Walk-Ins during Ceremony?

I've never been to a wedding that did this. Anytime I've seen people late they quietly stood off to the side. Do you really want security blocking your closest friends and family from seeing you get married? I would hardly expect they would be rude enough to barge down the aisle and cause a scene. Girl, you're going to be getting married! You will be so focused on your husband that you won't care that a few guests arrive late and stand in the back.

I wouldn't mind at all if it was set up that way at the venue! There is one opening, it's in the back, and its the one we are walking in at. I wouldn't care if anyone walked in once I was at the alter, it was more of.. people trying to sneak in around the wedding party walking in, there is quite a bit of lawn they have to walk down so it would be super obvious and they would cut off the wedding party. I would never want to keep someone from attending, it's more of a concern during the actual walking down the aisle part.

I went to an outdoor evening ceremony last year and there were about 3 late guest, and the road leading to the site you could see them pulling in as the ceremony was happening. Only one person (older) actually walked down to the ceremony space after it started, the other ppl just waited until the ceremony was over. thats the only experience i've had with an outdoor ceremony. now indoor ceremony there is usually a cut off (right before the processional starts) and everyone after that starts waits on the side and after the bride goes down the aisle but before the vows or prayer last minute guest are given a quick minute to sit without being notice. Its a good idea to reserve the last few seats closest to the entrance for stragglers.

People will come in late and it's annoying. My church has a side entrance, and I thought about putting a chalkboard out when the church doors closed that said "Please use side entrance" so they wouldn't literally be walking in on me waiting to go down the aisle." I never got around to it though so a few people saw me.

I think security might be overkill (the only exception being if there is someone threatening to attend and disrupt the wedding). People don't generally interrupt a ceremony when they come in late (an entire family with small kids may make a little noise, but generally, adult couples just quietly slip into the closest available seats). Don't worry. As long as they are thinking people, you won't even hear them while your having your ceremony.

Our DOC will be handling this. She will make sure any latecomers wait until the processional is finished and I'm at the alter. Then any latecomers will be quietly seated at the back.

I went to a church wedding 2 weeks ago and people were so damn rude, letting the door slam when walking in late. Or guests that were already there walking in the aisle to go to the bathroom. It was about a 45 min ceremony you would think people could wait!

The venue requires us to have "security" for the entire duration of the ceremony and reception. So two people will be there to oversee regardless. I have no idea where they will be yet, but my thought was just to maybe have them standing there to politely tell people when they could enter if it is past a certain time. We are hoping to have a quick 20 minute ceremony so.. I think this is just another one of those little things I'm worried about for no reason because the date is so close!

I would ask the venue where the security are first. My venue required security but I literally did not see them once the whole night because their station was right outside the door. I guess you could have one just hold people until you are at the front of the aisle.

Oh I have totally seen this happen. At my MOH's wedding, a few people were late and literally walked IN FRONT OF THE BRIDE AND HER DAD WHILE SHE WAS WALKING DOWN THE AISLE. What the everloving F.

@thefunbean that is what I'm terrified of!

Yeah, I've heard of that happening, too-- my friend was with her family when they all walked in-- needless to say, she is now SUPER focused on being timely!

Anyone who has known me for 10 minutes knows how I hate late. HATE HATE HATE, to the point that I wrote and article for the NY Times about it. I've seen guests actually infiltrate the bridal party in the middle of the procession. They don't always slip in because they are rude and self centered and think of nothing but themselves. If that wasn't the case, they'd have been there on time to begin with. Your closest friends and family need to make an effort to be on time for this singular ev event.

You ask your coordinator or your venue director to block people from coming in after the ceremony has started. If it was in a church,that would probably be the case. It's not earth shattering news.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05EED91731F93BA3575BC0A9669D8B63

We had a couple arrive late - we got married at St Peter's Anglican Church, East Maitland, and it turned out there is also St Peter's Catholic Church, Maitland, ten minutes up the road, as this couple discovered! - and to be honest, I would never have known if they hadn't told me afterwards. Having said that, it was a big church and they slipped in the side entrance, came up the side aisle and sat at the back of the congregation. If you're concerned, get your DOC or venue co-ordination stationed somewhere that they'll intercept any latecomers so they can seat them at an appropriate moment.

Absolutely have someone watch for this but make sure they can have a place to watch the ceremony….just not able to walk in during the middle of it, because that is rude to the couple. At my venue, there was open railing and a clear view of the ceremony, so no one missed anything. There are usually places where the ceremony can be viewed and I'd personally feel better if I were a late guest.

I also purposely started the wedding 10 minutes late…..3 couples showed up during that time.

I am scared of this happening! We'll probably have an usher or two stand in the entrance to stop any latecomers from entering the church until the processional is over.

There's only one door into the room where the ceremony will be held. So once the processional of the bridal party starts, I plan on having my DOC stopping all those that enter the venue late at the door so they don't interrupt the processional. Once I have made it to the alter, they will be allowed to find a seat.

Those three couples should have planned better. It's someone's wedding for crying out loud.

We are getting married in a historic chapel which seats approximately 100. I am nervous because opening/closing the door as well as walking on the old wood floors is very noticeable. Additionally, we are providing transportation from each hotel to the chapel. I have very little tolerance for people being late as it is, if they can't manage to get on to the provided bus on time I really don't know what else to do. I am leaning on keeping the back two pews empty for late arrivals and having my planner keep the tardy people out until the processional is complete. But, I guess we will have to work something out.

Celia - my Pastor is very vocal about people arriving late to the ceremony. It really is so rude and disrespectful to interrupt the sanctity of such a special event.

I'm in a similar situation, @OriginalKD. Our guest count was a bit higher than we originally expected, so I don't think I will be able to keep a couple of pews open. I think I will just have the Cordinator put out a sign that says ceremony in progress and hope for the best.