How to (politely) tell guests to be on time?

Try saying that the doors will close once the ceremony starts, latecomers won't be allowed in.

I have never been to a Sikh wedding, but if an invitation had a time, I would be there on time. Weddings are one thing you just do not arrive late, for. Maybe let him pass on, via word of mouth, that it is starting promptly?

What Kat said. Also I put on our web site that mass starts "promptly at 2pm."

Yup, I did what Tina did.

Definitely put it on your website just as you have said with big bold letters. and in your invites (not bold but the time can be clearly stated for all venues) people that show up late are just plain rude.

My dil is Indian, so yeah the whole word of mouth thing goes a long way (just like in a lot of cultures and human nature)!

All of the above. And invite them for a half hour beforehand. Almost all of my couples do that. Put on your timeline that tea and snacks will be served from 8:30-9:30 and the ceremony will start at 9:30 on the dot. It lets everyone know your expectations.

Anyone who knows me for even four minutes knows how much I hate late guests (weirdly enough, I rarely have a late couple....). It's rude, it's unnecessary, and it's one day; someone else's very important day. If you can't make it on time, don't make it at all. What guests sometimes don't 'get' is that when the ceremony (in your case, the first ceremony) is held, everything else gets cut. And that's unfortunate on a day that you've spent so much time, energy and emotion planning.

I'm the faculty advisor for the Muslim Association on our campus, and I've been to an Ethiopian wedding, so I completely understand the tardiness fear that you have - the leisurely thing in the middle East/India/Pakistan, etc. drives me insane! My first year, the banquet started over an hour and a half late because "Ms. Smith, no one shows up on time." After that night, I threatened to dump the kids without a sponsor if they did NOT start on time. It took two more years (and them trying to edge extra time here and there), but they finally understand.

I would use words such as "promptly" and maybe give a small warning at the bottom of the invite about time being very sensitive at the location. And then word of mouth!

Thanks so much everyone this was extremely helpful!!!

I'm worried about this with our wedding as well. We are Native and the majority of our family members run on what we all call "indian time". Powwows and other gatherings never start on time because most people just don't really pay attention to time. To add to the stress our wedding is in BC but still falls under the Mountain time of Alberta which is an hour ahead. All of my family is coming from BC so HOPEFULLY they remember about the time change. We have made all the times and the time zone very clear on our website and will do the same on our invites, other than that I'm not sure that there is much more you can do.