What to Do When Wedding Guests Arrive Late to the Carroll County, Maryland Ceremony
- crkrone46
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Ever attended a wedding where the guests show up late and try to enter the ceremony while the wedding party is involved with the processional. This blog is about dealing with guests who arrive late and as an owner of Montagu Meadows wedding venue, I deal with this too often. Weddings are meticulously planned events, with carefully timed moments meant to unfold like a beautifully choreographed dance. But despite the best intentions and most detailed invitations, there’s one variable you can never completely control: your guests. Specifically, those who arrive late.
Whether they’re stuck in traffic, misread the start time, or just have a habit of running behind, late-arriving guests can create awkwardness or disruption at the most pivotal moment - the ceremony. But there are gracious and effective ways to handle tardy arrivals without derailing your big day. Here’s how.
1. Start the Wedding on Time Anyway
It can be tempting to delay the ceremony for a few stragglers, especially if they’re close family or important guests. But the truth is, starting late can throw off the entire day’s schedule, including cocktail hour, dinner, sunset photos, and even your DJ or band’s set list. Plus your caterer has worked hard to ensure the food is served warm and not overcooked.
Instead, honor the guests who arrived on time by beginning as planned. Most
late guests will understand and won’t be offended; in fact, they’ll likely feel apologetic and do their best to quietly catch up.
Note: We know it can be tempting to list an earlier start time on your invitations to “buffer” for late arrivals, but we encourage you to resist the urge. Guests who arrive on time or early end up waiting unnecessarily which can lead to confusion. This also unintentionally rewards the late guests.
2. Assign Someone to be Responsible
for Late Wedding Guests
One of the most helpful things you can do is designate someone like a wedding coordinator, a trusted friend, extended family member, or even a venue staffer to serve as a late guest usher. Their role is simple: quietly greet and guide tardy guests to appropriate seating without disrupting the ceremony.
They can hold guests at the back until a natural break in the ceremony, like a reading or a musical interlude, then discreetly escort them to side or back rows. This avoids interruptions during key moments like vows or the processional. At Montagu Meadows Wedding Venue, our staff along with the wedding coordinator are responsible for this role.
3. Use Wedding Signage to Gently Set Expectations
Consider placing a stylish, friendly sign near the entrance that says something like:
“The ceremony is in progress. Please wait here for staff member to seat you at the next appropriate moment. Thank you for your respect!”
This both informs and sets the tone without making anyone feel embarrassed. It’s a subtle but effective way to maintain the flow and formality of the event.
4. Close the Doors (Literally)
If your ceremony takes place in a barn, chapel, or other space with doors, consider closing them once the processional begins. This is a visual cue that the ceremony has started and helps to contain distractions from outside noises or foot traffic.
Late guests can wait just outside until they’re let in during a quiet moment. If you’re at an outdoor venue, a roped-off entrance or a clear aisle boundary can serve the same purpose.
5. Communicate Clearly Before the Wedding Day
The best offense is a good defense. You can reduce the number of late arrivals by making the ceremony start time clear in your invitation and on your wedding website.
While late arrivals are only a small issue at a wedding, they do not have to steal the focus of the joy of your ceremony. With a little planning and some help from the wedding coordinator or event staff, tardy guest can be handled smoothly and keep the spotlight where it belongs – on the wedding couple.
Our History, Your Love Story – Montagu Meadows, an Historic Barn Wedding Venue in Westminster, MD
Looking for a stunning affordable Maryland barn wedding venue? Consider touring the Historic Montagu Meadows Wedding Venue located in the countryside of Carroll County, MD. Montagu Meadows Wedding Venue offers full-size dream weddings with receptions and intimate/elopement packages. Our Westminster, Maryland barn wedding venue offers a breathtaking setting with a team dedicated to making your wedding day perfect. Montagu Meadows has stunning gardens and serene water views, creating a picturesque backdrop for unforgettable celebrations. We also proudly support the LGBTQ couples in a warm, inclusive environment. If you are looking for an elegant, rustic, and unforgettable wedding that is pet-friendly, contact us to schedule a tour.
Visit our Website: www.montagumeadows.com
Visit our gallery for additional photos: GALLERY | Montagu Meadows
Visit our intimate wedding ceremony page for package options: ELOPEMENT & INTIMATE WEDDINGS | Montagu Meadows
Email us at: crkrone46@gmail.com
Location: Westminster, MD in Carroll County
Montagu Meadows Wedding Venue happily serves the entire Carroll County,
Maryland area which includes Sykesville, Eldersburg, Woodbine, Mount Airy, Taneytown, New Windsor, Union Bridge, Westminster, Manchester, Hampstead, and Lineboro. We also serve other Maryland Counties: Anne Arundel, Howard, Frederick, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Harford, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Washington and along with Southern Pennsylvania which includes Adams, Lancaster, Franklin and York Counties.
Thank you for reading our wedding blog. We hope you find inspiration and helpful advice in all our wedding blog posts. Contact us today to start planning your dream wedding and discover how Montagu Meadows Wedding Venue can transform your special day into a warm, timeless celebration!
We are dedicated to using our platform to support locally owned wedding venues. In every blog we write, we will give a shout out to other independently owned wedding venue owners around the country that offer their support and encouragement on a daily basis:
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