Ceremony Start Time

rachel10488

So I'm getting ready to start working on printing our invitations and an event coordinator friend of mine advised me that I should possibly have on the invitations that our ceremony begins at 3:45pm even though it actually won't be scheduled to start until 4:00pm. Her reasoning for this was because she sees quite often either guests coming up the aisle (late) in front of the bride or that people are forced to start late because there's only 10 guests there on time OR that people come in 5 minutes before the ceremony is over since they usually only last 15-20 minutes. I'm concerned about this now because I foresee us being in quite a predicament if we have to start late since we'll already be racing the sun to get our pictures done since we won't be doing a first look.
Has anyone else had any of these issues at their wedding? And more importantly, is it rude/a bad idea to have on the invitation that the ceremony starts at 3:45pm when it isn't actually scheduled to begin until 4:00pm?

lyndausvi

I am very prompt.   I actually get anxiety if I'm late.  I actually get mad when ceremonies start late.  I'm on time, why can't the bride     I would be even more pissed to find out that the real start time is was 15 minutes later than what was on the invite.

People will ALWAYS be late, no matter what time you put on the invite.  Don't punish those of us that are on time.  Which IME is the majority of the people anyway.

egm900

I've never heard of this, if you're having a wedding coodinator, you can have them hold any late guests so they're not walking in right before the bride, but every wedding I've been to, only a small number of guests were late (1-2).  I would personally be irritated, I'm a grown up and can plan when I need to be to a wedding.

MyUserName1

Rude.  It punishes the people who arrive in a timely manner.  Put the correct start time and don't cater to those who might be late.

wrigleyville

You should neither print the wrong time nor hold the ceremony for the latecomers. This punishes the people who were on time and screws up the timing for the photos and cocktail hour.

Our ceremony starts at 5:00. That means the music begins and my FI and his GMs will walk out to their positions at 5:00 on the dot. 

If someone shows up during the processional, they will have to wait to take their seat until I am at the altar. If someone shows up near the end, oh well. They knew what time it started; they should have been there on time.

rachel10488

I'm definitely glad I asked then! This was something I never would have even thought about but when she pointed it out to me I was worried. Last thing I want to do is be rudes to my guests, I just didn't know if this was a common thing.

Summer2011Bride

I don't think it's a common thing and I would not do it. I am always about 20 min. early to a wedding. If it doesn't really start until 4, now I'm sitting around for almost 40 min. waiting for it to start. Not fair to those guests who ARE on time. No matter what you put on the invitation, somebody will probably be late; don't cater to them. It will just make you look rude for running that behind schedule and guests who are on time will get very antsy and frustrated.

m tulli

Most people get to a wedding 20-30 min before start time.  I would be pissed thinking that the bride in this case you were running late.  I think it's rude to make those who got there on time wait for one or two groups that are running late.  

erollis

We had several people show up an hour early because they car pooled with bridal party members. All of our guests showed up well before the ceremony start time except for one family that slipped in just as the ceremony was starting. They stayed in the back and no one noticed. I know this because they told me. I was running about 15 min late because before the ceremony people kept bursting into the bridal suite asking me questions. I was very rushed to get dressed and touch up my makeup. 

Just put the intended start time. Like others have said don't punish those who made it on time by lying to them. Also don't force them to wait because not enough people have showed.

TheShadyYvonne

you should put the intended start time - that's rude to the people that arrive on time or early