Some of our friends and family members are habitually late! When is the proper time to start a ceremony?
Starting on time is important for a lot of reasons. The time listed on the invitation should be the time the ceremony will begin, not the time guests are expected to arrive. Some of the wedding vendors have a start and end time. The ceremony musicians and the wedding officiant/minister may have other obligations. What will likely happen is that guests who do show up on time (or even a little early) will be left waiting for the actual ceremony to begin.
Don't have poor communication with family members. The biggest mistake couples can make is waiting until the rehearsal dinner to inform their family/bridal party of the time they need to arrive for pictures on the wedding day. Ideally, this should be done at least two weeks in advance. It’s also a good idea to RE-remind everyone again at the rehearsal dinner. An email with a schedule of when and where to be is also a great tool for getting family and bridal party members to arrive on time.
That being said, there are a few ways to keep those inevitable latecomers from disrupting the ceremony just as you're about to walk down the aisle. Don't be too rigid about starting the ceremony at the precise minute you listed on the invitation; if guests are still trickling in at that moment, give them a few extra minutes to get settled. But don't wait more than 10 to 15 minutes, you don't want to feel stuck waiting for people who may never show (very late guests may give up trying to get to the ceremony and catch up with you at the reception). Find a friend or family or a wedding planner to gauge the crowd and decide when most guests have arrived and it's time to start.
Once the ceremony begins, designate an usher to remain at the entrance to direct guests into the venue at an appropriate moment. They may be allowed to sit in the rear rows or quietly stand in the back. But in the end, don't be too concerned about latecomers—during the ceremony, all eyes will be on you and your groom, not the back door.
Starting on time is important for a lot of reasons. The time listed on the invitation should be the time the ceremony will begin, not the time guests are expected to arrive. Some of the wedding vendors have a start and end time. The ceremony musicians and the wedding officiant/minister may have other obligations. What will likely happen is that guests who do show up on time (or even a little early) will be left waiting for the actual ceremony to begin.
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| Late to the Wedding Ceremony |
Don't have poor communication with family members. The biggest mistake couples can make is waiting until the rehearsal dinner to inform their family/bridal party of the time they need to arrive for pictures on the wedding day. Ideally, this should be done at least two weeks in advance. It’s also a good idea to RE-remind everyone again at the rehearsal dinner. An email with a schedule of when and where to be is also a great tool for getting family and bridal party members to arrive on time.
That being said, there are a few ways to keep those inevitable latecomers from disrupting the ceremony just as you're about to walk down the aisle. Don't be too rigid about starting the ceremony at the precise minute you listed on the invitation; if guests are still trickling in at that moment, give them a few extra minutes to get settled. But don't wait more than 10 to 15 minutes, you don't want to feel stuck waiting for people who may never show (very late guests may give up trying to get to the ceremony and catch up with you at the reception). Find a friend or family or a wedding planner to gauge the crowd and decide when most guests have arrived and it's time to start.
Once the ceremony begins, designate an usher to remain at the entrance to direct guests into the venue at an appropriate moment. They may be allowed to sit in the rear rows or quietly stand in the back. But in the end, don't be too concerned about latecomers—during the ceremony, all eyes will be on you and your groom, not the back door.
Carolyn Burke | Officiant | 314.821.4844