Should the bride be late for the wedding ceremony?? if so by how much and why?

Answer 1

I'm going to take a somewhat different approach than most people.

If the ceremony is set to begin at 5:00, let's say, I think it should all really start about 5 minutes after that.

It seems to me that many people are chronically late to everything! And of course, we have traffic jams, accidents, misjudgements of time it is going to take to get somewhere, etc. So, people are probably going to wind up being EXACTLY on time or a couple minutes late. How awkward would it be for a guest to get there just as the bride begins her journey down the aisle?

Giving your guests just a few extra minutes to arrive and get seated is probably a good idea. Then it can all start about 5 minutes "late." That's not too much time for people to wait and won't throw your night's schedule crazy off!

So . . . five minutes. Sounds good.

Answer 2

When a bride is late, sometimes the person presiding over the ceremony will not want to marry the couple. I have seen it happen where the priest had to be convinced in order to marry the bride and groom.

I arrived late to our civil ceremony, it was pretty much a formal ceremony with a wedding dress, invitations, bouquet and reception. I was 1 hour and 30 mins. late because my hair dresser was not done with my hair, it was my hair and makeup trial for the church wedding a week later. This was a rehearsal for the wedding day in church on 07-07-07. So I got yelled at by everyone because of all the waiting.

On the day of the church wedding, I was not going to be late. My mom made sure that I was on time, she kept on rushing me all morning. When my photographer was taking the pictures at the house, my mom kept on yelling everyone get into the limo. We have to arrive at the church one hour before the ceremony.

Personally, I think it's the only day that everyone has to wait for you. I think it's fun to have the groom in suspense.

Answer 3

No you shouldn't be late. The only wedding I have seen that did not start on time was due to an honest mistake where the rings didn't make it to the church with everyone else. We had to wait for someone to go back and get the rings. The bride was in the dark as to why her wedding started more than a half hour late. She actually didn't find out what really happened until after her honeymoon.

Answer 4

There is no such thing as "fashionably late" -- lateness is rude, period. If there is some problem like a major traffic crash or severe weather that is preventing your guests from arriving on time, then one of the ushers should announce that the ceremony will be postponed for 30 minutes (or whatever) to accommodate your 'en route' guests. That gives people a chance to stretch their legs, visit the powder room, make a phone call, etc, instead of just sitting there speculating on whether it was the bride or groom who "bolted" at the last minute.

This "fashionably late" stuff is acceptable only in pot boiler drugstore novels about rich and beautiful people with exciting lives who invite each other over for cocktails "at sevenish" meaning a quarter to eight.

Answer 5

No you should not be late to your own wedding. IF the bride is late of course the wedding will wait for her but you must be considerate of other people.

I went to a wedding once, my husband was one of the groom's men. Well the bride didn't show up for 3 hours. Half the people left and those that stayed were not wishing her their best. To add to it at the reception we had to set up our own table and chairs and the food ran out in about 5 minutes. Worst wedding I ever attended.

Answer 6

The bride should not be late if she can help it. If you stated that the ceremony was starting at a certain time, then you need to be there. It is very rude to keep people waiting.

Answer 7

Actually, I've heard about this before. "If anyone can be late to the wedding it's the bride." However, I do not like that idea and wouldn't recommend it. Think of the groom...how would he feel if you were late? He might be worried you are nervous, not ready, or skipping out on him. Bad, bad! I think the whole wedding party, including the bride, should be early.

Answer 8

I was at a wedding where the minister waited 30 minutes and then started to send people home. The bride showed up an hour late and was furious that the world wouldn't cater to her every whim. The minister gave her an abbreviated ceremony, then she was even later for the reception. She got even more furious when the facility wouldn't start the reception clock from her 2 hours late arrival time instead of from the agreed upon start time. She threw a third hissy fit when the facility ended her reception at the agreed upon time.
She then tried to keep the limo driver waiting while she said good by to all the people that she had just finished saying good by to inside. He started to leave so she got in the limo.

She is divorced now......

.....big surprise?

Answer 9

I really dont know what you mean by this question. Do you mean, like, tryin to pull a "fashionably" late arrival?

I dont think thats a good idea. People have come from far and wide to participate in magical day, it is not the time to act like a princess and keep everyone waiting for you. Its disrespectul and kinda rude.

Now, if something comes up and its unavoidable - dirty dress, late limo, hair emergencies - most people are sympathetic of these situations. The important thing is to keep your guest in the loop. If you think you are gonna be more than 10 minutes late, someone needs to contact someone at the ceremony (god bless cell phones) to let your guest know that things are running slightly behind schedule but the ceremony will start shortly. If folks are waiting, and they dont knowwhy... people get pissy. You dont wanna get married in a room full of pissy people, do ya?!

Answer 10

I went to a wedding where the bride was late by 2 hrs! People were not happy to be kept waiting in the church.