Wedding Etiquette Forum

Time for groomsmen to arrive

We're having a 6 o'clock wedding and my photographer suggested that the bridal party and family arrive at 3:30 for photos.  I'll be tucked away at 5 in case guests arrive early, so that will give us an hour and a half for photos.

Is 3:30 too early to have the groomsmen arrive?  I was thinking that maybe they could come at 4:00, but then what if they're late?  

I guess my biggest fear is that if they have too much free time after we do their photos they'll get bored and start drinking.

How early did your groomsmen arrive?

Re: Time for groomsmen to arrive

  • Don't you want them in the photos?  They should arrive when everyone else does. 

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    Everything the light touches is my kingdom.
  • Why do you think the groomsmen should come later than the bridesmaids? Am I wrong in assuming you have bridesmaids?
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  • Yes, of course I want them in the photos.  I just thought we could do family photos, couple photos, and then shots with me and the girls first and let the guys come a little later.

    Just didn't know if 4:00 seemed late
  • Honestly, if I was a bridesmaid and found out that the guys didn't have to come until an hour and a half later than me, I'd be annoyed lol.
    I don't think the pictures should take that long, but I could be wrong. And of course it'll depend on how many pictures you intend to have.
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  • how immature are these guys? surely they can handle hanging out for thirty minutes without getting hammered, no? because they are friends of your fiance and he is old enough to get married, i'm assuming they're old enough to arrive at an assigned time and not get totally wasted as though they're at a frat party. but maybe i'm over-estimating your fiance's friends...

    build in extra time - don't cut it close. if they're forced to hang out with their friends for half an hour, they'll cope.
  • ok, well the consensus seems to be clear....i'll have them arrive at 3:30 with everyone else too :)
  • Our GM arrived at 1:00 for a 3:00 ceremony. They got dressed at H's house, though,. and only had to put on suit jackets when they arrived, not get fully dressed. The girls got there at noon. Since we didn't do a first look, girls got their pics taken first and the guys followed.

    I would have the men arrive at the same time you are or just a tad later if they plan to dress beforehand. You can't control them drinking or not. Even if they're sitting at someone's house, they can start drinking if they really want to. I would tell them earlier than you actually need them there, too, in case anyone has a habit of running late.
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  • It's true.

    "Well, we don't have to be there for another hour or so... pass the jager!"

    And do the bridesmaids not drink?

    "Okay, they're done with us and have moved on to the groomsmen... pass the rum!"
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  • LoopysevenLoopyseven member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its
    edited January 2012
    For us, the girls and I got there around 2.  We putzed around a little, had some snacks and champagne and got dressed.  the photographer and the boys arrived around 3.  The photog did photos with the girls from 3 til 4 while the guys got dressed and had some snacks and drinks.  She did photos with the boys from 4 til 5.  During each of those hours the bridesmaids did some photos with H, and the groomsmen did some photos with me.  At 5 I went into hiding and our ceremony started at 5:30.  H and I did our together photos and all our family photos after the ceremony while the wedding party enjoyed cocktail hour.
  • I agree that the guys need to arrive the same time as everyone else.  As pp said, if I was a BM and found out the guys got an hour+ pass because they couldn't be trusted to act like an adult I'd be ticked.

  • Our venue has the girls arriving before the guys so we can get our pictures done first and I can 'hide' before FI arrives and takes pictures with his groomsmen. We'll be doing group shots afterwards. 
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