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Why does everyone arrive late? 4 ways to get your guests to your party on time

It’s a baffling situation. No matter how much you stress that you want guests to arrive on time, they insist on showing up an hour or two late.

Guests arrive late for a number of reasons:

• Took a while to get ready

• Working late

• Transport problems

• Didn’t want to be the first one to arrive

• Got lost

• Stopped for dinner

• Attending another party on same night

• Had other commitments prior

So, what do you do? 

1.       Plan on a practical start time – 8pm is the most popular commencement time for a Friday or Saturday night function. If there is food available, advice guests of such, so they do not stop for dinner on the way in. On your invitations promote “cocktails on arrival” or state “bar tab for first hour only” (even if this is not the case) to encourage early arrivals.   See “the art of inviting” for more information.

2.       Provide clear directions to the venue with a contact number for the venue in case they get lost.

3.       Make your party more appealing than other commitments or other parties they may be attending first so that they choose yours over the competition (i.e.: Amazing venue with images on the invitation, or advertise cocktails on arrival, finger food, belly dancers & roving masseurs)

4.       Send your invitations out early so guests can clear their calendar and keep the night free.

No matter how tempting DO NOT falsely state that the party is starting half an hour earlier than it actually starts! You’ll have a few upset guests who will arrive early to a half setup or closed venue and leave annoyed or in fear of being the first one’s there.