diff --git a/resources/views/email.phtml b/resources/views/email.phtml
index c9c70ee..4f764f2 100644
--- a/resources/views/email.phtml
+++ b/resources/views/email.phtml
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ $palette = [
     'birth'     => '#5E81AC', // nord10 — birth (blue)
     'death'     => '#4C566A', // nord3  — death (graphite)
     'marr'      => '#B48EAD', // nord15 — marriage (purple/pink)
+    'rail'      => '#cdc7be', // muted warm grey for the timeline rail
+    'dot'       => '#5E81AC', // single unified colour for every timeline dot
 ];
 
 $font_stack = "'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif";
@@ -81,46 +83,63 @@ $is_detailed = static function (Fact $fact) use ($detailed_xrefs): bool {
     return false;
 };
 
-$linked_name = static function (Individual $individual) use ($palette, $relationships): string {
+/**
+ * Just the linked name (no relationship), used both inline and inside
+ * the multi-line name+relationship block below.
+ */
+$linked_name = static function (Individual $individual) use ($palette): string {
     $name  = strip_tags($individual->fullName());
     $url   = $individual->url();
     $style = 'color:' . $palette['ink'] . ';text-decoration:none;'
         . 'border-bottom:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';'
         . 'padding-bottom:1px;';
 
-    $html = '<a href="' . e($url) . '" style="' . $style . '">' . e($name) . '</a>';
+    return '<a href="' . e($url) . '" style="' . $style . '">' . e($name) . '</a>';
+};
 
-    if (isset($relationships[$individual->xref()])) {
-        $html .= ' <span style="color:' . $palette['ink3'] . ';font-style:italic;font-weight:400;font-size:13px;">('
-            . e(strip_tags($relationships[$individual->xref()]))
-            . ')</span>';
+/**
+ * Inline list of names ("Hans Doe" or "Hans Doe & Lotte Doe") plus
+ * the combined relationship line on a second line beneath.
+ */
+$record_label = static function (Fact $fact) use ($linked_name, $relationships, $palette): string {
+    $record = $fact->record();
+
+    $names = [];
+    $rels  = [];
+
+    if ($record instanceof Individual) {
+        $names[] = $linked_name($record);
+        if (isset($relationships[$record->xref()])) {
+            $rels[] = strip_tags($relationships[$record->xref()]);
+        }
+    } elseif ($record instanceof Family) {
+        foreach ([$record->husband(), $record->wife()] as $spouse) {
+            if ($spouse instanceof Individual) {
+                $names[] = $linked_name($spouse);
+                if (isset($relationships[$spouse->xref()])) {
+                    $rels[] = strip_tags($relationships[$spouse->xref()]);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        return e($record->xref());
+    }
+
+    $html = implode(' &amp; ', $names);
+
+    if ($rels !== []) {
+        // Drop near-duplicate labels ("your father", "your father")
+        // so couples don't print the same relationship twice.
+        $rels  = array_values(array_unique(array_map(static fn ($r) => e($r), $rels)));
+        $html .= '<div style="margin-top:2px;color:' . $palette['ink3']
+            . ';font-style:italic;font-weight:400;font-size:13px;">'
+            . implode(' &amp; ', $rels)
+            . '</div>';
     }
 
     return $html;
 };
 
-$record_label = static function (Fact $fact) use ($linked_name): string {
-    $record = $fact->record();
-
-    if ($record instanceof Individual) {
-        return $linked_name($record);
-    }
-
-    if ($record instanceof Family) {
-        $parts = [];
-
-        foreach ([$record->husband(), $record->wife()] as $spouse) {
-            if ($spouse instanceof Individual) {
-                $parts[] = $linked_name($spouse);
-            }
-        }
-
-        return implode(' &amp; ', $parts);
-    }
-
-    return e($record->xref());
-};
-
 $event_date_display = static function (Fact $fact): string {
     $date = $fact->date();
 
@@ -131,6 +150,43 @@ $event_date_display = static function (Fact $fact): string {
     return strip_tags($date->display());
 };
 
+/**
+ * Split a Fact's event date into (day+month, year) for the timeline
+ * rail where the day-of-the-anniversary is the meaningful sort key
+ * and the year is supporting information.
+ *
+ * @return array{day_month:string,year:string}
+ */
+$date_parts = static function (Fact $fact): array {
+    static $gregorian   = null;
+    static $months_de   = [
+        1 => 'Januar', 'Februar', 'März', 'April', 'Mai', 'Juni',
+        'Juli', 'August', 'September', 'Oktober', 'November', 'Dezember',
+    ];
+    static $months_en   = [
+        1 => 'Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', 'Apr', 'May', 'Jun',
+        'Jul', 'Aug', 'Sep', 'Oct', 'Nov', 'Dec',
+    ];
+
+    $gregorian ??= new \Fisharebest\ExtCalendar\GregorianCalendar();
+
+    $date = $fact->date();
+
+    if (!$date->isOK()) {
+        return ['day_month' => '', 'year' => ''];
+    }
+
+    [$year, $month, $day] = $gregorian->jdToYmd($date->minimumJulianDay());
+
+    if (str_starts_with(I18N::languageTag(), 'de')) {
+        $day_month = $day . '. ' . mb_strtoupper($months_de[$month] ?? '');
+    } else {
+        $day_month = mb_strtoupper(($months_en[$month] ?? '') . ' ' . $day);
+    }
+
+    return ['day_month' => $day_month, 'year' => (string) $year];
+};
+
 $event_kind = static function (Fact $fact): string {
     $parts = explode(':', $fact->tag());
 
@@ -319,22 +375,35 @@ $section_kicker_style = 'margin:0 0 18px;'
     . 'font-style:italic;font-weight:300;font-size:14px;'
     . 'color:' . $palette['ink3'] . ';';
 
-$divider_style = 'border-bottom:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';';
+// The card surface is built per-row out of avatar+content TDs (the
+// outer table itself stays transparent). The timeline TD lives on the
+// page background and carries a thick rail on its left edge.
+$card_padding_y      = 18;
+$card_corner_radius  = 8;
 
-$avatar_cell_style = 'width:72px;vertical-align:middle;padding:18px 0 18px 18px;';
+$avatar_cell_base = 'width:72px;vertical-align:middle;'
+    . 'padding:' . $card_padding_y . 'px 0 ' . $card_padding_y . 'px 18px;'
+    . 'background:' . $palette['surface'] . ';'
+    . 'border-left:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';';
 
-$content_cell_style = 'vertical-align:middle;'
-    . 'padding:18px 18px 18px 16px;'
+$content_cell_base = 'vertical-align:middle;'
+    . 'padding:' . $card_padding_y . 'px 18px ' . $card_padding_y . 'px 16px;'
+    . 'background:' . $palette['surface'] . ';'
+    . 'border-right:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';'
     . 'font-family:' . $font_stack . ';font-size:15px;line-height:1.4;'
     . 'font-weight:300;color:' . $palette['ink'] . ';';
 
-$timeline_cell_style = 'width:170px;vertical-align:middle;'
-    . 'padding:18px 18px 18px 26px;'
-    . 'border-left:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';'
+$timeline_cell_base = 'width:140px;vertical-align:middle;'
+    . 'padding:' . $card_padding_y . 'px 14px ' . $card_padding_y . 'px 24px;'
+    . 'border-left:4px solid ' . $palette['rail'] . ';'
+    . 'background:' . $palette['bg'] . ';'
     . 'font-family:' . $font_stack . ';'
-    . 'font-weight:500;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:0.12em;text-transform:uppercase;'
     . 'color:' . $palette['ink3'] . ';white-space:nowrap;';
 
+// A 16px wide gutter cell sits between the card and the timeline so
+// the rail visibly separates from the card edge.
+$gutter_cell_style = 'width:16px;background:' . $palette['bg'] . ';';
+
 // Renders one event row in the consistent 3-column layout shared by
 // every section (avatar | content | date on the timeline rail).
 $summary_kicker_style = 'margin:18px 0 8px;'
@@ -349,36 +418,85 @@ $summary_list_style = 'list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;'
 
 $summary_item_style = 'padding:3px 0;';
 
-$event_row = static function (Fact $fact, string $body_html, string $dot_color)
+// Renders one event row in the 4-column layout
+//   [avatar] [content] [gutter] [timeline rail + date]
+//
+// The avatar+content TDs carry the card surface (background + side
+// borders + corner radii on the first/last rows so the visual card
+// wraps just those two cells). The timeline TD sits on the page
+// background with a thick coloured rail on its left edge.
+//
+// $position is 'first', 'middle', or 'last' — used to add corner
+// radii and outer borders only where they belong.
+//
+// $show_dot suppresses the dot on rows whose upcoming-day matches
+// the previous row, so each calendar day has exactly one dot.
+$event_row = static function (
+    Fact $fact,
+    string $body_html,
+    bool $is_first,
+    bool $is_last,
+    bool $show_dot,
+)
     use (
         $record_avatars,
-        $event_date_display,
-        $avatar_cell_style,
-        $content_cell_style,
-        $timeline_cell_style,
-        $divider_style,
+        $date_parts,
+        $avatar_cell_base,
+        $content_cell_base,
+        $timeline_cell_base,
+        $gutter_cell_style,
+        $card_corner_radius,
+        $palette,
     ): string {
-        return '<tr style="' . $divider_style . '">'
-            . '<td style="' . $avatar_cell_style . '">' . $record_avatars($fact) . '</td>'
-            . '<td style="' . $content_cell_style . '">' . $body_html . '</td>'
-            . '<td style="' . $timeline_cell_style . '">'
-            . '<span style="display:inline-block;width:10px;height:10px;background:'
-            . $dot_color . ';border-radius:50%;'
-            . 'margin-left:-32px;margin-right:14px;vertical-align:middle;"></span>'
-            . e($event_date_display($fact))
-            . '</td>'
+        $avatar_extra  = '';
+        $content_extra = '';
+
+        if ($is_first) {
+            $avatar_extra  .= 'border-top:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';'
+                . 'border-top-left-radius:' . $card_corner_radius . 'px;';
+            $content_extra .= 'border-top:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';'
+                . 'border-top-right-radius:' . $card_corner_radius . 'px;';
+        }
+
+        if ($is_last) {
+            $avatar_extra  .= 'border-bottom:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';'
+                . 'border-bottom-left-radius:' . $card_corner_radius . 'px;';
+            $content_extra .= 'border-bottom:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';'
+                . 'border-bottom-right-radius:' . $card_corner_radius . 'px;';
+        } else {
+            $avatar_extra  .= 'border-bottom:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';';
+            $content_extra .= 'border-bottom:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';';
+        }
+
+        $parts = $date_parts($fact);
+
+        $dot_html = $show_dot
+            ? '<span style="display:inline-block;width:14px;height:14px;background:'
+                . $palette['dot']
+                . ';border-radius:50%;margin-left:-31px;margin-right:14px;vertical-align:middle;'
+                . 'box-shadow:0 0 0 4px ' . $palette['bg'] . ';"></span>'
+            : '<span style="display:inline-block;width:14px;margin-left:-31px;margin-right:14px;vertical-align:middle;"></span>';
+
+        $date_html =
+            '<span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;">'
+            . '<div style="font-weight:600;font-size:13px;letter-spacing:0.12em;color:'
+            . $palette['ink'] . ';">' . e($parts['day_month']) . '</div>'
+            . '<div style="font-weight:300;font-size:11px;color:'
+            . $palette['mute'] . ';margin-top:1px;">' . e($parts['year']) . '</div>'
+            . '</span>';
+
+        return '<tr>'
+            . '<td style="' . $avatar_cell_base . $avatar_extra . '">' . $record_avatars($fact) . '</td>'
+            . '<td style="' . $content_cell_base . $content_extra . '">' . $body_html . '</td>'
+            . '<td style="' . $gutter_cell_style . '"></td>'
+            . '<td style="' . $timeline_cell_base . '">' . $dot_html . $date_html . '</td>'
             . '</tr>';
     };
 
-// Wraps a list of <tr> rows in the "card" surface — rounded background
-// patch matching .card on the website.
+// Outer section table is transparent. Each event row contributes its
+// own card-surfaced avatar+content TDs plus the timeline TD.
 $card_open  = '<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" '
-    . 'style="width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;'
-    . 'background:' . $palette['surface'] . ';'
-    . 'border:1px solid ' . $palette['border'] . ';'
-    . 'border-radius:8px;'
-    . 'box-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.04);'
-    . 'overflow:hidden;">';
+    . 'style="width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;">';
 $card_close = '</table>';
 
 ?><!doctype html>
@@ -436,15 +554,18 @@ $card_close = '</table>';
                         </p>
                         <?php if ($detailed !== []) : ?>
                             <?= $card_open ?>
-                                <?php foreach ($detailed as $fact) : ?>
+                                <?php $prev_jd = null; $total = count($detailed); ?>
+                                <?php foreach ($detailed as $i => $fact) : ?>
                                     <?php
-                                        $age  = $upcoming_age($fact);
-                                        $body = '<span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;margin-right:12px;">' . $event_icon('BIRT') . '</span>'
+                                        $age      = $upcoming_age($fact);
+                                        $body     = '<span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;margin-right:12px;">' . $event_icon('BIRT') . '</span>'
                                             . '<span style="vertical-align:middle;">'
                                             . '<span style="font-weight:600;color:' . $palette['ink'] . ';">' . $record_label($fact) . '</span>'
                                             . ' <span style="color:' . $palette['ink2'] . ';font-weight:300;">— ' . e($birthday_label($age)) . '</span>'
                                             . '</span>';
-                                        echo $event_row($fact, $body, $palette['birth']);
+                                        $show_dot = ($fact->jd ?? 0) !== $prev_jd;
+                                        $prev_jd  = $fact->jd ?? 0;
+                                        echo $event_row($fact, $body, $i === 0, $i === $total - 1, $show_dot);
                                     ?>
                                 <?php endforeach ?>
                             <?= $card_close ?>
@@ -482,15 +603,18 @@ $card_close = '</table>';
                         </p>
                         <?php if ($detailed !== []) : ?>
                             <?= $card_open ?>
-                                <?php foreach ($detailed as $fact) : ?>
+                                <?php $prev_jd = null; $total = count($detailed); ?>
+                                <?php foreach ($detailed as $i => $fact) : ?>
                                     <?php
-                                        $age  = $upcoming_age($fact);
-                                        $body = '<span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;margin-right:12px;">' . $event_icon('MARR') . '</span>'
+                                        $age      = $upcoming_age($fact);
+                                        $body     = '<span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;margin-right:12px;">' . $event_icon('MARR') . '</span>'
                                             . '<span style="vertical-align:middle;">'
                                             . '<span style="font-weight:600;color:' . $palette['ink'] . ';">' . $record_label($fact) . '</span>'
                                             . ' <span style="color:' . $palette['ink2'] . ';font-weight:300;">— ' . e($anniversary_label($age)) . '</span>'
                                             . '</span>';
-                                        echo $event_row($fact, $body, $palette['marr']);
+                                        $show_dot = ($fact->jd ?? 0) !== $prev_jd;
+                                        $prev_jd  = $fact->jd ?? 0;
+                                        echo $event_row($fact, $body, $i === 0, $i === $total - 1, $show_dot);
                                     ?>
                                 <?php endforeach ?>
                             <?= $card_close ?>
@@ -528,15 +652,18 @@ $card_close = '</table>';
                         </p>
                         <?php if ($detailed !== []) : ?>
                             <?= $card_open ?>
-                                <?php foreach ($detailed as $fact) : ?>
+                                <?php $prev_jd = null; $total = count($detailed); ?>
+                                <?php foreach ($detailed as $i => $fact) : ?>
                                     <?php
-                                        $kind = $event_kind($fact);
-                                        $body = '<span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;margin-right:12px;">' . $event_icon($kind) . '</span>'
+                                        $kind     = $event_kind($fact);
+                                        $body     = '<span style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;margin-right:12px;">' . $event_icon($kind) . '</span>'
                                             . '<span style="vertical-align:middle;">'
                                             . '<span style="font-weight:600;color:' . $palette['ink'] . ';">' . $record_label($fact) . '</span>'
                                             . ' <span style="color:' . $palette['ink2'] . ';font-weight:300;">— ' . e($fact->label()) . '</span>'
                                             . '</span>';
-                                        echo $event_row($fact, $body, $event_color($kind));
+                                        $show_dot = ($fact->jd ?? 0) !== $prev_jd;
+                                        $prev_jd  = $fact->jd ?? 0;
+                                        echo $event_row($fact, $body, $i === 0, $i === $total - 1, $show_dot);
                                     ?>
                                 <?php endforeach ?>
                             <?= $card_close ?>