when their next meal is coming (people really like to know this!).
• Guests have a feel for the flow of the day.
• Guests know where they need to be, so they won't miss out on or interrupt any events.
• A handy refresher of what may have been in your invites or on your wedding website.

Check out our handy sample wedding day timelines here to help plan your own wedding day down to the final detail.

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