Beating the Waiting Game pt 1

Having been a guest at probably 50+ weddings over the years, I can tell you that there is nothing more frustrating than waiting around for everything to happen. On your big day, you don't want to be worrying about your guest having a good time. That's why it's important to put careful time and planning into your scheduling ahead of time.

The three most frustrating times of waiting are

• Time waiting at the reception for you to arrive
• Waiting in line for food
• Waiting for open dancing to begin

Of course there are some other times that are slow going, but I think these are the three that can really make or break the party. In the next three articles I'll address why these three times can ruin the party for your guests and how to avoid them.

Time Waiting at the Reception for You to Arrive

Why it kills the mood: There is no worse feeling than getting to a party before it's gotten started. Most of us would rather be fashionably late and arrive while things are in full swing than get there while the host is still setting up. Wedding guests feel the same. You want them to arrive while something is going on so they aren't thinking about what they'd rather be doing.

How to save it: I will get one thing out of the way, if you are not taking all of your photos before the wedding because you want to wait for the groom to see you coming down the aisle, PLAN on scheduling at least a two hour gap between the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the reception. It's going to take you more than an hour to take those photos and the commute between the ceremony space and the reception space will add up quickly. Don't rush yourself. But let your guests know that they don't need to rush there. They can go home for a few hours or maybe go buy that present they didn't have time to get ahead of time.

If you do only plan for you to have the common hour-long limo ride with a stop at a bar or a park for quick pictures, remember that means that your guests will probably be waiting for you for about 40 minutes to an hour. Here are some ways to make your guests feel welcomed.

1. Plan to have host couples to arrive first to get things started.
2. Plan for a cocktail hour so that hungry guests can have a snack or allow dinner to be served.
3. Plan some sort of 10-15 minute silent looping slide-show.
4. Provide activities for kids: coloring books, a craft or some sort of entertainer.
   
5. Plan a fun, time-consuming memory keeping activity: photo booth, wish tree with cards at each table or provide a looping photo slide-show.
   

It's really important that the vendors are ready for your guests when they arrive so they guests feel like they aren't too early. Make sure the host couples know that their job is to be the host and make sure that people feel welcomed.

Check back tomorrow for Part 2 and how to make the dinner line go by faster.