Lateness Issue

Syren Posted: Jul 26, 2003 02:33 PM

Lateness Issue

Help! I have family members that are notorious for being late. Just to give you an idea, four of my cousins showed up an hour and a half late to my sister's baby shower. I had to call and track them down! It's not just my family either. My FI's aunt, uncle and cousins have shown up at least 20 minutes late to every family function I've been to.

My biggest fear is that they'll show up late for the ceremony or worse - not show up at all! His cousin is one of his groomsmen.

Does any one have any advice? My ceremony is at 3:30 and my reception is from 6-11pm. I was planning on putting 3:15 down for the ceremony time and 5:45 for the reception. My FI jokes that I should put down 12 and everyone will show up on time! Does anyone think the catering hall will have a problem with putting the time down early? Thanks!

Julybaby Posted: Jul 26, 2003 03:10 PM

Re: Lateness Issue

On our invitations, we had our ceremony time as 11:00 when it actually began at 11:30. Apparently this is a common practice.

HearzBellz Posted: Jul 26, 2003 03:42 PM

Re: Lateness Issue

Don't go too early...... depending on where you are getting married and where your reception is, for the people that do actually show up on time, this is a logistical nightmare. They may have no place to sit, etc if they arrive during someone else's ceremony or at the end of another party's reception.

Does St. Helen's have a parking lot? If not, you could tell the guests that the must arrive early to find parking (I did this for my ceremony at St. Matthias in Ridgewood), but I did not alter the time of the seating. The Church made it clear that my guests would not be accomodated if they arrived early (& I am getting married in January.)

Also, if you are that concerned, tell then to get a limo, then they will not have a chance to be late!

xjulietx Posted: Jul 26, 2003 05:03 PM

Re: Lateness Issue

I have heard that some churches recommend that you give an earlier time on the invite but usually only 15 minutes.

aliasPook Posted: Jul 26, 2003 08:07 PM

Re: Lateness Issue

I have the same problem, I often think about Fi showing up late for teh ceremony!!! SO I put 3.15 on teh invitation instead of 3.30...It'll help a little bit.

maysie18 Posted: Jul 26, 2003 10:14 PM

Re: Lateness Issue

I'm taking my chances. We put the actual start time, 3pm, on our invites. My family is notoriously late (myself included) but I'm planning on being on time that day cuz time is money!! All I'm planning on doing is letting them know we will start on time. We do have some fam & plenty of friends who will be on time & don't wanna make them wait too long cuz of my family.

eternityawaits Posted: Jul 26, 2003 10:39 PM

Re: Lateness Issue

I did the same as Julybaby - a half-hour earlier

dino1109 Posted: Jul 26, 2003 11:24 PM

Re: Lateness Issue

I plan on putting an earlier hour for my ceremony- I want to only put 15 minutes but who gets married at 10:45 am? I think I will just put 10:30 am

gertyrae Posted: Jul 27, 2003 09:41 AM

Re: Lateness Issue

Wow, I never thought about changing the time. I think I am going to put the correct time anyway and take my chances. I wouldn't want to show up at a church and then have to sit around for half an hour waiting for stuff to happen. I am however telling my immediate family, they are all in the wedding party, that they have to be places for the pics half an hour earlier than the real time.