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I have a gripe.  As the bride & groom, you are expected to arrive in a timely fashion for your ceremony.  When you arrive, you expect the seats to be properly placed, flowers in order and the isle and alter to be ready to go.  In a Church setting, it is the priest or rabbi's responsibility.  At a banquet facility, some of those responsibilities fall on the banquet manager.  So, what is expected of the officiate or JP?

Showing up 5 minutes before the bride is scheduled to walk down the isle is inappropriate, but all too common.  As the officiate, you most likely were involved in the rehearsal.

Someone who cares about their work and YOUR ceremony should arrive a minimum of 30 minutes PRIOR to guest arrival (that is a FULL HOUR prior to ceremony time).  In that hour prior to you walking down the isle, they should be doing some/all of the following:

• Ensuring the alter and chair setup is correct
• Making sure necessary items are in place (candles, lighters, glass, wine, etc)
• Guiding guests & wedding party members as necessary
• Checking for rings, license, etc.
• Coordinating with musicians or DJ for music cues
• Testing microphones (I can't tell you how many JPs don't know how to use a microphone or don't speak up properly to be heard - you might want to ask if they've ever taken a public speaking class!)