When can a bridesmaid leave an evening wedding???

prkim07

I agreed to be in my friends wedding as 1 of 5 bridesmaids. I didn't realze the ceremony didn't start until 5pm. I'm currently planning my own destination wedding and we have to fly out the next day to do planning for our wedding.

Does the bridesmaid have to stay until the end of the reception? When is an appropriate time to leave? If the reception starts at 6ish when is it ok to leave? Is 9 to early?? HELP!!

lalap69

Is it possible to change when you fly out?

I personally consider the BM's role finished after the ceremony and pictures.  If you need to leave by 9, I think it's understandable.

jtuttle12001

I think it's fine.

deepcovejackie

If you were in my wedding party,  I'd feel honoured that you could attend my wedding the day before your departure date.  I would truly be grateful for that, and would not mind if you left early.  You're a good friend to be concerned about that!

nda_roxybabe

I think it would be okay to leave early. Maybe ask the bride how she feels?
You should change your SN so its not your email address.

prkim07

Dang, it won't let me change my user Id.

nda_roxybabe

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_can-bridesmaid-leave-evening-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:413ce165-7238-45f1-87e4-11a1b34e1ab5Post:e5297b88-0129-4775-a92d-b289d19a85f8">Re: When can a bridesmaid leave an evening wedding???</a>:
[QUOTE]Dang, it won't let me change my user Id.
Posted by prkim07@yahoo.com[/QUOTE]
No, it wont. You have to get a new one but I would recommend it.

banana468

If it's possible to stay for the entire thing, I would - but the bride should understand if you HAVE to leave early.

nightmare_of_beauty

Like pp said, I think it's fine, just say something to the bride.

Marina007

I think it's fine, as long as you stay until the "major events" are finished. Ie don't leave before:

- Dinner
- Speeches

- Cake cutting

- First Dance

- Bouquet Toss/Garter Throw (if they're doing that)

Personally, I think I'd want to stay as long as possible - since you're a BM, I'm assuming you're close to the bride, and I'd just feel bad not staying until everyone else starts leaving.

lalap69

I disagree about staying until the bouquet/garter toss.  Most weddings I've been to have these events quite late, like after 11pm.  It's not a major event and I think it's 100% okay if the OP has to leave before then.

megk8oz

Our ceremony started at 5:30, our reception went until after 11. One of our GMs wound up leaving at around 9. His wife is pregnant, and at the time of the wedding, she was still having "morning sickness" (Which, as we all know, does not actually know what time of day it is, lol). She toughed it out as long as she could, but she got to a point where she really just needed to leave (And obviously, he was going with her). We totally understood, and it didn't bother us. For the life of me, the day was such a blur, I can't even remember if the cake was cut or not at that point (We didn't have tosses). They did make it through dinner.

I think once the ceremony and the pictures are over, and the reception has started you're "off the clock" as a BM. Obviously, it would be nice to stay as long as you can, but like the PPs say, if the reception starts in the 6/6:30 time frame, leaving at 9 is not the end of the world.