Everyone talks about the ceremony and the party. Hardly anyone talks about the hours in between, which is where things tend to go wrong. Photos run over. Guests wander. The caterer waits. And the couple, who haven’t eaten since breakfast, get quietly hangry.

A realistic timeline fixes most of this. Here’s how to build one.

Start from the fixed points. Ceremony time, dinner time and the end of your booking are your anchors. Everything else is flexible around them.

Work backwards from the ceremony. Hair, makeup, getting dressed, travel. Then add extra time, because zips stick, someone loses a shoe, and traffic is unpredictable. Most people find that they need more time than they think.

Decide when photos happen. Some couples take portraits before the ceremony, others afterwards. Before means you see each other first and guests get to enjoy cocktails sooner. After keeps the moment traditional. Either way, tell your photographer how long you want, and protect that block.

Don’t leave guests with nothing to do. The gap between ceremony and dinner is where people get bored and restless. A drink, some snacks and some music will keep everyone happy. Think about older relatives who might need somewhere to sit.

Schedule food and speeches carefully. Speeches work best when people have food in front of them but haven’t had too many drinks. Keep them short, and agree on a speaking order beforehand.

Plan the dancing. Choose roughly when the first dance happens and when the party picks up. Check with your DJ or band about when they need to start and stop.

Leave breathing room. If every minute is packed, the first delay ruins everything. Build in small gaps so you can catch up.

Share the timeline. Give copies to your photographer, caterer, musicians and a few trusted friends. Assign someone to quietly keep an eye on the clock so you don’t have to.

Eat something. Seriously. Ask someone to keep a plate for you.

When you start looking at places to get married in Montreal, ask each one how long you’ll have the space, since the answer will shape your whole timeline.

Most of all, remember the schedule is a guide, not a contract. If it slips by twenty minutes and everyone’s laughing, nobody will care.