What time to put on invitation?

mblab · June 2011

I've hit that age old conundrum: what start time should I put on our invitations? If it were just guests from Miami I'm pretty sure I wouldn't even think about it and put the time as earlier than it'll really be. My concern is that our guests will be really mixed. We'll have family flying/traveling from across the country and the state. So some will for sure run late while others may show up on time or even early. I'm not sure what to do. I'd hate to put 30 minutes earlier on the invitation and then have a lot of guests get there even earlier than the printed time. If that happened people could be waiting up to an hour outside (in the heat) before the actual ceremony and we'd still be taking family photos. Then again I'd hate to put the real start time and then have to delay the ceremony waiting for people. (I'm on a tight time frame as I only have my photographer for 7 hours total that day.) What do you ladies think?

lgrn22 · June 2011

I had to think about this one. I am putting 5 on the invite and it will start at 5:30. I am telling the people I know will be on time that the ceremony will start at 5:30, just so they are not sitting around for 45 mins. We are doing it in a garden so it will also give the early people time to walk around a little bit. If people are late they are late I am not waiting for people to show up!

VanLu26 · June 2011

I'll be putting 30 minutes prior to the actual start and setting up a table with wine for folks to pick up at their leisure while they wait and mingle with other guests.

I can understand your concern about people showing up early and/or late, but Imho I wouldn't worry too much about when people arrive. You are giving guests ample time to prepare themselves and they should be respectful enough to show up on time. (but that's just one persons opinion

waterroxy17 · June 2011

I am also putting 30 minutes before the actual time. I'd rather have people a little early than late. I would see if your venue can place refreshments near the ceremony for any guests who will be early. Most guests will mingle with each other before the ceremony and hopefully time will pass.

WeAreGs · June 2011

I will be putting 30 minutes before also.

Funny thing is that I think people usually know this trick lol

mblab · June 2011

Thanks ladies! I'm having the ceremony at Matheson Hammock. I've got the area for the entire day, but I do have to be gone by sunset. I guess thinking about it that way I have to either put 30 minutes earlier on the invitations or be prepared to start at 5, regardless of who is or isn't there. I like the idea of having refreshments/something to do while waiting but I'm not sure if it's realistic for me to do. I don't think I'll be having a DOC, so it's all on me and my family for the entire wedding set-up and I'm not sure if we could do that too. (We'll already have to set up the ceremony site, including seting up and taking down chairs, and reception space too.)

dannyandmaggie1210 · June 2011

Hi everyone, I am new to the knot. Our wedding is at a church I was thinking of puting an hour before. Just because I know some people run on Cuban time as we say in Miami. Now, I am thinking maybe half hour would be a better idea.

Maggie

katje13 · June 2011

I agree with everyone. I am putting around 1 hr before for mine because the guests would have to take a ferry. I am thinking of providing refreshments while they wait, not sure yet, depending on cost issues.

I think 30 minutes before would suffice

What time to put on invitation?

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