7 tips for being on time on your wedding day

Time costs money. Ever heard that saying? This rings true especially during a wedding. A few years back this mostly applied to the pastor’s/churches and this was specifically to ensure that the Pastor’s time was not wasted as well as to set the pace for the wedding, however in recent times, this same concept is now applying to almost all vendors to include videographers, photographers and even venues. Not only do they charge for the service they are offering, but they also have a price for each minute over and above the contractual and obligated agreement. Everything they provide including their time has a price to it. Yes, just like most industries, the wedding industry converts the time after the acceptable and agreed hours into hard physical cash.

Like most brides, my church ceremony ran late. It was as a result of a myriad of factors but one reason that comes to mind is the events of the morning both on my side and my husband’s side as well. For my culture, as with most, there is so much pomp and festivities associated with the morning of the wedding that can definitely cause a delay, as it did for mine. For example, on the bride’s side, there are many different traditions to be observed before she leaves the house that can contribute to delaying her exit from the house. So today based off of my experience I want to share a few tips on how you can be on time:

1. Have a wedding planner. The role of the planner has greatly emerged over time and a great planner is aware that for his/her role to be as smooth and effective as possible they will be greatly involved in the morning arrangements. A planner, standing as a neutral party, will maintain professionalism and assist to navigate the events of the morning to ensure that time is observed.
2. No planner? Have a designated focal point person who will be responsible for the morning of the wedding. This could be a friend or a family member. Usually a designated time keeper. This task is not an easy one so choose a person who is authoritative and is not afraid to make enemies along the way.
3. Have a morning program- Be very deliberate about this. Write it down on a piece of paper and put it up on the wall if you have to, where everyone can see. This will include what time you will sit for breakfast, have your make-up done, the bridesmaids etc. Detail every single minute of your morning.
4. For the grooms, designate and communicate to your chosen entourage early enough. The entourage in this case is the group of selected people who will be going to pick the bride. A big delegation is nice for the pomp and color however it also makes it that much harder to control. If you must go with a big number, then select them prior, inform them well in advance, schedule an arrival time and ensure they understand just how vital it is that they are on time. If possible, schedule a brief the day before so that everyone understands their role when they get to the bride’s home
5. Understand the culture at the bride’s home. This is key. Do you know what is required to ‘’unlock’’ the door for your bride to walk out? Learn this beforehand. Find out what will be required (if it is cash, how much, for whom and for what) Knowing this beforehand reduces the back and forth at the bride’s home because you will be ready for it but most importantly it will save time on the chaos that can occur before a bride is released.
6. Choose your MC wisely- I cannot stress this enough. A good MC will know how to handle the delays if they occur and make swift decisions on where to cut the program to make up for lost time without compromising the quality of the wedding.
7. Know your city- If you are coming from Nairobi, chances are, there will be traffic. Give yourself ample time to navigate through the city traffic. Always give an hour to an hour and a half for travel. You would rather sit in the parking lot at the venue and wait or even better, start the ceremony slightly earlier. Both options are better than having anxiety over being late.