How late should the bride be? OM's - how late were you?

I don't think brides are meant to be late ? I was actually 5 minutes early and had to circle in the car as the guests were still going in ? Seriously though, I don't think registrars and ministers are too impressed if you're more than five or ten minutes late - it's a lot of sitting around for your guests too.

Errr, you're not meant to be late! The service should start at the time it's booked for, in my opinion. Therefore, the bride should be there for that time.

Bloody Don't Tell The Bride! ?

Sorry - I just thought the bride was always supposed to be late???

Any wedding I've ever been to the bride has been late - once it was 40 minutes!!!!! I'd prefer to be on time (as I'm that type of person) but I thought it was a standard thing that the bride is late - must have got it all wrong (again) lol

I'll be on time ?

Blimey! lol That's one late bride! I'd be on time if I were you.

You've probably already sorted out the timings of the day, so if you were "planning" on being late, you'd have to factor that in.

In my honest opinion, I think it's rude to be late unless it's to unforeseen circumstances, of course. Plus, how much is your OH going to worry!?!? lol

You're absolutely right - just didn't want my guests to think it was strange me turning up on time and them not being seated/ready etc. I think the Hotel expect me to be late too cos they've made reference to it a few times - its all v strange.

I like to be on time - so I will be (unless of course there is a disaster before hand)

Thank you all

Hiya Gilsy,

If you are having a registrar ie civil, you really can not be late they except you to be there on time. They have other weddings to get to and have been allocated these weddings allowing time to get to each. They advised me to get there for 5 to 2, as we where getting married at 2 to allow for the questions to be asked. We did drive around the block though 1st, and both my uncles families where late both had the timings wrong? Even though it was on the invitations, my sister godfather sat there from 10am???

HTH

To be honest, I don't really see the point in being late just for the sake of it. I think we were actually ahead of schedule! But as Fiona said, if you're having a registrar then they are usually quite strict on the timings.

Im planning on being bang on time! I'm quite nervous about that part, so I want to start it (and finish it) asap!!

(and also with just under 2 weeks til i will be dropping I will probably wanting to be sitting down somewhere!!)

xxx

Im quite surprised at how many of you have said you're not going to be late. I always thought it was one of those traditions along with 'something old, new, borrowed and blue' and 'grooms dont see the bride before the wedding'.

I suppose I can understand with more and more people not getting married in a church and the registrars being on a tight schedule that it could be seen as rude to be late.

Anyway im also one of those people who hate to be late but I was planning on a small 5 minute delay just to keep OH on his toes!

Knowing my bridesmaids I'm probably going to be late as they won't be ready on time!!! x

Hi Gillsy,

Its the brides prorogative to be fashionably late!! I wouldnt say anymore than about 5 or 10 mins though. xxx

I think like has been said - these days you have to be there to meet with the registrar beforehand so you don't really get to be late.

I'm not planning to be late - I'm not getting married unti l4.00pm so i'll have waited long enough! ?

I have to agree with the others - lateness is just rude in any event, let alone on your wedding day!

I see it as incredibly disrespectful to your H2B (and guests!) to keep him waiting around...

Most (church) weddings I've been to the Bride has been late. I think it's more to make sure everyone is seated and for the bride to get prep'd for walking in though.

We're getting married in a hotel and Im not going to be late. My venue specifically asked that I make sure the guests know that the ceremony starts at 2pm, so even to put on the invites to be there for 1:45pm to get seated. I'll be outside the room door at 2pm exactly! x

I didn't start out being late and in fact got to the venue just after 1:20 (for a 1:30 ceremony), I went for a quick wee and then into the meeting with the registrars. They were absolutely lovely but weren't prepared, they didn't know about our own vows even though when I pointed them out they were attached to the pack they had on us (my poor hubby had completely forgotten that we had our own vows when he had his interview!).. they then ran through the ceremony with me, we had a laugh and I didn't think I was in there for that long but it turns out I didn't walk down the aisle until gone 1:45 - my hubby was sweating bless him (although they could all hear my laugh so he knew I was in the buillding!).

So my advice, don't be late!!

Because of the layout of the chapel where we got married, I was scheduled to be the first one there! I arrived at 3.30pm and waited in the Brides room next to the chapel and Andy and all the guests were due to arrive at 3.45pm for our 4pm wedding.

In the end, we were 5 minutes late starting, but that was down to the co-ordinator faffing. Everybody was there bang on time!

I think being deliberately late is a tad rude!!

My 3 were all notorious for being late ... and we were all 10 mins early. I had a chat with the vicar outside and a couple of pics and was still in 5 mins early lol

I was told by the vicar that I was not allowed to be late, the ceremony starts at 12 so he wanted me there about 11.50 to have photos etc. I started walking down the aisle at exactly 12 o'clock.

Ditto.

I was the first wedding lined up that day and the Vicar told me that although it was once considered traditional for the bride to be a little late - don't be - because it would throw out the timings on the other 3 following weddings that day! ?

I was 5 mins late as we had to circle round to wait for the bms to arrive. Mum made such a fuss the day after asking where was I and that everyone was realllllly worried!! (bull!) I think it was expected, the minister said i would be and there was another 5 mins of photos being taken too...

so 10 b4 i made it down the aisle.

Lol im glad someone put a post like this as when i booked my limo i was asked how late i would like to be as for being late i think it goes on where you getting wed if you getting wed in a church its trad if you are late by at least 5 mins or so i am led to believe as for registar office i dont think its right to be late as they have loads to do

Maybe this is a mix up of words...

I think the guests need to be sat and ready for the service a little bit early so then the bride can turn up without worrying she will be walking in with people still shuffling.

I was on time for mine!

From the weddings we shoot, Church weddings seem to be more casual about the bride being late, but civil ceremonies, the registrar is often booked to do several weddings on one day and so if you're too late, theres a chance you won't get married at all! We had this at the last wedding we did where the registrar was not impressed at all at how behind the bride was running!

My registra is booked for 2pm but i told H2B that the wedding is booked for 1:45pm. at the notification meeting i overheard her confirming the date and time with him and he just said "yeah sounds about right", and he'll have forgotten she said that already. i want to him to think i'm late to make him sweat a bit, childish i know but he's had me waiting for a wedding 9 years!!!