The good news is that amends can be started long before approaching participants.
For me, a big part of the process was "mending" my behavior so that I no longer behaved in the manner that prompted the need for an amends in the first place. By no means am I downplaying the importance of an apology, but an apology is only the tip of the iceberg. I can jump into action before the appropriate time comes along for the apology.
Everything in due time when the universe deems it is time, not necessarily when I want.