Temple Wedding Guide

Congratulations on your upcoming temple sealing! I'm here to help make it as smooth as possible. From coordinating the best times and places for photos to planning a schedule that flows seamlessly from the temple exit to celebrations, I’ve created a guide to help you focus on the joy of your day. Let's make this sacred experience beautiful, memorable, and stress-free.

Before the sealing…

Does lighting and setting matter to you?

To get the best photos on your wedding day, consider the temple's surroundings. Temples like Bountiful, Mt. Timpanogos, and Saratoga Springs in Utah offer shaded areas with arches and greenery, providing beautiful backdrops. In contrast, temples like Orem and Payson have more limited options due to nearby highways, parking lots, and less shade, which can create harsh lighting.

First Look/Bridals

Here’s the thing—your wedding day can feel overwhelming, especially right after you exit the temple. With the rush to capture family group photos and your couple portraits before the luncheon or reception, time can feel tight. To ease the pressure and ensure you get all the beautiful shots you want, consider scheduling a first look or bridal session before or after the wedding day. This allows you to capture those moments in the best possible lighting (early morning or late evening) at the temple or even at a different location.

My utah location guide: https://www.venicestudiosofficial.com/location-guide

What to Bring to The Temple

It’s easy to forget things when you’re in a rush! Here’s a simple checklist to make sure you have everything you need when you get sealed.

Temple Item Checklist:

  • Utah Marriage License

  • Live Ordinance Temple Recommends

  • Temple Clothing

  • Wedding Dress and Veil

  • Groom’s Suit and Tie

    Typically worn to the temple

  • Wedding Rings

    You will have the option to exchange rings during the sealing ceremony

  • Bouquets and Boutonnieres

    Assign someone to bring them to the temple

  • Hair and Makeup Items

    The bride can do retouches in the temple bride’s room

  • Temple Exit Props

    Assign someone to bring these to the temple; ribbons or streamers are popular for guests to wave as the bride and groom exit

Your Wedding Day Timeline

Here are some timeline options to help you make the most of your special day! Feel free to copy and edit these timelines to best fit your wedding.

How to Edit the Timeline: Choose a timeline and click on the Google Doc link. When the document opens, go to “File” and select “Make a Copy.” You’re now ready to edit the timeline however you'd like!

Questions to consider when planning:

  • Do you want your sealing to be in the morning or afternoon?

  • Do you want extra time between the sealing and reception?

  • Do you want to include a ring ceremony before or after your sealing?

  • Would you consider having your sealing and reception on seperate days?

  • Click Here for the Google Doc Version

    Morning: Temple Sealing Preparation

    6:30 am – 8:00 am:

    • Bride and groom prepare (hair, makeup, getting dressed).

    9:00 am:

    • Bride and groom arrive at the temple for the sealing.

    9:30 am:

    • Guests arrive for the sealing.

    10:00 am – 10:30 am:

    • Temple Sealing Ceremony
      The ceremony typically lasts around 30 minutes. Be sure to check specific temple schedules and arrival instructions.

    10:30 am – 11:15 am:

    • Bride and groom change into exit attire (if desired) and prepare for the temple exit.

    Mid-Morning: Temple Exit and Photos

    11:15 am – 12:00 pm:

    • Temple Exit and Family Photos
      Capture the temple exit, family photos, and bridal party photos.

    12:00 pm – 12:45 pm:

    • Bride & Groom Portraits at the Temple

    Afternoon: Lunch Break and Relaxation

    1:00 pm – 4:00 pm:

    • Break for lunch with family and friends and/or relax.

    Early Evening: Reception Preparation

    4:00 pm:

    • Travel to the reception venue.

    5:00 pm – 6:30 pm:

    • Arrive at the venue and set up for the reception.

    Evening: Reception

    6:30 pm – 7:00 pm:

    • Bride and Groom Arrive at Reception Venue
      Bride and groom arrive early for any last-minute photo opportunities at the venue.

    7:00 pm – 8:00 pm:

    • Reception Begins
      This may include greeting guests, receiving line, toasts, first dances, cake cutting, and any other special traditions.

    8:00 pm – 9:00 pm:

    • Open Dancing and Final Farewells
      Enjoy the final moments of the evening with friends and family, capturing candid moments and celebrating!

    9:00 pm:

    • Bride and Groom Send-Off
      (sparklers, bubbles, ribbons, etc.)

  • Click Here for the Google Doc Version

    Morning: Getting Ready

    10:00 am – 12:00 pm:

    • Bride and groom prepare (hair, makeup, getting dressed).

    Midday: Travel and Sealing Ceremony

    1:00 pm:

    • Bride and groom arrive at the temple.

    1:30 pm:

    • Guests arrive at the temple.

    2:00 pm – 2:30 pm:

    • Temple Sealing Ceremony
      The sealing typically lasts around 30 minutes, but check with the temple for specific timing.

    2:30 pm – 3:15 pm:

    • Bride and groom change into exit attire (if desired) and prepare for the temple exit.

    Afternoon: Temple Exit and Photos

    3:15 pm – 4:00 pm:

    • Temple Exit and Family Photos
      Capture the temple exit, family/group photos, and bridal party photos.

    4:00 pm – 4:45 pm:

    • Bride and Groom Portraits at the Temple

    Early Evening: Reception Preparation

    5:00 pm – 6:30 pm:

    • Reception Setup
      Family and friends arrive at the venue to set up for the reception.

    Evening: Reception

    6:30 pm – 7:00 pm:

    • Bride and Groom Arrive at Reception Venue
      Bride and groom arrive early for any last-minute photo opportunities at the venue.

    7:00 pm – 8:00 pm:

    • Reception Begins
      This may include greeting guests, receiving line, toasts, first dances, cake cutting, and any other special traditions.

    8:00 pm – 9:00 pm:

    • Open Dancing and Final Farewells
      Enjoy the final moments of the evening with friends and family, capturing candid moments and celebrating!

    9:00 pm:

    • Bride and Groom Send-Off
      (sparklers, bubbles, ribbons, etc.)

  • Click Here for the Google Doc Version

    Morning: Preparation and Sealing

    7:30 am – 9:00 am:

    • Bride and groom get ready.

    9:00 am:

    • Bride and groom travel to the temple.

    10:00 am:

    • Bride and groom arrive at the temple.

    10:30 am:

    • Guests arrive at the temple.

    11:00 am – 11:30 am:

    • Temple Sealing Ceremony
      The sealing ceremony typically lasts about 30 minutes.

    11:30 am – 12:15 pm:

    • Bride and groom change into exit attire (if desired) and prepare for the temple exit.

    Post-Sealing: Family Photos and Couple Portraits

    12:15 pm – 1:00 pm:

    • Temple Exit, Family Photos, and Bridal Party Photos

    1:00 pm – 1:45 pm:

    • Bride and Groom Portraits

    Afternoon: Lunch and Preparation for Ring Ceremony

    2:00 pm – 3:00 pm:

    • Light lunch and/or break.

    3:00 pm – 4:00 pm:

    • Travel to ring ceremony venue.

    4:00 pm – 5:00 pm:

    • Venue set up.

    5:00 pm – 5:30 pm:

    • Ring Ceremony

    5:30 pm – 6:30 pm:

    • Dinner, toasts, and speeches.

    Reception

    7:00 pm:

    • Reception starts.

    7:00 pm – 8:00 pm:

    • Receiving line, greet guests, games (shoe game, scavenger hunt, etc.).

    8:00 pm – 8:30 pm:

    • Cake cutting, father/bride and mother/groom dances, first dance.

    8:30 pm – 9:30 pm:

    • Open dancing and celebration.

    9:30 pm:

    • Send-off (sparklers, bubbles, streamers, etc.).

Some pointers!

  • Plan for Buffer Time: You may leave the temple later than expected, and depending on your family size and the number of photos you want after your sealing, it could take longer than anticipated.

  • Arrive Early: Bride and groom should plan to arrive at the temple at least an hour before the sealing. This is recommended by all temples.

  • Allocate Time for Photos: Plan for your temple exit, family/group photos, and couple portraits to take about 2 hours after the sealing ends.

  • Adjusting After the Sealing: If you are changing into your wedding dress after the sealing and making adjustments to hair, makeup, etc., plan to exit the temple even later than expected.

  • Typical Exit Time: 80% of the time, the bride and groom exit the temple about 45 minutes after the sealing ends.

  • Choose a Nearby Reception Venue: To save time on travel, choose a reception venue near the temple.

  • Reception Length: Most brides have found that 2 hours is the ideal length for a reception, as most guests begin to leave around the 1.5 to 2-hour mark.

Temple Exit Checklist

  • Confirm Exit Location:

    • When scheduling your sealing, confirm with the temple which side you will exit from.

    • Remind family members of the exit location in advance to prevent anyone from getting lost.

  • Assign a Coordinator:

    • Designate a bridesmaid or groomsman to gather family and friends at the correct exit door.

    • Ensure this person also coordinates with the photographer so they’re ready to capture the moment.

  • Prepare Bouquets and Boutonnieres:

    • Assign someone to manage bouquets and boutonnieres for the bridal party.

    • This person should distribute the flowers to the bridal party and hand the bouquet and boutonniere to the bride and groom right before they exit.

  • How to Exit:

    • Brides and grooms, exit the temple slowly! It’s easy to want to rush through it, but walking slowly and holding that kiss will help the photographer capture the moment beautifully and allow you to savor the experience.

    • Remember to show your emotions as you exit! Whether you’re feeling joyful and energized or sentimental and full of love, let it shine through!

For those who will not be attending the sealing…

For those who will not be attending the sealing, you are welcome to wait in the temple waiting room or lobby. Waiting rooms are typically located to the right or left of the lobby, though the exact location may vary depending on the temple. If needed, temple workers stationed in the lobby will be happy to assist you in finding these rooms.

Once the sealing is complete, you will likely see your group exit through the lobby. If the waiting room is near the lobby, you’ll know the sealing has concluded when you see your party leaving the temple. At that point, you can join the group to proceed outside and watch the bride and groom exit the temple through a separate door.

Church Resources

Where do the bride and groom exit the temple?

Don’t know where you will exit the temple once you both become sealed? Don’t worry! Below is a list of popular temples and where you should expect to exit. The bride and groom typically will exit the temple through a designated exit, separate from the main front entrance used by most temple visitors. Make sure everyone is well informed of the location you will exit the temple!

(I am currently still working on this list so please let me know if you have any suggestions or changes!)

Utah:

Bountiful - front sliding doors on the right side

Brigham City - south door

Cedar City - east doors

Draper - south door on the side of the temple

Jordan River - west side of the temple

Logan - door is between the main building of the temple and the actual entrance, kitty corner from the north east corner of the Temple

Manti - north side of the annex (smaller building joined with the main building)

Mount Timpanogos - small door at the back of the temple facing east

Ogden - east side doors

Oquirrh Mountain - west doors at the back of the temple 

Orem - east doors at the back of the temple

Payson - south west doors

Provo City Center - the north-facing doors of the white gazebo across from the temple's front doors

Saratoga Springs - east doors at the back of the temple

St. George - northeast corner of the annex (smaller building joined with the main building)

To be continued…