Time of wedding... - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

555Ann555 · #1 12-14-2005, 04:40 PM

Sorry if this is a daft question but I just need to clarify...

The weddings that you all say went off on time, do you mean they started as the invitation had said?
EG. The invitation said 1pm @ _____ and the wedding actuallly started between 1pm-1.10pm?

We're trying to work out the timings for our invitations,

the church is booked at the moment for 1pm but it's a fairly flexible timing, we could probably change it by about half an hour either side if we needed to... I think I'd prefer 1.30pm.

We were going to put on the invite 1pm but have the wedding start between 1.15pm & 1.30pm. Do you think this is right?

What I'm not sure about is whether to put to real time on the invitations. I know it sounds totally bizarre when I write that but what I mean is will people be reliable enough that if I put 1pm to show up with time to spare. I don't want to be waiting outside the church for guests who are turning up at the same time as me!

But the other side is that if you think the guests will have enough respect to show up at the proper time I don't want to be rude having them sit in the church for half an hour doing nothing...

I think as far as timings for the hairdresser, photographs and everything else that needs done that morning that 1.30pm would be the best time for the wedding to start so should I put 1.15pm on the invites or 1.30pm?

Marge129 · #2 12-14-2005, 04:53 PM

I would put either 1 or 1:30... 1:15 is an odd time.

wedbyjean · #3 12-14-2005, 05:22 PM

What time is the ceremony scheduled to start? If it's 1:30 then 1:30 should be on the invitation. It's the guests responsibility to be there on time. If you put 1:00 for a 1:30 ceremony you will have guests arriving early.

There's more to determining (and scheduleing around) the ceremony start time than just getting guests there. You've got ceremony musicians, pre-ceremony photos, florist/decorations that will have to be pushed up in the day's schedule just to accommodate some potential latecomers. If you put 1:00 for a 1:30 ceremony, there won't be any prelude music while most guests arrive, (most musicians start playing 20-30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time), and unless you've got separate ushers who aren't in the bridal party, there won't be anyone avialable to seat these guests. These guests will be sitting (or standing) around wondering what's going on.

When the mothers are being seated, and the processional is going on, I politely tell any latecomers that they'll have to stand aside and wait until after the processional, then once the bride has entered and gotten to the front of the aisle, they'll have to quietly seat themselves from the outside aisles only, NOT the center aisle.

Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, and there are some cultures where timing has to be carefully determined.

Jennifer · #4 12-14-2005, 05:28 PM

I agree. I would put the actual wedding time. I would rather have people wait in the lobby for me to get down front than to upset the people that came on time. I am always early to events to ensure I get there before it starts, and when it starts late I get frustrated. If I can come from far away to get to the event on time...the least the host can do is be prepared to start on time.

This goes for every event...not just weddings.

Complicated Woman · #5 12-14-2005, 05:42 PM

I would put 1:30 if that's when you're planning on starting.

ladedah · #6 12-14-2005, 05:57 PM

I would say the invitation should be the ceremony start time...not the time that guests should arrive.

555Ann555 · #7 12-14-2005, 06:04 PM

I guess most of our guests will be bright enough to know they have to be there a little early, I know I'm always about 10-15 min early coz I'd *hate* to be late to a wedding!

And you right, I could have the ushers keep aside anyone who was rude enough to show up late...

We were hoping to have the ceremony start around 1.30 but we haven't booked the music yet. We're waiting to see the priest, the choir & the organist soon, but they're all really busy rehearsing for the Christmas performances just now.

TheaterDiva1 · #8 12-14-2005, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 555Ann555

We were going to put on the invite 1pm but have the wedding start between 1.15pm & 1.30pm. Do you think this is right?

To be blunt, no. It's not fair to the people who did show up at 1 (and some may be there as early as 12:30).

555Ann555 · #9 12-15-2005, 11:46 AM

I suppose I hadn't really considered just how long that would be for those who showed up early enough... If they came at 12.50 thinking the wedding would start at 1pm they'd be waiting 40 min before it even started!

And the wedding will be a full Catholic Mass & that's not quick! Plus they'd still have to wait afterwards for the photos to get taken etc.

Thanks for helping me see that!