What Time Does the Wedding Start? How to Get People to Arrive on Time

Comment Written by natasha on July 24, 2009 – 5:00 am

You got a wedding invitation (or you’re creating one) and it says it begins at 6pm. So does that mean it starts AT 6pm or that you should be there at 6pm and it starts at 6:30pm?

Photo from The Wedding Lens

If you want people to show up on time, you should be clear about what that means.

• You can write “prompt” on the invitation to emphasize that this isn’t an arrival time, but that things will be moving right along.
• You can put an insert into your invitation that says something to the effect that if you arrive after a certain time, you will not be able to be seated until after the processional.
• Another idea is to arrange for transportation for your guests. For example, if your guests are staying primarily at one hotel, arrange for a shuttle to pick them up at a certain time.
• One site advises that if you want people to be there by the time you start, then write 6pm, but start at 6:30pm. If you do decide to start a lot later than the “start time,” make sure you have something for the guests — such as cold water or lemonade  (especially if it’s hot), so that they dont feel like they’re waiting for hours and are irritated.

 What you should NOT do is start early. I have a friend who went to a wedding recently and the invitation didn’t say prompt, but the wedding ceremony actually started about 10 minutes before the invitation time — dont do that! She felt awful that she arrived on time and had to wait for the bride to finish walking down the aisle before she could walk in. It was awkward.

What will you do?

~ Natasha