OK, I have a question. When I got married last year, I made sure that I was walking through the door as the clock struck the hour. My sister did the same at her wedding. Why is it though, that some brides feel that they have to be late for their wedding especially when it is in church?

I ask this question from the other side of the fence, as a member of a church choir. Over the years I, and many others have had to wait around so many times and I have been in choirs where some members simply will not sing at weddings anymore due to the lengthy delays. A few years ago, the day before my sisters wedding, I was singing at another wedding where the bride was an hour late. There was no reason for it (she hadn't even left home until 30 minutes after the wedding should have started) and no apology and she hung around outside having her photo taken as well. As I had a hair appointment for my sisters wedding I had to leave after the first hymn. Yesterday, I was at another wedding, where she the bride was late. This time it was only 10 minutes, but it still made me late for the charity event that I was taking part in after. There seems to be no acknowledgement that there are alot of people hanging around waiting for you and giving up a good proportion of their Saturday (usually) to help brides make their wedding day special. Its not just the choir, but the vicar, verger, organist, bellringers etc. I know that all of these people get paid for their services, but by the time that money has been split between them and the choir fund/bell fund and so on, £10 for losing 2 1/2 hours of your day isn't very much. I also don't actually do it for the money either and many of us will give our money back tot he funds.

I really have a bit of a plea. Yes, it is your special day, we all try to make it as special as possible for you both and you will never see a grumpy, impatient face on me at least. But, please try to think, does being late make it any more special. After months of planning in a military style, are you likely to need to be late. It's not our special day though and we do have other things to be doing once the bride and groom are partying the night away.

I don't plan to be late! I hate tardiness! If I'm late it'll be because we get stuck in traffic because I will be leaving from my parents who are not far from me but we're a long way from the church. The car company know different back routes though to avoid going 5 junctions on the M25.

I'm with you; I don't get it, at all.

TBH I think there are very few excuses which I'd deem acceptable, because when planning, people should allow for unexpected delays.

Our ceremony is at 1pm, and I'll be meeting with the registrar at 12.45pm. My hair and make-up artists will arrive at 9am, and this should take 1.5 hours in total; allowing for slippage, I should comfortably be ready by 11.15am. I will then get into my dress for midday, and will start making my way over to the venue (a 2 minute walk away) once I have the 'all clear' from the best man to say that all guests are seated (we are asking guests to be seated between 12 and 12.15, again allowing for slippage/latecomers). The aim is to leave the hotel at 12.30pm, allowing 15 minutes to walk to the venue, and thus giving time for a few photos along the way. I will comfortably be there for 12.45, and the ceremony will definitely be underway by 1pm.

It isn't rocket science, and I do find it very rude to arrive late, and really feel like there's no excuse.

I dont get this either. If your guests can make it on time surely you can!?

Plus .... I wouldnt want to feel stressed about everything else running behind time!

Also, I couldn't do it to H2B, poor guy will be as nervous as anything so I don't want to torture him xx

il be there on time as i dont want to end up feeling rushed or fall behind on times. i think its rude to make people wait.

I shall be there on time, its rude keeping people waiting xx

I know I'll totally be stressing if I'm running late! I'd rather arrive early then wait around the corner in the car until the time I'm supposed to arrive x

This absolutely does my head in. Personally I think it's the height of rudeness to show up late for your own wedding. You've invited your guests, they've made the effort to be on time and you should not keep them waiting. I will be on time, might even be early

Well, it's not as if she didn't have the time and date booked in her diary..! No excuse to be late unless there was a problem at home, and even if there had been, she should've been running up the path into the church - I know I would be! Red faced & sweaty or not, I'll be there on time come heck or high water!! I would even commandeer a push bike if I had to!
Hmm... Maybe that sounded a *bit* too crazy...? Lol!

Sometimes they just want to make ya sweat a little... tbh I don't really expect weddings to run on time and I'm always pleasantly surprised when they do. An hour is out of order, but I wouldn't even think about things running late until 15 mins past the appointed time.
That said I personally hate being late to anything and plan to arrive on time, no dramatic late entry for me x

Its nice to see so many brides with the same attitude. I thinks its terrible when a bride thinks its in her rights to be really late. Its not, its rude.
I know with how some of our guests are there is a chance they will come in after me.

Speaking from the other side of the fence......
I was about 25 mins late in total for my wedding and it wasnt intentional in the slightest. My car was late collecting me after dropping the bridesmaids off (I couldnt afford 2 cars). I was ready to go and pacing my hallway with the clock ticking away and I couldnt do a thing about it. Then when I got to Church I was very overwhelmed and in a bit of a daze as my work colleagues were outside waiting to see me and my little dog was there too. I wasnt going to walk past and blank them all, I was enjoying my moment in the spotlight! The photographer did have us pose for some quick pics and tbh you are so caught up with everything and your nerves / adrenalin I did not have a clue what the time was at that point. Meanwhile my h2b was inside pooping his pants as I was so late!! I felt absolutely mortified afterwards when I realised how late I had been but it was completely unintentional. Sometimes late brides are not intentionally being late to make people wait around xx