The following tip is from Reverend Joan M. Pape of Ceremonies by Design. Reverend Joan is a non-denominational, interfaith minister with the flexibility to conduct any kind of wedding ceremony you may want – from traditional to alternative, large to small, simple to elaborate.

“You shouldn’t have to be concerned with the clock and your guests’ arrivals on your wedding day. Yet, too often, I see ceremonies being delayed or people arriving late and disrupting a ceremony that is already in progress.

In the absence of a wedding coordinator, it can be a challenge to have guests take their seats upon arrival so that the ceremony can begin on time. It is easy to get side-tracked by conversations, particularly folks who haven’t seen each other in a while. And, everybody is feeling so joyful that they aren’t really paying attention to the time. That is all right, but you don’t want to delay your ceremony because Aunt Suzie can’t stop talking to Aunt Emma.

One possible solution is to ask your parents to be the ones to greet guests and lead them to their seats. If there are ushers, encourage your parents to lead folks to the ushers so that the ushers can do what they are there to do. Often, ushers are new to the process, and a little guidance from a parent or the bride’s personal assistant can go a long way to ensure a smooth and timely process.”

For more information or to schedule a time to talk with Reverend Joan, please visit www.ceremoniesbydesign.com or call 608.437.7500.