Help with invite wording

Theresa626

My problem is that I want people to show up at 1:40 for a 2:00 start time.  I'm hiring a professional choir that will begin prelude music at 1:40 and I wrote some of the music they're singing.  I'd really like people to be there for that.  In addition, I really don't want them arriving at two because that is exactly when the ceremony starts. They will not start late for any reason and I will be walking down the aisle at two o clock and no later. So everyone has to be there and be seated before then.  I want to indicate that they need to be there by 1:40 without sounding rude.

Here's what I have.  Does this sound ok? 

Mr. and Mrs. Brides parents

request the honor of your presence

at the Nuptial Mass  at which their daughter

Bride name

and

Groom name

will  be united in Holy Matrimony

on  the seventeenth of July

two thousand ten

at  two o’ clock in the afternoon

The choir will begin the prelude at one forty

name of church

address of church

 

 

 

 

berrytr

Looks good to me.

rlb81

Looks good to me too...

Calypso1977

i think that looks ok.

if people are late, tehy are late.  not much you can do abotu it but start on time, and it will be their loss, not yours, if htey miss anything.

Pirata13

That looks ok, but honestly, you can't control when people arrive. Someone may still get stuck in traffic, someone will show up at 1pm, others will arrive around 1:30. Give your guests the benefit of the doubt on this.  Most people will allow themselves proper time to get there, park the car, and be seated to see you walk down the aisle. Those who don't will miss out like Calypso said.  I, too, plan to start the procession promptly at 2, and trust me, anyone who arrives right before or while the procession happens, WILL have to wait to be seated until after I make it down the aisle.

Calypso1977

oh, and we did have folks show up late to our wedding.  they were quiet and respectful.  they really did miss out tho, since the vows were the first thing we did, prior to the Mass (that's how its done in the Latin).  so tehy got to enjoy our Mass and partake in communion, btu they missed the best part.  not much you can do.

GulfCoaster

We ended up starting Mass 10 minutes late... all the bridal party and I were ready early, but most of our guests were late!  The priest waited a few minutes to start, and most of the missing guests had arrived by 10 minutes past the hour, so we started the procession then.  Apparently there was a tractor-trailer overturned on the highway that blocked two of the three lanes and caused a major traffic jam.  So you can't control everything.  

I think the wording above is fine.  I might prefer "choral prelude will begin at 1:40," but I think the wording you have is perfectly fine.  Most people will allot themselves time to arrive early -- and letting them know that there will be a choral prelude gives them a heads-up that they'll want to allot a few extra minutes to arrive by 1:40.  Of course you cannot control for tractor-trailer accidents on the highway, but letting them know is a good idea so that they can try to arrive by that time.