The Perfect Time To Send Out Wedding Invites

When it comes to wedding invites, it's important to be clear about the time. While it's common to build in a buffer of 10-15 minutes, anything more risks annoying your punctual guests. Some couples choose to state the time that doors open, followed by the time the ceremony will begin. This ensures guests don't mistake the arrival time for the start time. It's also worth noting that formal wedding invitations traditionally say half after (not half past) for times on the half-hour.

Should you write out separate start times for the ceremony and the reception?

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the main goal is to provide guests with enough information so that they know when and where the wedding will take place—and so they can show up on time. While wedding invitation etiquette does come into play, there are options when it comes to the exact wording.

The main wedding invitation typically includes the date and time of the ceremony only. If the reception immediately follows the ceremony in the same location, you can simply write "reception to follow" at the bottom of the invitation. However, if the reception is at a different time and/or location, it's best to include a separate reception card as part of your invitation suite to share all of the details.

When it comes to the time of the ceremony, it's standard to pad the timing by at least 10 to 15 minutes to allow guests to arrive, run late, find their seats and file in at an appropriate pace. If you're serving pre-ceremony drinks, you can usually get away with padding the timing by 20 to 30 minutes, but you'll need ushers to encourage guests to be seated about five minutes before starting the ceremony.

If all of your guests will be arriving via shuttles you've provided, you can usually get away with a short window of about 10 to 15 minutes from the time all the shuttles arrive to getting everyone seated. However, if guests are driving and parking themselves, you may want to allow a little more time and serve non-alcoholic drinks or glasses of bubbly on arrival.

Some couples opt to print an earlier start time on their invitations to avoid too many guests arriving late to the ceremony. For example, if the ceremony starts at 5:00 p.m., you could say it starts at 4:45 p.m. on the invitation. However, it's not recommended to pad the time by more than 15 minutes, or your on-time guests may start to get bored and think you're the ones running late.

To be clear about timing, some couples choose to include two start times on their invitations: one for guests to arrive and one for the ceremony to begin. For example, "Doors open at 4 p.m. Ceremony will begin promptly at 4:30 p.m." or "Seating begins at 3 p.m. Ceremony at 3:30 p.m."

How much earlier should you ask guests to arrive?

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the general consensus is to provide guests with enough information so that they know when and where the wedding will take place and can show up on time. However, opinions vary on whether the invitation time should be the ceremony start time or an earlier time to allow for guests who arrive late.

Some people believe that the time on the invitation should be the actual start time of the ceremony. They argue that adults should be trusted to arrive on time and that it is rude to make punctual guests wait. Others suggest that the time on the invitation is usually the time guests should arrive and take their seats, and the ceremony will start about 15 minutes later. This allows some leeway for guests to arrive late, find their seats, and file in at an appropriate pace.

If you are concerned about guests arriving late, there are a few things you can do. You can add a note on the invitation or wedding website asking guests to arrive or be seated by a specific time before the ceremony starts. For example, "Please arrive by 1:45 pm for our 2:00 pm ceremony" or "Ceremony starts promptly at 4 pm". You can also provide pre-ceremony drinks or refreshments to keep early arrivals occupied while they wait. If you are providing shuttles for guests, you can get away with a shorter window of about 10 to 15 minutes from the time the shuttles arrive to getting everyone seated. However, if guests are driving and parking themselves, you may want to allow a little more time.

It is important to consider the cultural context as well. In some cultures, it is customary for guests to arrive late, while in others, it is considered rude to show up early. If you have guests from different cultural backgrounds, you may need to find a compromise that works for everyone.

Ultimately, the decision of how much earlier to ask guests to arrive is up to you and your partner. You may want to consider the punctuality of your guests, the complexity of the venue, and any cultural factors that may influence arrival times.

How do you communicate the time to guests without causing confusion?

Communicating the correct time to wedding guests is a tricky issue, as there are many factors to consider. Firstly, it is important to be clear and consistent with the timing on your invitations. It is generally recommended to provide the exact start time of the ceremony, rather than a buffer time, to avoid confusion and frustration among guests. However, this may vary depending on cultural norms and the punctuality of your expected guests.

To ensure guests arrive on time, it is a good idea to include additional timing information on your invitations or wedding website. For example, you could specify the time that doors open, or request that guests be seated by a certain time. This provides a gentle nudge for guests to arrive early without explicitly stating an earlier start time. Here are some examples of clear and effective ways to communicate timing:

• "Doors open at 4:00 pm. Ceremony will begin promptly at 4:30 pm."
• "Seating begins at 3:00 pm. Ceremony at 3:30 pm."
• "Please arrive by 1:45 pm for our 2:00 pm ceremony."
• "Ceremony starts at 6:00 pm. Please join us for pre-ceremony drinks from 5:30 pm."

By providing clear and specific timing information, you can help ensure that your guests arrive on time and avoid any confusion or disappointment.

Additionally, it is worth considering any unique circumstances that may affect timing. For example, if your ceremony is taking place at an outdoor venue that requires a 10-minute walk from the entrance, you may need to pad the timing to ensure a smooth arrival and seating process. Similarly, if you are providing shuttles for guests, you can usually work with a shorter window between their arrival and the start of the ceremony.

In summary, clear and consistent communication about timing is key. Provide specific times for different parts of the event, such as door openings and seating, to guide your guests without causing confusion. Be mindful of cultural norms and unique logistical considerations, and remember that a small buffer of around 10-15 minutes is generally advisable to accommodate latecomers and ensure a smooth start to your ceremony.

What happens if guests are late?

So, your wedding guests are running late. What now?

Firstly, don't panic. It's normal for weddings to start 10-15 minutes after the stated time on the invitation. This gives guests a chance to arrive, find their seats, and file in at a comfortable pace. If you're serving pre-ceremony drinks, you can get away with an even longer buffer of 20-30 minutes. However, if you don't want to keep your punctual guests waiting too long, it's best not to pad the time by more than 15 minutes.

If you know that some of your guests are running late, you can ask your ushers to encourage everyone to be seated about five minutes before starting the ceremony. This will help to ensure that latecomers don't cause too much disruption. You could also instruct your ushers to seat latecomers in a specific area, so they don't end up walking in front of the people who arrived on time.

If you're worried about guests arriving too early and having to wait, you can add a note to your invitation requesting that guests arrive at a specific time, such as "please ensure you take your seats by 1:45 pm for a 2:00 pm ceremony". You could also include a separate details card with your invitation, stating something like "the venue will open to guests at 1:30 pm, guests are kindly asked to be seated by 1:45 pm for the prompt commencement of the ceremony at 2:00 pm".

Ultimately, it's up to your guests to arrive on time, and it's not the end of the world if they don't. As one bride put it: "If I were late, be it by my own fault or something unforeseen like weather or traffic, then oh well. I'll be late and sit in the back. The whole ceremony should not be delayed just because a few people can't plan ahead and leave in a timely manner."

What time should be written on the invitation if the ceremony is at a different time to when guests should arrive?

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the goal is to provide guests with enough information so that they know when and where your wedding will take place—and so they can show up on time. While you want guests to arrive at the time you advise, you likely won't actually start the ceremony until about fifteen minutes later. This allows a little leeway for guests to run late, find their seats and file in at an appropriate pace.

If you're serving pre-ceremony drinks, you can usually get away with padding the timing by 20 to 30 minutes, but you'll need ushers to encourage guests to be seated about five minutes before starting the ceremony. If all your guests will be arriving via shuttles, you can get away with a short window of about 10 to 15 minutes from the time all the shuttles arrive to getting everyone seated. However, if guests are driving and parking themselves, you may want to allow a little more time and serve non-alcoholic drinks or glasses of bubbly on arrival.

If you want to avoid too many wedding guests arriving late to the ceremony, you can print an earlier start time on your invitations (for example, saying the ceremony starts at 5:00 p.m. when it actually begins at 5:15 p.m.). However, it's recommended that you don't pad the time by more than 15 minutes, or your on-time guests may start to get bored and think you're the one running late.

• "Doors open at 4 p.m. Ceremony will begin promptly at 4:30 p.m."
• "Doors open at 5:15 p.m., ceremony begins promptly at 6 p.m., with reception immediately following at 6:30 p.m."
• "Seating begins at 3 p.m., ceremony at 3:30 p.m."
• "Ceremony at 12:30 p.m., please arrive at midday."
• "Please arrive by 1:45 p.m. for our 2 p.m. ceremony."
• "Ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Please arrive before that time."
• "Please arrive for the ceremony at 1:30 p.m."
• "Ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m., pre-wedding drinks and 2 p.m. ceremony."
• "Ceremony at 5 p.m., please arrive between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. so that all guests may be seated in time."

Frequently asked questions