⏰ Event Timeline Generator
Set your event start time and add segments with durations to build a sequential timeline.
How the run of show is built
The start time is converted to minutes past midnight and used as a cursor that each segment pushes forward:
segment start = cursor
cursor = cursor + duration
displayed as (cursor / 60) mod 24 : cursor mod 60The supplied example starts at 18:00 with Cocktails 60, Dinner 90 and Dancing 120, so the rows read 18:00-19:00, 19:00-20:30 and 20:30-22:30. Durations are whole minutes from 1 to 600, an unnamed row shows as Untitled, and there is no gap between segments - one ends exactly where the next begins.
The durations depend on service style and the room
| Segment | Typical | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Cocktail hour | 60 min | 75-90 if the same room is being flipped for dinner |
| Plated three courses | 90 min | Server ratio; thin staffing stretches every course |
| Buffet, 100 guests | 75 min | Line count - allow roughly 30 seconds a guest per line |
| Speeches | 5 min each | Number of speakers, not the schedule |
| Dancing | 90-120 min | Bar close and the venue's curfew |
Because segments butt together, anything that is really changeover time has to be entered as its own row: room flip, cake cut and reset, a photographer moving the family outside. Work backwards from the contracted end as well - most venues want the room cleared 30 to 60 minutes after the last segment.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a wedding cocktail hour be?
An hour if the reception room is already set. Give it 75 to 90 minutes when the ceremony space has to be turned round for dinner, and add the flip as its own segment so the timeline shows it.
How long does dinner take for 100 guests?
About 90 minutes plated across three courses, or 75 for a buffet with two lines - a single line at roughly 30 seconds a guest keeps the last table waiting nearly an hour.
How do I build in buffer time?
Add a segment for it. The tool never inserts slack of its own, so a 10 minute row called Buffer between dinner and speeches is the only way the timeline reflects one.