The reception of your wedding is when the party begins, and you can finally let loose. Your guests are so excited to celebrate you as a new couple! But before the toasts begin, there’s a very special event that needs to take place.
The ceremony.
But picture this: The gentle music is playing, most of your guests are seated, and you’re behind the scenes anticipating pure magic. And then you realize that your Aunt Cheryl hasn’t arrived yet.
This happens more than we’d care to admit. If the couple chooses to wait for the late arrive, it can push the entire event back. While we know this is purely out of the couple’s love for their guests, this can cause serious scheduling chaos!
Wedding ceremonies can last anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours.
If you choose to begin your ceremony promptly, the guests who are running behind may miss the “I dos,” especially if yours is shorter.
When it comes to your wedding day, it feels like you're herding cats when you’re moving people from your ceremony venue to your reception. And you have to do it with your elders, your friends, your family members, and your colleagues. It can be quite chaotic!
To dial back the stress of those late stragglers, here are three tips to help entice them to arrive on time so they can join you in the festivities!
Give them a 30-minute window.
Alright, we all have that one person (or entire side of the family) who you can count on to be late. And while that may fly when it comes to birthday parties or holiday gatherings in someone's home, they should not have the same expectations for your wedding day.
If your family is known for being late, tell your guests to show up thirty minutes earlier than the actual start time. This will give you a buffer so that even if they show up thirty minutes late, you can still begin on time. And if they actually do arrive thirty minutes early? Great! You’ll be ready to go when they arrive.
Treat (or bribe?) them with mimosas.
While we don’t want to call this bribery, sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. 😅
Millennials love brunch, am I right? So, if you’re having an open bar and a noon wedding, invite your guests to arrive thirty minutes early for bottomless mimosas.
If you’re having an evening wedding, invite them to arrive thirty minutes early for a bottomless champagne bar.
They won’t be late.
Keep the stragglers out.
We know this sounds harsh, but if you really don’t want your ceremony interrupted by latecomers, you can lock the doors to the church or venue.
This is an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime moment between you and your spouse. You don’t want to be distracted when Aunt Susan slips in amidst your vows.
Our advice? Clearly state that the doors to the ceremony will be locked at a specific time. You’ll catch them at the reception!
Worried about your guests' feelings? Totally fair! If you have a tactful day-of coordinator on your side, they’ll keep your guests comfortable and taken care of until you can greet them at the reception.
At ID23, our day-of wedding coordinators manage the intimate details so you can embrace the magic of your day. Contact us here to learn more about how we can take the stress out of your wedding day!
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