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Sarah
Beginner June 2018

What time do i put on invitations? Ceremony start time or arrival time?

Sarah, on February 24, 2018 at 1:09 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 17
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The ceremony starts at 4pm should I put 4 on the invitations? I've heard it's smart to put 30m before on the invitations in anticipation of late guests. This seems like a good idea because I have been to weddings where late guests are coming in as the bride is walking down the aisle. However, I'm worried if I do put 3:30 and then the ceremony starts at 4 guests will feel that the wedding is starting late and be annoyed that they sat there so long. Or what if people show up even earlier like 3:15?? (I know I always show up very early to formal events.) I've seen one invitation explicitly say arrival time 3:30 ceremony 4 but the invitations I picked out do not allow for that much writing (plus it doesn't look as formal). How is everyone else handling this?

17 Comments

Latest activity by Rebma, on February 4, 2020 at 8:59 AM
  • muriel
    Champion June 2018
    muriel ·
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    The invitation should be for the start time. It would be really annoying to arrive from 15 minutes to a half hour ahead of the printed time, only to find out later that you never intended to start at that time anyway.


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  • M
    Super October 2018
    MaltedMilk ·
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    If your ceremony is slated to begin at 4, put the start time down at 4. People will be arriving around 3:30 or so, don't punish them by making them wait until later to start. Do not list arrival time, people will know when to arrive. If people show up late....oh well. They can wait in the back.

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  • V
    Just Said Yes September 2019
    Viri ·
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    I recommend arrival time. My cousin just got married and there was ppl arriving to the ceremony once it had begun and it kept on interrupting the speeches and so. My fiancee and I spoke in regards to this...and we rather put down the arrival time. No late shows means no interruptions and smooth sailing
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  • O
    Master October 2017
    O ·
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    Put the actual start time, many will arrive much earlier, so dork make people wait longer than needed. The banquet managers for the restaurant where I held my wedding advice putting earlier start times for stragglers, I didn't follow their advice. Glad I didn't.
    My guests knew we would start our ceremony with our without them, no matter who it was, we were starting our ceremony on time. 😂All of our guests arrived 45 minutes early, and enjoyed cocktails and champagne before the ceremony 😊
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  • O
    Master October 2017
    O ·
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    Don't, not dork 😂
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  • Adriana
    Expert October 2017
    Adriana ·
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    I would put the actual start time. I’m one of those people who show up 15-30 minutes early, so if I had to wait an hour, I’d be kind of annoyed. I think listing an “arrival” time on your invitation would weird.
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  • M
    Super October 2018
    MaltedMilk ·
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    Nas, I thought you were calling the people who straggled in dorks. They kinda were......

    Our wedding will start at 11am sharp as we only have the place in a gardens for an hour total. So yeah....gotta keep it moving.

    If I was paying a babysitter or something and realized the wedding was not starting because the stragglers were being accommodated I would be annoyed.

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  • JerseyGirl
    Master May 2017
    JerseyGirl ·
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    Definitely put the start time. I had one family that walked into the venue before me, about an hour and a half before our ceremony started.
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  • E
    Super October 2017
    Emily ·
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    I always arrive to weddings 30 min early. If you put the wrong time and I had to wait and an hour I may be annoyed. I've had friends tell chronically late friends to be there early so if you have chronically late people you can do that. Otherwise, I think that if you have people walking in late they certainly won't detract from you as a bride! YOU and your fiance are the reason everyone is there!


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  • FutureLadyH
    Devoted May 2018
    FutureLadyH ·
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    Just wondering... how would guests "find out" the intended start time if it's between the bride, groom and wedding coordinator? I imagine the couple doesn't go around bragging about the trickery of their start time.
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  • Sarah
    Beginner June 2018
    Sarah ·
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    Okay it seems that the consensus is to put the ceremony start time on the invitations. Thanks for everyone's comments this has really helped!

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  • C
    Just Said Yes August 2018
    christina ·
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    Just went to a wedding and like 20 people showed up at the ceremony time. The bridal party was already walking down the aisle. Might be safe to put it about 15 min earlier.

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  • Peter
    Just Said Yes June 2018
    Peter ·
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    Question... is an invitation needed if you set up a wedding website and it’s only sent to people invited and they can RSVP from the site? We are getting married in 125 days and my fiancée is a procrastinator.
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  • rica
    VIP September 2018
    rica ·
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    I would be livid if I was told 3:30 and it didn't start until 4. I would make sure to show up a bit early anyways. I say if someone is late that's their own loss. They can just miss it.


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  • R
    Just Said Yes June 2020
    Rebma ·
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    Right! My thoughts exactly....our families are famous for being late we are putting 30min before start time. If guests are annoyed they have to wait for being on time(early) better them than myself our the wedding party being interupted by a later arriver...we will play some sofy smooth music while the wait....by the way WE ARE HAVING VELET ROPE BLOCKING OFF THE ENTRANCE SO IF YOU ARE LATE YOU WILL HERE ABOUT THE WEDDING RATHER THAN ATTEND SORRY NOT SORRY
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  • R
    Just Said Yes June 2020
    Rebma ·
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    Our families are famous for being late we are putting 30min before start time. If guests are annoyed they have to wait for being on time(early) better them than myself our the wedding party being interupted by a later arriver...we will play some soft smooth music while they wait....by the way WE ARE HAVING VELET ROPE BLOCKING OFF THE ENTRANCE SO IF YOU ARE LATE YOU WILL HERE ABOUT THE WEDDING RATHER THAN ATTEND SORRY NOT SORRY
    • Reply

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