Three functions over two days and both families uploading from everywhere. My cousins in London were watching the album fill up in real time. That part got me more than i expected
Priya N. · JaipurVerified couple · January 2026
Free copy and paste template
Wedding weekend itinerary template, ready to copy
Three finished weekends below: a 2-day, a 3-day and a Thursday to Sunday destination version. Copy one, fill in the brackets and paste it on your wedding website. Here is the 3-day weekend at a glance.
18%plan a full 2 to 3 day weekend
37%add at least one extra event
145guests on average
FridayArrive and say hi
- 3:00 PMHotel check-in, welcome bagsOptional
- 5:00 PMCeremony rehearsalInvite onlyWedding party, officiant
- 7:00 PMWelcome partyAll guestsResort casual
SaturdayThe wedding
- 10:00 AMMorning hike or poolOptional
- 4:15 PMShuttle leaves the hotelAll guests
- 5:00 PMCeremonyAll guestsBlack tie optional
- 5:30 PMCocktail hourAll guests
- 6:30 PMDinner, toasts, dancingAll guests
- 11:00 PMSend-off, last shuttleAll guests
SundaySlow goodbye
- 10:00 AMFarewell brunch, come and goAll guestsCasual
- 12:30 PMBrunch wrapsAll guests
- All dayCheckout and departuresOptional
Example weekend with placeholder times. Figures above from the Zola 2026 First Look Report (11,500+ couples). Keep the welcome party short: BriteCo's planner guide says around 90 minutes can be enough.
01The short answer
What goes in a wedding weekend itinerary?
Answer
One block per event, day by day: start and end time, place, dress code, who's invited and how to get there and back. Add a day-of contact who isn't the couple, the rain plan and hotel checkout. Post it on your wedding website and send the final version the week of the wedding.
Weekends are common now. In Zola's 2026 First Look Report (11,500+ couples), 37% plan at least one extra event like a welcome party or brunch, and 18% plan a full 2 to 3 day wedding weekend.
Emma & DanielThe weekend
FriSatSun
4:15 PMShuttle leaves the hotel
5:00 PMCeremony
5:30 PMCocktail hour
6:30 PMDinner, toasts, dancing
11:00 PMSend-off, last shuttle
Black tie optional, lawn
Shuttle 4:15 PM from hotel
Calendar Photos
Build yours in four steps
- 1Pick the 2-day, 3-day or Thursday to Sunday template below.
- 2Copy it and fill in every bracket.
- 3Mark each event: all guests, invite only or optional.
- 4Post it on your wedding website, send the final version the week of.
SEE IT IN ACTION
Scan. Upload.
One album, all weekend.
Watch a guest scan the QR code and add photos from the browser, no app and no account. Use the same code at the welcome party, the wedding and the brunch, and the whole weekend ends up in one place.
Emma & DanielScan to add your photos
9:41
WEDDING WEEKEND
Emma & Daniel
Example album
AllFridaySaturdaySunday
Add your photosNo app needed
02Copy and fill in
Three wedding weekend itineraries, ready to paste
These are guest-facing: no hair and makeup times, no vendor load-in. Swap every [bracket] for your details, delete what you don't host, then paste the text into your wedding website, an email or a doc you print for welcome bags.
Template 1
The classic 2-day weekend
Mostly local guests, one hotel block, one extra event.
FriSatSun
2 hotel nights for travelers
[YOUR NAMES] WEDDING WEEKEND [Town, State] | [Month] [Day] to [Day], [Year] Wedding website: [link] Questions on the day: [point person], [phone] FRIDAY, [DATE] 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM Rehearsal dinner Where: [restaurant], [address] Who: wedding party, immediate family, out-of-town guests Dress: [smart casual] SATURDAY, [DATE] THE WEDDING 3:30 PM Please arrive and find your seat 4:00 PM Ceremony begins 4:30 PM Cocktail hour on the [terrace] 5:30 PM Dinner and toasts 7:30 PM Dancing 11:00 PM Send-off Where: [venue], [address] Dress: [cocktail attire] Parking: [where to park or shuttle times] Photos: scan the QR code on your table to add yours to our album SUNDAY, [DATE] 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM Farewell brunch, come and go Where: [hotel restaurant] Hotel checkout: [time]
Template 2
The full 3-day weekend
Lots of travelers, a welcome party for everyone, a free morning.
FriSatSun
2 hotel nights for travelers
[YOUR NAMES] WEDDING WEEKEND
[Town, State] | [Month] [Day] to [Day], [Year]
Wedding website: [link]
Questions on the day: [point person], [phone]
FRIDAY, [DATE] WELCOME
3:00 PM Hotel check-in, welcome bags in your room
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Welcome party, everyone invited
Where: [venue], [address]
Dress: [resort casual]
SATURDAY, [DATE] THE WEDDING
10:00 AM Optional: [hike / pool / walking tour], meet in the lobby
Skip it and sleep in, no hard feelings
4:15 PM Shuttle leaves [hotel] for the venue
5:00 PM Ceremony begins
5:30 PM Cocktail hour
6:30 PM Dinner, toasts, first dance
11:00 PM Send-off
11:15 PM Last shuttle back to [hotel]
Where: [venue], [address]
Dress: [black tie optional], [lawn: wear block heels]
Rain plan: [indoor room or tent]
Photos: scan the QR code on your table to add yours to our album
SUNDAY, [DATE] FAREWELL
10:00 AM to 12:30 PM Brunch, come and go
Where: [hotel restaurant]
Hotel checkout: [time]Template 3
Thursday to Sunday, destination style
Most guests fly in and stay three or more nights.
ThuFriSatSun
3 hotel nights for travelers
[YOUR NAMES] WEDDING WEEKEND [Destination] | [Month] [Day] to [Day], [Year] Wedding website: [link] Questions on the day: [point person], [phone] Airport transfers: [company], [phone] THURSDAY, [DATE] ARRIVALS All day Arrivals, welcome bags at the front desk 7:00 PM Drinks at the [hotel bar], pay as you go, drop by if you are in FRIDAY, [DATE] EXPLORE + WELCOME 11:00 AM Optional: [boat trip / vineyard tour], sign up on the website 4:30 PM Rehearsal (wedding party only) 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM Welcome dinner, everyone invited Where: [venue], [address] Dress: [resort casual] SATURDAY, [DATE] THE WEDDING Morning Free time, the beach is yours 4:00 PM Shuttle leaves [hotel] for the ceremony 4:30 PM Ceremony begins, timed for [sunset time] light 5:00 PM Cocktail hour 6:00 PM Dinner, toasts, dancing 11:30 PM Send-off, last shuttle back Dress: [formal], [sand: flat shoes welcome] Rain plan: [covered terrace] Photos: scan the QR code on your table to add yours to our album SUNDAY, [DATE] FAREWELL 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Farewell brunch, come and go Where: [hotel restaurant] Hotel checkout: [time] | Airport shuttles: [times]
Every template has a photo line for the reception. To make it real, put one album QR code on the tables and in the welcome bags. Make a free guest photo album, 20 uploads with no card.
03Pick the shape
2 days, 3 days or Thursday to Sunday?
Choose by how far your guests travel, not by how many events you'd like. Each extra night costs every out-of-town guest a hotel night and often a day off work.
Template 1
2-day
2 nights
- Most guests can drive in
- One add-on event is enough
- You want to keep the budget tight
Template 2
3-day
2 nights
- Many guests are flying in
- You want to see everyone before the wedding
- Everyone sleeps in one hotel block
Template 3
Thursday to Sunday
3 nights
- Destination or resort wedding
- Guests take time off work anyway
- You want group time and free time
Skip the weekend itinerary if
It's one day, one venue, nearly everyone lives nearby and the only extra event is a small rehearsal dinner. A single-day schedule covers it. Use the wedding day timeline templates or build your own hour by hour with the timeline builder.
04Who's invited to what
One weekend, four guest lists
Most confusion on a wedding weekend comes from guests not knowing which events are theirs. Sort it out before you write the itinerary, then label every event.
Invited Often, your call Usually not
| Event | Wedding party | Immediate family | Out-of-town guests | Local guests | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony rehearsal | Only people with a role in the ceremony, plus the officiant. | ||||
| Rehearsal dinner | Zola lists the wedding party, immediate family and out-of-town guests as the traditional list. | ||||
| Welcome party | Usually open to everyone in town. Invite locals too if the space allows. | ||||
| Wedding | Everyone on the guest list. | ||||
| Optional activity | Opt-in. Say who pays. | ||||
| Farewell brunch | Everyone still in town, come and go. |
Ceremony rehearsal
Wedding party
Immediate family
Out-of-town guests
Local guests
NoteOnly people with a role in the ceremony, plus the officiant.
Rehearsal dinner
Wedding party
Immediate family
Out-of-town guests
Local guests
NoteZola lists the wedding party, immediate family and out-of-town guests as the traditional list.
Welcome party
Wedding party
Immediate family
Out-of-town guests
Local guests
NoteUsually open to everyone in town. Invite locals too if the space allows.
Wedding
Wedding party
Immediate family
Out-of-town guests
Local guests
NoteEveryone on the guest list.
Optional activity
Wedding party
Immediate family
Out-of-town guests
Local guests
NoteOpt-in. Say who pays.
Farewell brunch
Wedding party
Immediate family
Out-of-town guests
Local guests
NoteEveryone still in town, come and go.
Rehearsal dinner list from Zola's rehearsal dinner guide, checked October 2026. The other rows are common practice, not rules. If some events are invite only, give those guests their own version of the itinerary instead of posting everything to everyone.
05Two documents, not one
The guest version and the vendor version
Planners keep two schedules for the same weekend. Guests get what to wear and where to be. Vendors get load-in, call times and buffers. Mixing them sends guests to the venue at 1 PM.
Goes on the websiteGuest version
Start time5:00 PM ceremony, arrive by 4:30
WhereVenue name and address, or the shuttle stop
Dress codeBlack tie optional, lawn underfoot
Getting thereShuttle 4:15 PM, last one back 11:15 PM
ContactA friend or planner, not the couple
Stays with the teamVendor version
Load-inFlorist 12:00, caterer 1:30, band 3:00
Call timesHair and makeup 10:00, photographer 1:00
Buffers15 to 30 minutes between handoffs
CuesToast order, first dance song, exit cue
ContactsEvery vendor lead with a phone number
The two-version approach and the 15 to 30 minute buffers come from BriteCo's wedding weekend itinerary guide, checked October 2026. Build the vendor version for the wedding day itself in the wedding day timeline builder.
First dance
You guys!!
Three events, one photo album
Guests take photos at the welcome party, the wedding and the brunch. Give them one QR code for the whole weekend and every photo lands in one shared album, no app needed.
From Mom
Point your camera
Scan to join the album
No app, no account
9:41
UPLOADING
Saving your moment
9:41
THE ALBUM
Emma & Daniel
June 21, 2026
647 photos · 95 guests
AllMomentsMine
★
Add photosShare your moments
SCAN TO TRY
pix.wedding/
your-wedding
Start free with 20 uploads, no card. Upgrade later from $49, a one-time payment. See plans
06When guests hear about it
When to send the itinerary, month by month
Guests need the shape of the weekend early to book hotel nights, and the exact times late. So it goes out in stages.
6 to 8 monthsSave the datesSay it is a weekend, so guests book hotel nights and time off. For a destination, go 9 to 12 months out.
With the inviteWeekend page goes liveEvery event, time, dress code and who's invited on your wedding website.
6 to 8 weeksInvitationsAdd one RSVP line per hosted event. Destination invites go out earlier.
About 1 monthRSVP deadlineConfirm headcount per event. Brunch and welcome party numbers rarely match the wedding.
Week ofFinal itinerarySend the final version, print a card for welcome bags, update shuttle times.
Save-the-date and invitation windows from Joy; the RSVP deadline about a month out from Zola; the advice to make the website the home base for weekend details from BriteCo. All checked October 2026.
07Budget the extra days
What each event of the weekend costs
Only two of these events have a solid national number behind them. For the rest, ask the venue for a per-head quote and multiply by the headcount you sorted out in section 04.
| Event | Who usually comes | Cost figure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehearsal dinner | Wedding party, family, often out-of-town guests | $1,350 to $4,500 nationwide, or $55 to $150 per person | Zola |
| Welcome party | Everyone in town | No reliable national average. Get a per-head quote for drinks and heavy appetizers. | Per-head quote |
| Wedding day | Full guest list | $36,000 average, 145 guests average (2026 couples) | Zola 2026 First Look Report |
| Farewell brunch | Everyone still in town | No reliable national average. A hotel restaurant buffet quoted per head is the usual route. | Per-head quote |
| Optional activity | Whoever opts in | Your call. Say on the itinerary if guests pay their own way. | Per-head quote |
Rehearsal dinner
Who usually comesWedding party, family, often out-of-town guests
Cost figure$1,350 to $4,500 nationwide, or $55 to $150 per person
SourceZola
Welcome party
Who usually comesEveryone in town
Cost figureNo reliable national average. Get a per-head quote for drinks and heavy appetizers.
SourcePer-head quote
Wedding day
Who usually comesFull guest list
Cost figure$36,000 average, 145 guests average (2026 couples)
Farewell brunch
Who usually comesEveryone still in town
Cost figureNo reliable national average. A hotel restaurant buffet quoted per head is the usual route.
SourcePer-head quote
Optional activity
Who usually comesWhoever opts in
Cost figureYour call. Say on the itinerary if guests pay their own way.
SourcePer-head quote
Illustrative math, 30 rehearsal dinner guests
Headcount times per-head price
Using Zola's $55 to $150 per person, a 30-person rehearsal dinner lands between $1,650 and $4,500. Run the same math for the welcome party and brunch with your own quotes, then plug the totals into the wedding budget allocator.
30 guests x $55 per person$1,650
30 guests x $150 per person$4,500
Rehearsal dinner range from Zola (updated February 2026); wedding average and guest count from the Zola 2026 First Look Report. Both checked October 2026. We left out welcome party and brunch averages because we could not find a published survey behind them.
Friday to Sunday
The whole weekend, in one album
The photographer covers Saturday. Guests catch the shuttle ride, the welcome toast, the dance floor and the slow Sunday brunch. One QR code, phone browser, no app.
Point your camera
Scan to join the album
No app, no account
9:41
UPLOADING
Saving your moment
9:41
THE ALBUM
Emma & Daniel
June 21, 2026
647 photos · 95 guests
AllMomentsMine
★
Add photosShare your moments
08Before you hit send
Eight lines every event should answer
Run each event in your itinerary past these. If a guest would have to text you to find the answer, it belongs on the page.
Start and end time
Give an end time for parties and brunch so guests can plan flights and naps.
Place, or the shuttle stop
If shuttles are the only way in, Inside Weddings suggests leaving the venue address off so nobody drives.
Dress code plus terrain
Grass, sand, cobblestones and evening chill all change what people wear and what shoes they pack.
How to get there
Shuttle times both ways, parking, valet, ride share pickup spot.
A day-of contact
A planner or a calm friend, not the couple or the parents.
Rain or heat plan
Where the backup happens, written down before anyone packs.
Access notes
Stairs, long walks, steep lawns and where the step-free entrance is.
Kids or no kids
Event by event. Adults-only reception, kids welcome at brunch, say it plainly.
Transport, attire with terrain and weather, and a contact who isn't the couple or parents follow Inside Weddings' guest itinerary advice, checked October 2026.
09Mistakes to skip
Wedding weekend itinerary do's and don'ts
Do
- Mark every event as all guests, invite only or optional.
- Leave one open block per day for naps, the pool or exploring.
- Put the dress code on every event, not once at the top.
- Write shuttle times for the way back, not only the way there.
- Keep one photo album link open for the whole weekend.
Don't
- Pack every hour. Traveling guests need time off.
- Mail one itinerary to everyone if some events are invite only.
- Hand guests the vendor timeline with call times on it.
- Leave the rain plan for a 6 AM group text.
- Start a new group chat for photos at every event.
10From a destination wedding planner
How many events is too many?
Beth Helmstetter on YouTube
A well-balanced wedding weekend
Planner Beth Helmstetter sorts weekend events into must-haves and nice-to-haves, and makes the case for leaving guests free time to explore. Watch it before you pick between Template 2 and Template 3.
Watch on YouTube (5 min)11Words on the itinerary
Wedding weekend terms, in one line each
Wedding weekend
A wedding spread over two or more days, with at least one event beyond the ceremony and reception.
Welcome party
A relaxed gathering, usually the night before, open to everyone in town. Often drinks and heavy appetizers.
Rehearsal dinner
A smaller dinner after the ceremony rehearsal for the wedding party, family and often out-of-town guests.
Farewell brunch
A come-and-go meal the morning after so travelers can say goodbye before checkout.
Guest-facing itinerary
The schedule guests see: times, places, dress codes, transport. No vendor details.
Vendor timeline
The behind-the-scenes version with load-in, call times, buffers and every vendor contact.
Hosted vs no-host
Hosted means you pay. No-host means guests pay their own way, like drinks at the hotel bar.
Welcome bag
A small bag waiting in hotel rooms, often with snacks, water and the printed itinerary.
Couple reviews
Rated 4.9 by couples who used Pix Wedding
4.9
out of 5 · Based on 289 reviews
Destination wedding in Hawaii. The album has sunsets, snorkeling, the welcome luau, the ceremony, the after party. Everything our guests did over four days, in one place. The voice messages were the sweetest surprise ngl
Gabriela S. · Maui, HIVerified couple · January 2026
Our photographer charged extra for raw files and even then we got maybe 400 edited shots. Pix got us way more from our friends, unedited but so real. Different vibe, same value, tbh maybe more
Carter Y. · Boulder, COVerified couple · September 2025
Itinerary Help
Wedding Weekend Itinerary FAQ
What couples ask while they write the weekend schedule: what to include, when to send it, who gets invited and how destination weekends differ.
Every event with its day, start and end time, place or shuttle stop, dress code and who is invited. Add how to get there and back, a day-of contact who is not the couple, the rain plan, hotel checkout time and your wedding website link. Inside Weddings also suggests noting terrain and weather next to the dress code so guests pack the right shoes.
Start from a template, list the days in order and give each event one block: time, name, place, dress code, who's invited. Keep vendor details like hair and makeup call times out of it. Post it on your wedding website as the main copy, then send a final version the week of the wedding and print a card for welcome bags.
Mention the weekend on the save the date (Joy suggests 6 to 8 months out, or 9 to 12 for a destination) so people book extra nights. Put the full schedule on your wedding website when invitations go out, about 6 to 8 weeks before, earlier for a destination. Send the final version, with shuttle times, in the week of the wedding.
Friday: check-in in the afternoon and a welcome party for everyone in the evening. Saturday: a free or optional morning, then ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. Sunday: a come-and-go farewell brunch that ends before hotel checkout. Template 2 on this page has the full version with times to edit.
The rehearsal dinner traditionally covers the wedding party, immediate family and out-of-town guests, per Zola. The welcome party is usually open to everyone who is in town. If some events are invite only, list them only on the itinerary those guests get, or label them clearly on the website.
It usually runs longer, often Thursday to Sunday, because guests fly in and take time off anyway. Add airport transfers, free time to explore, optional excursions with sign-up details and a ceremony time set around sunset. Zola's sample destination timeline places the ceremony about 1.5 to 2 hours before sunset.