Evening Wedding Guest Arrival: What Time To Invite Them

Wedding planning can be stressful, especially when it comes to the guest list. A common solution is to have evening-only wedding guests, but this can raise questions about etiquette and the practicalities of invitations and timelines. It is generally considered acceptable to invite guests to the reception only, and there are several benefits to doing so. This option can help with budget and space constraints, and it can also allow for more privacy or solve scheduling problems.

Inviting evening guests to a wedding is acceptable and a good way to manage budget and space constraints

Inviting evening guests to a wedding is a great way to manage budget and space constraints. It is a common practice for weddings in the UK, which typically consist of three parts: the ceremony, the wedding breakfast, and the evening reception. By inviting evening-only guests, couples can accommodate a larger number of guests without exceeding their budget or venue capacity.

Evening guests are usually invited to join the celebrations after the wedding breakfast, around 6-7 pm, just before the newlyweds' first dance. This allows couples to include more people in their special day, even if they cannot attend the entire event. It is a practical solution when faced with budget constraints, as the average cost of a wedding breakfast can be quite high.

In addition to budget management, inviting evening guests can also address space restrictions. Couples may opt for a larger venue for the evening reception, accommodating more guests. This flexibility ensures that no one is left out due to limited space during the ceremony or wedding breakfast.

When deciding whom to invite for the full day and whom to invite for the evening only, it is advisable to keep friend groups, family groups, and coworker groups consistent. Inviting some members of a group for the entire day while others are evening-only guests may cause offence or embarrassment. It is also essential to be clear and specific in the invitations, indicating whether they are for the full day or evening only.

Evening-only invitations can be sent out at the same time as the main invitations or a little later. Evening guests typically require less notice, as they are less likely to need time off work or book accommodations. Sending the evening invitations later also provides flexibility if the guest list changes or if there is a need to upgrade guests from the evening to the full-day list.

Evening invitations should be sent 4-8 months ahead of the wedding

Evening wedding invitations are for guests who will be joining you for your evening party only. They are different from your 'main' or 'all-day' wedding invitations. Typically, evening guests are those who were unable to attend the ceremony or wedding breakfast due to venue size or budget constraints.

However, some couples choose to send evening invitations later, around 6-8 weeks after sending the 'all-day' invitations. This is because evening guests may not need as much time to plan and their guest list may be more subject to change. Additionally, there may be an opportunity to ''upgrade' guests from the evening list to the 'all-day' list if there are any declines from the original 'all-day' guest list.

Regardless of when you send your evening invitations, it is recommended that they go out no later than 8-12 weeks before the wedding to ensure you have enough time to receive replies and finalise numbers.

Evening guests don't need as much notice as they're less likely to need to book time off work

Evening wedding invitations are for guests who will be joining you for your evening party only. They are different from 'main' or wedding day invitations.

Evening guests are less likely to need as much notice as they are less likely to need to book time off work. They probably won't need as long to plan for your wedding as your day guests. It's less likely that they will need to arrange time off work, book accommodation, etc. Therefore, they won't need as much notice. Of course, this may not be the case, in which case you should give your evening guests as much notice as possible (along with any additional details they might need).

Evening invitations can be sent closer to the wedding as numbers probably won't need to be confirmed until nearer the time. It is recommended that you send your day invitations four to eight months ahead of the wedding. If you send them at the later end of this scale (closer to four months), it is suggested that your evening invitations go out at around the same time. This will allow you ample time to receive your replies back and also confirm final numbers for your venue and caterers. If you are planning to send your 'all-day' invitations out at the earlier end of the scale, then your evening ones could go a little later, maybe 6 to 8 weeks after.

Evening guests usually show up at around 6-7 pm, after the wedding breakfast is over and just before the newlyweds' first dance. It's perfectly acceptable to invite some guests to the wedding reception only. Anyone who has been to a wedding before will be familiar with this concept. It's important to note, however, that you can't do things the other way around. It's practically unheard of to invite guests to the ceremony or wedding breakfast but not invite them to the evening reception. Anyone who attends the ceremony will expect to be fed a proper meal and join in on the evening fun.

Evening invitations should include the date, time, venue, dress code, and RSVP details

Evening wedding invitations are for guests who will be joining you for your evening party only. They are different from your 'main' or ''all-day' wedding invitations. Typically, evening guests are those who were not invited to the wedding ceremony and wedding breakfast.

Date

It is recommended to send evening invitations four to eight months ahead of the wedding. However, if you are sending your ''all-day' invitations around eight months ahead, you can send the evening ones later, around six to eight weeks after. It is best to send them no later than eight to twelve weeks before the wedding.

Time

When indicating the time on your evening invitations, be clear and specific. You can write out the time in words, such as "seven o'clock in the evening" or use numerals like "7 pm". It is also a good idea to specify whether the time is in the morning, afternoon, or evening to avoid confusion.

Venue

Provide the address of the reception venue. If the reception is at a different location from the ceremony, include a separate reception card with the venue details.

Dress Code

Inform your evening guests of any dress code so they can dress appropriately and not stand out from the day guests. The evening reception is usually less formal than the ceremony and wedding breakfast, so guests can dress smart casual.

RSVP Details

Include a clear deadline for your guests to respond by, such as "RSVP by 'date' to 'email' or 'phone'". You may also include a separate reply card, but it is not necessary.

Evening invitations can be a much simpler design than the main invitations. You can include extra details like accommodation suggestions and transport information, but the key details of date, time, venue, dress code, and RSVP are essential to ensure your guests have the information they need to celebrate your special day with you.

It's not necessary to feed evening guests a full meal, but some food options should be provided

Evening wedding guests are usually invited to arrive around 6-7 pm, after the wedding breakfast is over and just before the newlyweds' first dance. It is not necessary to feed them a full meal, but some food options should be provided, especially if they are staying for more than three hours. This could be informal catering, such as a finger buffet, or something more substantial like a food van or hog roast.

Evening wedding guests will expect some food, so it is important to provide a variety of options to keep them happy. This could include canapés, a buffet, or a BBQ, depending on your budget. If you are serving a full meal to your daytime guests, you may want to opt for something less formal for your evening guests. This could be food that is easy to grab and go, such as spring rolls or pizza slices. If you are serving a buffet, try to include a variety of hot and cold options to suit different tastes.

When planning the food for your evening wedding guests, consider the time of your reception. For a midday reception, light hors d'oeuvres may be more appropriate, while heavier options can be served in the evening. Also, think about the number of guests you are inviting and whether you will have enough oven and refrigerator space. It is a good idea to provide a mix of hot and cold options to ensure that your food can be kept at the correct temperature.

If you are working with a tight budget, there are some cost-effective food options that you can consider. For example, BBQ, tacos, pasta, and soup are all filling options that won't break the bank. You could also serve family-style by placing dishes on each table, which can be a great conversation starter and help with portion control.

In addition to food, don't forget to provide drinks for your evening guests. Alcoholic beverages are always a popular choice, but make sure to have some non-alcoholic options available as well.

Frequently asked questions