Wedding Planning 101: What to Do If You or Your Guests Are Late For the Wedding?

What’s worse – your VIP guests arriving late at your wedding or YOU?!

Of all the things that could possibly go wrong at one’s wedding, for instance it suddenly starts to rain on your summer wedding day, whether or not you will cry and have a running mascara to deal with or you have a wedding dress disaster…though all of this can be fixed in no time, how do you deal with the tragic disaster the whole of India goes through on a day-to-day basis? We’re talking about Traffic Jams!

No matter how many times you may have double-checked your to-dos, pestered your vendors to ensure you have the best fairytale wedding or even have left your home an hour early to reach your wedding venue before time, one breakdown or a wrong turn by a fool on the road and next thing you know you’re stuck in a traffic jam with nowhere to escape.

Now, should your groom turn into a Bollywood hero and ride that horse in full speed to get to the venue or should you just pick your 50kg lehenga and run towards the mandap?

Thankfully, every problem has a solution. So, today we tell you how to take it easy and get to you or your best friend’s wedding without making a whole ruckus about it.

Without further ado, let’s jump on it.

Don’t Panic

Photo by: Richa Kashelkar

The more you get hyper about the situation, the more nervous breakdowns you will have . Keep a calm and composed nature, as the saying goes ‘calm minds can overcome a storm’ and this is just a traffic jam for heaven sake, it will clear out. 

Listen To Music or Sing

Photo by: Sunny Pariani

If you driver assures that the traffic will clear out in 10-15 minutes – trust him and request him to play some music or better yet sing your favourite song. Not aloud if you have a croaking voice, but in your head. Music calms the mind, so it will pretty much help you get over the tension. Just so you know, 15-20 minutes late to an Indian wedding causes no one harm whatsoever.

Don’t Text, But Tweet

Photo by: Color Blast_Amit

Avoid getting into a chats or calls with your bridal party who you think will only trigger your nervousness of reaching on time to you or your best friend’s wedding. Though it may not seem not the ideal thing to do or funny, tweet the current situation or put up an update on Facebook. Chances are while some may laugh out loud, someone around the corner will surely help with a way out or give you updates on how soon the traffic will clear out.

Give Up and Start Walking or Re-Route

Photo by: Adrian R Photography

If it’s been too long and you’re at the peak of restlessness, give up on the wait and start walking. Or check on Google Maps for the closer, faster route. Stop thinking and start acting already. If it means you have to ditch the luxury of your car and take an auto-rickshaw to your venue, do it. Be a hatke bride or groom and hitchhike a ride, don’t feel ashamed.

Reschedule

Photo by: Navdeep Soni

If you are already at your venue, but your dearest friend, closest relative or VIP guests hasn’t arrived yet and they are the ones who have to raise a toast to your wedding, have a chat with your planner and push the taost giving to whenever they to arrive. Similarly, check for rescheduling of other programs with your planners or wedding management team to be able to accommodate your late arriving guests.

Don’t Make a Scene

Photo by: Color Blast_Amit

The worst of all things you could at this time is blow the situation out of proportion by creating a big scene. If your groom or guests have arrived late due to a traffic jam on the way, it’s tragic and unavoidable we know, but its not the end of the world. On such an auspicious occasion, the best you can do is accept delays and appreciate the fact that they made it and your wedding if finally happening.

Make the Most of Your Time

Photo by: The Wedding Salad

You don’t suddenly wake up and get married again. It’s your once in a lifetime moment and the best thing you could do is make the most of the time you have in hands. Awesome way to do so is grab your photographer and request him to click some quirky shots that remind you of this mishap. Point out to all those VIP guests who came in late and have a good laugh at it while reminiscing the moment.

Some more wedding planning hacks:

> How to prepare yourself for the post-wedding fatigue?

> Wedding Guest List: 8 Little Changes that’ll make a Big Difference

> Wedding Planning 101 – How to Fix the Biggest Problem of Choosing Your Wedding Party People?

> Hacks to 5 Nightmares Real Brides have during Wedding Planning