The bride is usually the big attraction at a wedding ceremony. Guests and members of the bridal party await her arrival, holding their breath until she glides down the aisle. When the groom is already up at the top of the aisle awaiting his bride, anticipation for what comes next gets everyone excited.
What you don’t want is a group of friends and loved ones checking their watches and wondering if they have enough time to run to the bathroom one last time. The groom may start to get antsy, and the vibe of the ceremony can take a plunge when everyone’s waiting around far longer than expected.
Not to mention the extra work needed by you to calm everyone's nerves.
Timing means everything when it comes to a ceremony running smoothly.
So when I ask brides what time they plan to arrive at the ceremony and they say 15 minutes AFTER the ceremony is due to start. That's a BIG NO from me.
I encourage brides to arrive at the ceremony venue at least 15 minutes before they intend to walk down the aisle. Remember, the bride and her bridesmaids will have to get out of the car, perhaps take a couple of photos, then get organized for the procession. So, if you’re planning for a 5:00 kickoff, be sure the bride is at the car park by 4:45.
Things happen. There could be traffic, for example. Maybe the bride’s hairdo needs a last-minute touchup.
Whatever the case may be, if you get a sense that showing up “fashionably late” is your brides general practice, encourage them to leave even more time to ensure they don’t hold things up.
They are far better off waiting around for a few minutes than rushing into the ceremony like they are trying to catch a bus.
Check out my latest
YouTube video “What time the bride should arrive at the wedding?” where I chat more about this.
Being on time for this special day does make a difference not only for the couple, but for their guests AND for you as the person officiating the wedding.