£100 fines for brides arriving fashionably late
A VICAR who became fed up with brides turning up late to their own weddings has devised £100 fines for those who keep the congregation waiting.
Canon John Corbyn has imposed the charge on couples who arrive more than 10 minutes late to their service at Holy Cross Church in Bearsted, Kent. The fee, which is built into the cost of the ceremony, is then returned to the couples along with their marriage certificate if they make it to the church on time.
Rev Corbyn has also implemented the system at nearby St Mary’s Church. So far he is yet to fine anyone.
He said: “I’m not calling it a fine, but if you want to hire the venue for one hour or two hours, you pay different amounts. The money goes to the 20 or so volunteers who give up their time to assist at a wedding, including the verger, organist, choir and bell ringers. These people give an hour or so out of their day – generally at a weekend – which can turn into 90 minutes or more if the ceremony runs late. It seems reasonable to me.”
If the service starts within 10 minutes of the allotted time, the £100 is refunded by cheque.
The new system doesn’t seem to have put brides off.
Clara Hubbard, who married on Sept 9, said: “I was totally okay with the ‘fine’. I understand, particularly as they often have more than one wedding in a day and it would affect them as well if it all doesn’t stick to time. Though I was a minute or two over the 10 minutes, I still got the cheque. My husband and l loved the service and the whole day was just great.”
This isn’t the first time that Rev Corbyn has hit the headlines for his controversial ideas, however.
In 2003 he caused a flurry after imposing a ban on the wearing of strapless gowns, suggesting that one brideto-be turn up for her wedding wearing a shawl.