If you have ever been to a wedding and reception then you know that things rarely begin at the time listed on the invitation. There is a reason for this, no the reason isn’t because the wedding party is unorganized. In fact, the wedding party is most likely very organized; being that the day in question would be of the utmost importance to them. Major even planners will tell you that things rarely begin on time because of the guests, not the hosting party themselves. The larger the crowd, the more minutes there will be added to the delay. This is not a bad thing; this is just how it is. 

What you should plan on is for every 25 guests, allow an extra 10 minutes to the start time of the event. For example, if you have invited 100 guests to a reception dance that begins at 8:00 PM, then realize that the dancing really won’t begin until 8:40. Now, if you have planned the dance from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and have not allowed for the extra 40 minutes then what you have done is given your guests 1 hour and 20 minutes of dancing instead of 2 hours.

Allowing for this extra time will also give you plenty of room to navigate those unexpected challenges that pop-up. Let’s say you want your wedding ceremony to begin promptly at 2:00 PM and you have invited 100 guests. On your invitation you want to put that the guests should arrive at 1:30, this gives them plenty of time to arrive on site, sign the guest book, greet friends and loved ones and congregate before settling down in their seats. While this is going on, when the Groom’s Best Man, for example, has forgotten the ring, you have the time to retrieve it. 

What follows is an example of a well planned wedding day:

What You Want:

• 4:00 PM – Wedding To Begin 
• 5:30 PM – Reception To Begin 
• 6:00 PM – Dinner Served 
• 7:00 PM – Dancing 

What You Actually Plan:

• 3:30 PM – Wedding Invitations Say Guests Arrive 
• 4:00 PM – Wedding Begins
• 5:30 PM – Wedding Invitations Say Guests Arrive At Reception, Are Greeted By The Wedding Party
• 6:00 PM – Reception Officially Begins
• 6:30 PM – Dinner Is Served 
• 7:30 PM To 8:00 PM – Dance Begins