Planning Your Wedding Day Timeline

Planning your wedding day timeline is crucial for ensuring that everything runs smoothly for you and your guests, but it shouldn’t be stressful! We’ve put together a helpful guide to help you create a timeline for your big day:

discuss your priorities

Before planning out any wedding day activities, you’ll want to sit down and determine what aspects of your wedding day are most important to you and your partner. Whether it's capturing stunning sunset photos, enjoying cocktail hour with loved ones, or dancing the night away, you’ll definitely want to prioritize these elements in your timeline.

scheduling DINNER SERVICE

Yes, you heard that right - you’re going to schedule your dinner service first! Typically we see dinner service begin anywhere between 5:30 and 7 pm. Plan on doing a grand march? You can make your grand entrance into dinner service or go straight into first dances if you’re looking to take advantage of your guests’ attention prior to dinner being served!

deciding on a ceremony start time

Now that you’ve scheduled your dinner service, you’ll want to work back 1-2 hours from your dinner start time to find your perfect ceremony time. We don’t recommend having more than 2 hours between your ceremony end time and dinner service, we generally see ceremonies start anywhere between 3 and 5 pm.

when to start getting ready

Talk to your hair and makeup stylists right away to determine how much time is needed for you and your wedding party to get ready. Let them know what time you would like everyone to be ready by and ask them what start time they recommend. Need to access the building earlier than 10 am? Talk to your event manager about adding on early access!

planning for PHOTOgraphy

Your photography team should be skilled in quickly capturing key moments throughout the day. Talk with your photographer about all important wedding day details and lean on them for guidance when it comes to creating your timeline. Want golden hour photos? Look up when sunset is and build in 20-30 minutes for photos 1 hour before sunset.

cutting your cake

Doing a cake cutting? If you have a tiered cake that needs to be cut by your catering team, you’ll want to cut your cake right before dinner service so your catering team has plenty of time during dinner to cut your cake and serve it to your guests! If you only have a personal cake to cut, you can also plan for the cake cutting to happen after toasts or before first dances.

preparing for the end of the night

Handling your own take down? We suggest beginning to take down and package your décor at least 30 minutes before last call. Use the catering room to stage boxes for packaging so guests don’t see you loading. You can pull your vehicles up right to the catering door to load at the end of the evening! Remember, everything must be removed by your contracted vacate time. Want to dance til the very end and not have to worry about packing up your décor? Talk with your event manager about adding our Take Down Services!

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additional questions to ask yourself when creating your timeline

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are you doing a first look?

A first look is a great way to not only get rid of some pre-ceremony nerves, but also allows you to get most of your wedding photos done prior to your ceremony! Plan for your first look to take place 2 hours before your ceremony begins so you have plenty of time to get back in the bridal quarters before guests begin arriving 30 minutes before the ceremony.

are you offering a shuttle service?

If you plan on offering a shuttle service, we suggest having your shuttle begin picking up guests from hotels 1 hour before your ceremony start time and then begin picking up guests 2 hours before your building vacate time.

do you want a late night snack?

We love late night food and so will your guests! If you plan on offering a late night snack, you’ll want to account for about 50-60% of your reception guests. We recommend having the late night snack available for guests to enjoy about 2 hours prior to last call. Ordering delivery? You can set this up the week prior to your wedding! Pro Tip: Ask to pay and tip upon ordering so you don’t have to worry about any late night snack details as you’re dancing the night away!

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SAMPLE TIMELINE WITHOUT A FIRST LOOK

10:00 AM - Hair + Makeup Begins
1:30 PM - Separate Bridal Party Photos
3:00 PM - Guest Arrival
3:30 PM - Ceremony
4:00 PM - Cocktail Hour, Family Formals
4:30 PM - Wedding Party Photos, Bride + Groom Portraits
5:45 PM - Grand March
6:00 PM - Dinner Service
6:45 PM - Toasts
7:15 PM - Room Flip
7:30 PM - Traditional Dances
7:45 PM - Dance Floor Opens
9:30 PM - Late Night Snack
11:30 PM - Last Call
12:00 AM - Building Vacate

SAMPLE TIMELINE WITH A FIRST LOOK

10:00 AM - Hair + Makeup Begins
1:30 PM - First Look, Bride + Groom Portraits
2:00 PM - Wedding Party Photos
3:30 PM - Guest Arrival
4:00 PM - Ceremony
4:30 PM - Cocktail Hour + Family Formal Photos
5:45 PM - Grand March
6:00 PM - Dinner Service
6:45 PM - Toasts
7:15 PM - Room Flip
7:30 PM - Traditional Dances
7:45 PM - Dance Floor Opens
9:30 PM - Late Night Snack
11:30 PM - Last Call
12:00 AM - Building Vacate

(Building vacate time is 10 pm if event is held on a Sunday or weeknight)

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Stressed about wedding planning? No need, the Rustic Manor 1848 Team is here for you and is happy to answer any questions you may have during your wedding planning process! If you’re interested in learning more about our wedding packages or are ready to get the planning process started, visit the Rustic Manor 1848 website. We are excited to discuss your vision and help you plan a wedding that’s perfect for you and your partner. 

Recently Engaged, Now What? Breaking Down the Wedding Planning Process

It's finally here! You've just taken the first step toward starting the next chapter in your life. Planning a wedding can feel daunting, but we’re here to point you in the right direction and give you a helpful planning timeline to help you remain calm, cool and collected during the wedding planning process.

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FIRST THINGS FIRST

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soak it in

Celebrate the moment! Take some time to enjoy the newly-engaged life - pop some champagne, celebrate with your loved ones, and show off that ring! You don’t have to start planning right away, especially if you are planning for a longer engagement, enjoy the moment and start planning when you are ready.

take engagement photos

Begin researching photographers that fit the vibe you’re going for and book an engagement session! It’s important to take engagement photos early so you have enough time to receive your photos, decide on your favorites, and create a beautiful Save The Date.

gather inspiration

Start dreaming about your big day! Create a Pinterest board, browse through wedding trends on Instagram, and read through wedding blogs to begin curating your own wedding vision.

draft a guest list + BOOK YOUR VENUE

As soon as your guest list is set, start researching venues that align with your wedding vision, location, and can accommodate your desired guest count. Don’t wait to book your wedding venue! If you have your heart set on a certain month (or even date), waiting to book your venue could lead to unnecessary stress and disappointment.

SELECT a CATERER

We recommend scheduling tastings with at least two caterers so you can compare their menus and pricing. Rustic Manor 1848 works off a wonderful list of preferred caterers who offer a wide variety of food types at different price points. We have no doubt that you will find something that satisfies your tastebuds and fits within your budget!

BOOK any “MUST HAVE” VENDORS

If there are any wedding vendors that you must have to make your wedding vision come to life, book them right away! Desirable vendors can book up quickly, so don’t waste any time if you know you need to have them as part of your dream wedding vendor team.

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MONTHLY MILESTONES

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6-9 months before

• book remaining vendors

• order wedding dress + bridesmaid dresses

• finalize guest list

• mail your save the dates

• build wedding registry

• begin planning day-of timeline

9-12 month before

• Order Save The Dates

• Start Dress Shopping

• reserve room block(s)

• continue to gather inspiration

• conduct research on wedding vendors

• build your wedding website

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2-4 months before

• finalize details with florist

• order wedding cake + dessert

• discuss ceremony details with officiant

• choose songs for ceremony + reception

• send out invitations (3 months before)

• plan bar + beverage selections

4-6 months before

• book wedding day transportation

• research rehearsal dinner options

• order wedding stationary

• book honeymoon accommodations

• purchase wedding rings

• shop for SUITS / TUXES

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FINAL WEEKS

• CREATE SEATING CHART

• CONFIRM FINAL DETAILS WITH VENDORS

• PICK UP WEDDING RINGS

• PACK FOR WEDDING DAY

• ORDER LATE NIGHT SNACK

• PICK UP DRESS + MEN’S FORMAL WEAR

1-2 months before

• hair and makeup trials

• finalize timeline + floor plan

• order linens

• get marriage license

• finalize menu with caterer

• CONFIRM REHEARSAL DINNER PLANS

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Stressed about wedding planning? No need, the Rustic Manor 1848 Team is here for you and is happy to answer any questions you may have during your wedding planning process! If you’re interested in learning more about our wedding packages or are ready to get the planning process started, visit the Rustic Manor 1848 website. We are excited to discuss your vision and help you plan a wedding that’s perfect for you and your partner. 

Tips on Choosing Your Wedding Vendors

choosing your dream team

Your wedding is arguably one of the most important days of your life, which is why it is so important to have a vendor team you can trust to bring your vision to life. Feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start? We’ve curated a list of tips that is sure to make the process go smoother and ease your wedding planning, anxious mind!

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tip #1 - determine your priorities

First things first, you’ll want to sit down with your partner and prioritize your wedding vendors. Create a list of all important wedding details you must have to make your dream wedding vision come to life! Have you been admiring a photographer for years? Are you obsessed with flowers or will candles do just fine for décor? What about food, videography, or music? Once you’ve prioritized your vendors, you can begin to set a budget, which is crucial before you start researching and talking to vendors!

tip #2 - set your budget

Creating a budget for your wedding day is not the most fun thing to do, but it is oh-so important to do before booking your vendors! Starting with the top of your priority list, begin to allocate how much of your budget you are willing to spend on each vendor. Of course this can be modified as you continue wedding planning but it doesn’t hurt to have a starting point! There are so many wedding vendors out there, you’re destined to find ones you love and are within your budget.

tip #3 - do your research

Spending time browsing wedding directories, viewing vendor websites, and scrolling through vendor social media pages is a great way to start the research process! Using wedding directories will allow you to search for vendors by category in your desired area, view their price points and read through reviews. After finding a few vendors that you like in each category, you’ll want to meet with each of them to see if they are a good fit for you. You’ll want to choose vendors that are transparent with their services, pricing, and are easy to communicate with!

tip #4 - ask for referrals

Don’t be afraid to ask for help when choosing your wedding vendors! Asking industry professionals, friends or family who recently got married, and your venue for referrals can all be great ways to find your vendors. You’ll definitely want to reach out to your wedding venue to see if you have to work off a preferred list of wedding vendors. The last thing you want is to have your eye set on your dream DJ and later find out that your venue has an exclusive vendor list you must choose from when selecting your DJ. Getting married at Rustic Manor 1848? No need to stress, the only vendor we need to approve is your caterer!

tip #5 - don’t wait to book your vendors

Most importantly, don't wait to book your vendors! Soak in the newly-engaged bliss while you can but if you have your heart set on certain vendors, waiting to book your them for your special day could lead to unnecessary stress and disappointment should they not be available for your date.

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some of our favorite VENDORS

Looking for custom, one-of-a-kind rental items to make your wedding vision come to life? We love our friends over at Vintique Rental, a family owned and operated local boutique rental company. Their vintage, antique, modern, natural & rustic items will add character and style that will enhance your event and make it a day to remember.

Jane Kelly Floral provides exceptional service and dedication to creating unique floral expressions for every event. Their multi-generational wedding floral business offers the perfect mix of interior design and floral expertise to give every couple beautifully curated floral designs for their special event. 

Looking for a photography team that knows our venue and surrounding grounds like the back of their hand? Manor Studios 1848 is the wedding photography division of our parent company, Rustic Manor 1848 specializing in shooting with natural light and getting our feet dirty if it means capturing that genuine moment.

From a DJ to a Videographer and everything in between, David Charles Productions is an experienced, dedicated, motivated and goal-oriented professional celebrating over 20 years of providing DJ/MC, lighting, sound, coordination, planning and audio/visual aspects for weddings and events. You’re guaranteed to have a simple planning process and a celebration that is truly a reflection of you.

How To Run Your Wedding Rehearsal

A wedding ceremony rehearsal is an essential part of preparing for the big day, but it shouldn’t be complicated. A rehearsal gives the couple, their families, and the wedding party a chance to walk through the ceremony and ensure that everything runs smoothly on the actual wedding day. Here are some tips to help you run a successful wedding ceremony rehearsal:

plan out the details

Create a Detailed Plan: Before the rehearsal, make sure you have a detailed plan of the ceremony. This should include the order of events and the roles of each person involved in the ceremony. This plan will serve as a guide during the rehearsal, helping everyone stay on track and ensuring that all the important details are covered!

Choose a Location: Contrary to popular belief, your ceremony rehearsal does not need to take place at your wedding venue! Especially if you’re getting married in peak wedding season, it may be tricky to get your venue as a rehearsal location if other weddings are booked on the days leading up to your special day. If you’re wedding venue isn’t available - don’t worry! You can have your rehearsal basically anywhere. Think about using a nearby park, your backyard, or even the parking lot of your rehearsal dinner to do a run-through of your ceremony.

Create Your Processional Order: Decide who will be walking down the aisle, if they’ll have a walking partner, and the order in which they will be walking in. While everyone remembers to include the wedding party, don’t forget about the groom, the mother of the bride, and the grooms parents. Some couples also like to include their grandparents in their processional! Your processional order should be written from first to walk down the aisle to last - don’t forget to provide this to your officiant and wedding planner! Here’s a processional example:

1. Officiant (do you want them walking in first to lead the processional or should they already be standing at the alter?)

2. Grandparents of the Groom

3. Grandparents of the Bride

4. Parents of the Groom

5. Mother of the Bride (don’t forget her escort!)

6. Groom

7. Bridesmaids + Groomsmen (decide who is walking together and the order!)

8. Maid of Honor + Best Man

9. Ring Bearer

10. Flower Girl

11. Bride + Father of the Bride (or person of significance)

At the end of the day you want to create a processional order that feels right to you.

The officiant is in control

You’ll definitely want to make sure that your officiant is in attendance as they are the ones who will be running your ceremony. Finalize your ceremony details with them, give them the processional order as well as your reader’s names. Don’t feel like you need to rehearse everything before your wedding. What do we mean? We mean, don’t have your officiant read their entire ceremony script; you only need a taste to know what to expect on your wedding day!

rehearse with your ceremony music

It will be extremely helpful to rehearse to the music you plan on using for the ceremony. If you aren’t having your rehearsal at a location where a speaker is available, think about bringing your own Bluetooth speaker and pre-download any music that will be played during your ceremony so everyone knows what music they will be walking to!

practice THE PROCESSIONAL

Yes, anyone included in your processional will want to practice walking down the aisle! This will help everyone figure out what pace they should be walking, one that isn’t too fast or too slow. If you don’t have someone coordinating the processional, you’ll want to decide how far each couple should get down the aisle before the next couple starts walking.

don’t overthink your wedding party placement

While you don’t want your wedding party to be too crammed or spaced out, it isn’t necessary to go to great lengths to figure out where each member of your wedding party needs to stand. Start by having all of your wedding party lined up near the altar as if they already walked down the aisle. Now, since the wedding party members who are furthest from the bride and groom will be walking down the aisle first, they will want to remember the distance in which they are standing from the couple. Then when each wedding party member walks down the aisle, they can fill in next to the person who is already at the altar! While it may feel necessary to curve the wedding party to see the bride and groom easily, you will instead want to have your wedding party stand on a flat angle. This will allow your photographer to capture all of your wedding party in one shot!

PRACTICE THE RECESSIONAL

Finally, practice the recessional, or the exit of the wedding party at the end of the ceremony. Make sure everyone knows where to go and when, so that the exit is smooth and coordinated. If you’re taking wedding party pictures immediately following the ceremony, plan on having a location for everyone to meet at so no one gets distracted after the ceremony and pictures can start right away.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your wedding ceremony rehearsal runs smoothly and that everyone feels confident and prepared for the big day!

10 Things Every Bride Should Do the Morning of Their Wedding

The birds are chirping, the sun is shining bright in the sky, and the moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here - it’s your wedding day! In a few short hours, you’ll be walking down the aisle to marry the love of your life.

Sure, you may have some pre-wedding jitters, and there are probably a million different thoughts running through your head. But it’s important to remember that your wedding day is supposed to be fun! So, leave your worries behind, jump out of bed, take a deep breath, and make sure that you’re doing these 10 things the morning of your wedding:

1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

Start your day by drinking a big glass of water. Many brides understand the importance of staying hydrated, and drinking a glass of water early in the morning will certainly help.

2. Take a Deep Breath (or Two)

You’ve spent countless hours planning your wedding, and everything is ready for your big day. All that’s left for you to do is sit back, take a deep breath, and relax. You got this!

3. Take A Walk Down Memory Lane

Before all the hustle and bustle of the day begins, maybe while you’re taking in some of those deep relaxing breaths, open your phone and scroll through the photos you have saved of your journey together. Laugh at those early, goofy photos and smile upon those more recent ones. This is your person! Today’s going to be an amazing day with them. 

4. Go Over Your Checklist

A few weeks before your wedding, make a checklist of everything that you’ll need to bring with you. This way, you can go over this list on the morning of your wedding and ensure that you don’t forget any essential items.

5. Eat Breakfast

Eating a delicious and nutritious breakfast in the morning will fuel you for the rest of the day. So please, don’t skip breakfast - you’re going to need it!

6. Change Into Something Comfortable

Put on a robe, sweatpants, or whatever clothing you feel the most comfortable in.

Chances are, you have a lot of pampering and prep ahead of you and comfort is key during this time. Personally, we recommend loose fitting clothing, no watch and no hair ties around your wrist. These things can leave lines on your skin for hours so skip them altogether! 

7. Rehearse Your Vows

Take some time out to rehearse your vows. Even if you know them by heart, reviewing them one last time doesn't hurt. After all, practice makes perfect!

8. Get Your Glam On

Glam is one of the most fun parts of your wedding morning! So sit back, get your hair and makeup done, and embrace your inner queen. Today is your day, and you deserve to be pampered.

9. Listen to Music (and Have a Dance Party, Too)

There’s nothing like listening to some of your favorite songs or even some old school jams to get you pumped up on your wedding day. By all means, try to sneak in a dance party with your tribe too!! You know they’ll be down for all the hype vibes that morning! 

10. Pop Some Champagne

Last but certainly not least, gather up your tribe and pop that champagne! It’s time to celebrate your special day while also taking the time to show appreciation for all of the amazing friends and family who have helped you along the way. There’s some delicious sparkling cider options out there as well to accommodate everyone’s tastes while still staying fancy! 

Make the most of your wedding day from the moment you wake up until the very last song plays. This is a special day for you and your partner and the moments ahead are something you’ll cherish for the rest of your lives.

If you’re interested in having your Wisconsin barn wedding at Rustic Manor 1848, it’s easy to contact us! We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have and will work to help you find the perfect date for your wedding.

The B&B Suite

The Bed & Breakfast Suite

Including a stay right here on-site the night of your wedding is just one of the unique offerings here at Rustic Manor 1848. From day one, we’ve be blessed to welcome couples into our home (literally!) and share with them the same wedding joys we had on our wedding day.

The decision to build a brand new suite and move the B&B from the original 1848 Farmhouse came when Eric and I learned we were expecting our first child. Until then, we had been offering the second floor bedchamber to couples the night of their wedding, with breakfast served right to their door. But we quickly realized that a relaxing stay might not be achievable with a screaming infant one floor below. We had officially outgrown the farmhouse!

Luckily, we were prepared as we knew this day would someday come. We’d been fine tuning blueprints for the past 5 years for this addition which allowed us to jump into construction almost immediately. Eric was SO excited since we’ve never had a garage for our own personal use, this build would allow us to finally have an attached personal garage as the second level would house the B&B suite and photography studio.

The construction moved quick; from February - July 2020. It was both a blessing and a curse to have started a major build 1 month before the COVID crazy-ness hit but despite the ups, downs, worries and excitement…we made it through! And the results are (we think) beautiful!

We hope you’re just as excited to stay with us as we are to host you!

Sweating for the Wedding During COVID-19

With mandatory shutdowns of area gyms, forced and self quarantines, and the current necessity for social distancing, working out may be last on your list of concerns. BUT you may want to move it up a bit. If you’ve been working out for your wedding for months, you don’t want to lose your progress just because the snack pantry keeps calling your name while you’re working from home. We all have more downtime right now which means more snacking, more lounging and less movement. 

Working out and getting your blood pumping could be just what you need to boost your mood and make these dreary days a bit brighter. Taking some “you” time in the form of physical activity is an important addition to your self care routine while at home. Not to mention, it’s a perfect time to rope your significant other into some quality fitness time together since they likely don’t have a good excuse as to why they can’t join you…

Fitness apps and gyms have stepped up in a big way to help you get your fix at home. Inject your working remote schedule with some endorphin-rushing routines courtesy of these free at-home workout options.

Gym Resources 

• CrossFit: Free at-home workout videos, including single exercises and drills

• Planet Fitness: Streaming free 20-minute workouts. daily Facebook Live events start at 6 p.m. CST on Planet Fitness’ Facebook page

• Orange Theory: Orange Theory at Home, completely free 30 minute workout videos 

• Xperience Fitness: #XFhomeworkouts Live streamed HIIT classes daily, posted on their youtube channel 

Cardio and Strength Workouts

• Fitness Blender: Free cardio, strength and stretch workout videos

• Beachbody: Online classes with a 14-day free trial

• BodyBoss: Set of guides and challenges designed to help you get fit in 12 weeks. Offering 50% off sitewide with the code HIIT50

• Tone It Up: Daily online workouts with a 7-day free trial

• Daily Burn: Live fitness classes offering a 60-day free trial with Premium access to all new members 

• ObéFitness: Live fitness classes with a 30-day free trial (use code ATHOME)

• The Sculpt Society: Online cardio and sculpting workouts with a 14-day free trial

• NEOU: Various live, on-demand workouts with a 30-day free trial

• P.volve: Streamed functional movement workouts with a 30-day free trial (use code ONEPVOLVE)

• Fhitting Room: On demand HIIT and strength workouts with a 30-day free trial

Yoga:

• YogaWorks: Online yoga classes with a 14-day free trial

• Down Dog App: Free yoga, HIIT and barre classes until April 1, 2020, In response to the many school closures taking place, also offering free access until July 1st for all students and teachers (K-12 and college)

• SkyTing: Online yoga classes with a free 7-day trial

Barre:

• The Bar Method: Online barre classes with a 14-day free trial, plus some free workouts via Instagram

• Physique 57: Online barre classes with a 7-day free trial

• Barre3: Online barre classes with a 15-day free trial

Pilates:

• Blogilates: Free workout videos, challenges and plans

• Pilates Anytime: Access to over 3,000 Pilates classes with 15-day free trial