After months of meticulous planning and prepping, don’t blow it at the last minute with a mad dash to the door. “A lot of people think that if the ceremony’s at 1 and they need to leave at 12:30, then they need to be ready at 12:30 – but if you aim to be ready at the time you have to leave, you’ll be late,” says Polly. Here’s how to schedule so you stay punctual and stress-free.

Hair & makeup: “To keep this from running late – which it often does – be clear with hair and make-up artists exactly when they need to finish up. I tell my clients it should be done 15 minutes after I arrive.”

Putting on the dress: “Allow up to 20 minutes for getting into your gown if it has buttons or corsetry, and make sure someone in your bridal party knows how to do it up. If it’s a slip-on dress, five minutes will be fine.”

Confetti time: “Factor in 15 to 20 minutes after the ceremony for guests to mill around outside while you meet and greet. This ensures you’ll get to the reception on time.”

The drinks reception: “I recommend an hour and a half for this, because it’s the main time for most of the photography – the reportage shots of people chatting, the couple and family shots, the detail pictures – so you want to have enough time to get it all in.”

Group pictures: “Ask your photographer how long they recommend for the number of group shots you want, then nominate multiple helpers to round people up. And if you really want a ton of family photos, consider booking a professional photo session another time.”

Evening guests: “It’s hard to tell how long the meal will last, and once you sit down there’s nothing you can do to change it, so make sure there’s a bar area and drinks available for evening guests. If there are no provisions for them and you’re running late, it can become awkward.”

Stay calm: “It is possible to get the wedding to run to time if your schedule is realistic, just ass little time buffers throughout the day.”

Visit alexandreweddings.com for more information about Polly and her work

Complied by Julia Scirrotto