Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Ceremony Time Mention

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's important to provide clear information about the date and time of the ceremony to ensure your guests' punctual attendance. While some couples opt to include only the ceremony time, others prefer mentioning the reception timing as well. In certain cases, an earlier time may be printed on invitations to account for potential lateness, but this practice is generally discouraged. Couples often grapple with the decision to put the precise ceremony time or a slightly earlier one on their wedding invitations. This choice can be influenced by cultural norms, personal preferences, and the punctuality of the expected guests.

How to write the date and time on your wedding invitation

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, your main goal should be to provide your guests with enough information so that they know when and where your big day will take place—and can show up on time. A big part of this is clearly printing the date and time of your wedding day, but there are many different ways to spell out this information.

Formality

When figuring out how to write the date and time on your wedding invitation, you'll need to take the formality of your wedding (and invitation) into account. More formal invitations for black-tie weddings include more traditional language, while casual invites can be more relaxed and informal.

Writing the Date

The traditional way to write the date on your wedding invitations is to spell it out completely, rather than using numerals. For example, if your wedding will take place on Saturday, October 26, 2024, you would write: "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand twenty-four".

However, if you're hosting a more casual wedding, you can write out your wedding date more informally. For example, if your wedding will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2025, you could say: "Saturday, May 17, 2025".

Writing the Time

As with the date, there are several different ways to write the time of day on your invitations. For more traditional wedding invitations, you would write out the time fully, with no numerals. So if your wedding begins at 3:30 p.m., you would write: "at half after three o'clock".

If the time is on the hour, you would simply write: "three o'clock". It's also worth noting that formal wedding invitations traditionally say "half after" (not "half past") for times on the half-hour.

You do not have to write "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening", unless the wedding is scheduled for 8, 9 or 10 o'clock (where there could be some confusion over whether it's morning or evening). If you'd like to include these phrases, note that any time after 5 p.m. is considered evening, and between noon and 4:30 p.m. is the afternoon. And if your wedding will take place at 12 p.m., just write "noon".

There are other ways to write the time on your wedding invitations, particularly if you're hosting a more casual event. If you're writing the date more informally (e.g. "Saturday, June 21, 2025"), you can also write the time as "4pm" or "5:30pm". Just remember that the date and time should match in formality—don't write out the date fully and then use numerals for the time.

Start Times

Typically, the main wedding invitation only includes the date and time of the ceremony. If your reception is immediately following your reception in the same location, you can just write "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow" on the bottom of the invitation.

However, if the reception comes several hours after the wedding ceremony and/or in a different location, it's best to include a separate reception card as part of your invitation suite to share all of the details.

Traditionally, the ceremony and reception's end times are not included on the wedding stationery. However, if you feel that it is important for guests to know when the wedding ends, you can include this information on your wedding website.

Should You Put an Earlier Start Time on the Wedding Invitations?

To help avoid too many wedding guests arriving late to the ceremony, many couples opt to print an earlier start time on their invitations (for example, saying the ceremony starts at 5:00 p.m., when it actually begins at 5:15 p.m.). You can certainly do this, but it's not recommended to pad the time by more than 15 minutes, or else your on-time guests may start to get bored and think you're the ones running late!

Should you put an earlier start time on the wedding invitations?

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the goal is to provide guests with enough information so that they know when and where your big day will take place and arrive on time. While wedding invitation etiquette does come into play, you do have options when it comes to the exact wording.

It is generally not recommended to put an earlier start time on your wedding invitations. Guests usually arrive on time or early for a wedding ceremony. By placing a false start time on your wedding invitations, your loved ones could end up waiting much longer than necessary for the ceremony to begin. This could cause frustration or boredom among your guests, especially if there is a significant delay.

However, some couples opt to print an earlier start time on their invitations to ensure that all guests are present before the ceremony begins. If you choose to do this, it is recommended to not pad the time by more than 15 minutes.

Instead of adjusting the start time, you can include additional wording on your invitations or in any additional information you send to your guests. For example, you could request that guests "please ensure you take your seats in the ceremony room by [time]." This way, you can ensure that everyone is ready for the ceremony to begin without causing unnecessary delays.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to put an earlier start time on your wedding invitations is up to you. However, it is important to consider the potential advantages and disadvantages of doing so to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for both you and your guests.

What time should you put on the invitation if your family is chronically late?

It is generally advised to put the actual ceremony time on the wedding invitation. However, if you have family members who are chronically late, you might want to consider adjusting the time you put on the invitation to ensure their timely arrival.

• Give an earlier time: You could put an earlier time on the invitation, but it is not recommended to pad the time by more than 15 minutes. This is to avoid on-time guests getting bored and thinking you are the one running late.
• Provide additional information: You could add a note in any additional information you send, such as "please ensure you take your seats in the ceremony room by [time]" or "drinks will be served from [time]." This will encourage guests to arrive early without explicitly stating an earlier time on the invitation.
• Inform them verbally: Spread the word verbally that you would like guests to arrive early. This way, you can avoid any potential confusion that may arise from providing different times on the invitation and through word of mouth.
• Assign a specific time for them: You could give your chronically late family members a different schedule with everything pushed forward by a certain amount of time. For example, tell them to arrive one hour earlier than the actual time to account for their lateness.
• Be firm but polite: Politely inform your family members that you need them to be ready by a specific time. Let them know that you will not nag them until that time, and after that, you reserve the right to get annoyed.
• Assign a chivvying role: Assign someone specifically to chivvy along and ensure that your late family members are ready on time. This person can be firm and polite in ensuring that your family members adhere to the timeline.
• Start without them: Be determined to start your ceremony or other wedding events without the late family members. This will show them the importance of punctuality and that you are serious about sticking to the schedule.

Remember, it is essential to communicate your needs clearly and set boundaries with your family members. At the same time, try to find a balance between accommodating their lateness and ensuring that your wedding day runs smoothly.

What if the ceremony starts at a different time to the reception?

It is common for the ceremony and reception to be held at the same venue, in which case guests won't need to travel to a separate location before the cocktail hour can begin. However, if the ceremony and reception are held at different venues, it is important to account for the time it will take for guests to travel to the post-ceremony festivities.

If the ceremony and reception are held at different times, it is a good idea to include a separate reception card as part of your invitation suite to share all the details. This card can include the time, date, and location of the reception. For example, you could write:

> "Please join us for a reception at six o'clock in the evening. JW Marriott Houston Downtown, 806 Main Street, Houston, Texas."

If there will be a significant gap between the ceremony and reception, it is important to keep guests entertained and informed. You can include suggestions for nearby dining, entertainment, and activities in the area on your wedding website or in the materials provided to guests as part of a welcome package. If the ceremony and reception are held in the same location, couples often choose to arrange a cocktail hour to entertain guests between the two events. The average duration of a cocktail hour is 60 minutes, with an upper limit of 90 minutes.

It is recommended to limit the break time between an afternoon ceremony and an evening reception to one to two hours. This will allow for photographs to be taken, guests to have a drink during the cocktail hour, and the newlyweds to have a private meal before greeting guests at the reception. If the ceremony is held at a place of worship, there may be limited time windows available, so a longer break between the ceremony and reception may be unavoidable. In this case, it is a good idea to inform guests of the delay in advance if it will be more than a few hours.

What if you're worried about guests arriving late?

It's natural to worry about guests arriving late to your wedding, but there are several steps you can take to ensure that everyone is on time and seated before the ceremony begins. Here are some tips to address your concerns:

• Provide Clear Timing on the Invitation: On your wedding invitation, specify the time of the ceremony clearly. You can include a phrase such as "Please arrive by [time]" or "To be seated by [time] for a [time] ceremony." This will help set expectations for your guests and ensure they plan their arrival accordingly.
• Add Additional Instructions: If you're concerned about guests missing the ceremony, you can include a separate note or instruction card along with the invitation. This could state something like "Please ensure you take your seats in the ceremony room by [time]" or "Drinks will be served from [time], and the ceremony will begin promptly at [time]."
• Communicate Verbally: In addition to the written instructions, spread the word verbally among your guests. Let them know that the ceremony will begin at the stated time and that it's important for them to arrive early. Word-of-mouth communication can be an effective way to reinforce the timing and ensure everyone is on the same page.
• Arrive Early Yourself: Plan to arrive at the venue well before the ceremony start time. This will give you a buffer in case of any unexpected delays and reduce the likelihood of guests arriving after you. It's also a good idea to coordinate with the wedding ushers, vendors, or planners to have a pre-established plan for handling late guests.
• Consider a Buffer Time: While it's generally not recommended to put an earlier start time on the invitation, some couples opt for a buffer of 5–15 minutes. This is a common practice to accommodate any last-minute delays or late arrivals. However, be mindful not to exceed this buffer time, as your on-time guests may become restless and feel that you are running late.
• Provide Travel and Venue Information: Share detailed travel directions and venue information with your guests. This can be done through your wedding website or by including inserts with the invitations. Providing clear instructions will help your guests navigate to the venue efficiently and reduce the likelihood of late arrivals due to getting lost or stuck in traffic.
• Offer Transportation Assistance: If logistics allow, you can offer transportation for your guests, such as mini-buses or shuttles, to and from the venue. This helps ensure that everyone arrives together and on time. It's a good idea to communicate these travel arrangements in advance so that guests can plan accordingly.
• Notify Late Guests of Etiquette: In some cases, despite your best efforts, guests may still arrive late. In such situations, it's essential to notify them of the proper late arrival etiquette. Instruct them to enter the ceremony discreetly, find a seat at the back, and refrain from causing any disturbances.

Remember, most guests understand the importance of punctuality at weddings, and many will make an effort to arrive early. By providing clear timing, additional instructions, and efficient travel arrangements, you can minimise the chances of guests arriving late and ensure that your ceremony begins on schedule.

Frequently asked questions