Let’s say your wedding invitation says the ceremony starts at 5:00 pm. What time do you think it is appropriate for the ceremony to start?
The answer is 5:00 pm.
However, be prepared for guests to begin arriving at least 30 minutes ahead of the start of the ceremony time. For your 5:00 pm ceremony, make sure the ceremony area is ready to go at 4:30 pm, with the final decor touches finished and photographed, chairs set, and background music playing to welcome guests and entertain them. And if you don’t want to see your guests prior to the reception, make sure you’re waiting in an undisclosed location!
Then, be prepared for a few latecomers to slide in, either just as you’re walking down the aisle, or during the ceremony. (It’s also likely some people will miss the ceremony altogether…). Don’t be mad, just accept it and laugh about it. It happens at every wedding, trust us!
Photo courtesy of Solstice Images
