Start with a timeline template

What this article covers

Use a starter timeline template when you want a practical first draft instead of an empty timeline.

A template is not the finished plan. It gives you a realistic structure that you edit for the real wedding.

Current starter templates

Wedding Desk currently includes these starter templates:

Full day with first look

Use Full day with first look for an 8 to 10 hour day where portraits happen before the ceremony. This template is useful when the couple wants a private first look and a less compressed cocktail hour.

It starts around 09:30 and includes prep, detail flatlays, first look setup, first look, couple portraits, wedding party portraits, family photos, ceremony, reception details, dinner, speeches and dancing.

Choose this when the couple is comfortable seeing each other before the ceremony.

Full day no first look

Use Full day no first look for an 8 to 10 hour traditional aisle reveal. Portraits and family photos are mostly stacked after the ceremony.

It starts around 10:00 and gives more pre-ceremony time to separate individual portraits and getting ready. After the ceremony it includes family photos, wedding party portraits, couple portraits and reception coverage.

Choose this when the couple does not want a first look or when ceremony tradition matters.

Church ceremony

Use Church ceremony when the ceremony is longer, more formal or has restrictions. It includes travel to church, church exterior photos, a restrictions check, guests arriving, processional, a longer ceremony, recessional and later portraits and reception coverage.

Choose this when quiet movement, ceremony rules, church timing or travel buffers matter.

Civil ceremony

Use Civil ceremony for a compact town hall or simpler ceremony day. It starts later, has fewer moments and focuses on essentials: prep, ceremony, family photos, couple portraits, reception details, drinks, dinner arrival, speeches, cake or toast and coverage wrap.

Choose this for smaller weddings, town hall ceremonies or shorter formal structures.

Half day coverage

Use Half day coverage for 4 to 6 hours of coverage. It focuses on the essentials: quick prep context, ceremony, family photos, couple portraits, reception details, a key toast or dance moment, guest candids and wrap.

Choose this when you are not covering the full day.

Multi-location wedding

Use Multi-location wedding when prep, ceremony, portraits and reception happen across different places. It includes load-out, travel moments, optional first look, multiple portrait locations, ceremony, family photos, reception, dinner, speeches, dancing and wrap.

Choose this when travel and location changes are one of the biggest risks in the day plan.

Steps

1. Open the project.
2. Go to Wedding Timeline.
3. Click Use starter template.
4. Review the template choices.
5. Pick the closest structure, not a perfect match.
6. Click Use template.
7. Review the created timeline moments.
8. Edit times, locations, durations, status and notes.
9. Remove moments that do not apply.
10. Add missing moments for this specific wedding.

What happens after applying a template

Wedding Desk creates timeline moments from the template. Those moments become normal project timeline moments. You can edit, move, link and share them like any other timeline moment.

What to always review after applying a template

Always check:

• ceremony time
• coverage start and end
• location changes
• family photo time
• portrait time
• dinner and speeches
• reception details
• any optional moments that do not apply

Then run Share / Print checks before sending output.

How this connects to other areas

After applying a template, add planning details from other modules. Link shots from the Shot list, link important people from Vendors & contacts, and prepare equipment in Gear list.

Tips & suggestions

• Choose the template that matches the structure of the day, not the exact start time.
• Do not leave template notes untouched if they do not apply.
• Use templates to start faster, not to skip review.