FH and I are planning to start our ceremony at about 2:30 (we are having a Sunday wedding and can start any time we want). I'm thinking we should write 2:00 on the invitations so everyone is there on time. I was wondering if other people did the same or similar when writing their invitations.
Also, I thought that I had about two more weeks before needing to mail out the invites but now I'm nervous that I need to send them sooner. When is the best time to mail them?
JACK808
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Re: Ceremony start time
I put the actual start time of the ceremony on my invitations, and mailed them almost exactly 2 months before the wedding.
Madison-Todd2009
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Re: Ceremony start time
No, I think the actual time is what should be on the invite for a formal event. If people are late, that's their loss. I think it would be rude to 'start the wedding late and have people waiting in a church' on purpose.
FutureMrsG
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Re: Ceremony start time
I wrote the actual time of my wedding ceremony on the invite- People should know enough to show up to a formal event on time. I would hate to sit around fo a half an hour waiting for someone's wedding to start.
I mailed my invites yesterday- 8 weeks before my RSVP date BUT I have A LOT of OOT guests.
jcreilly
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Put the actual time and i am mailing mine out 2 mths before my wedding
Julesg1230
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My reception hall recommended putting 1/2 hour earlier on the invite.
springsandra
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We are getting married at the RH, not at a church, and we put 11:30 on our invitations. There will be coffee and mini muffins for people upon arrival there since it's a Saturday morning. The actual ceremony will start at noon.
Since our ceremony is only 30 minutes (if that), this works out best for us. Then CH will start at 12:30 pm, immediately after the ceremony. Perfect time for people to start eating!
We know our families -- mine is perpetually late. Plus we wanted people to get there and nosh a little so they're comfortable during the ceremony. I don't think there's anything wrong with putting a time before the start time, within reason. It's certainly better than people being late!
MikesBride2B
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Re: Ceremony start time
Hello RH twin! We are also getting married on a Sunday at 2:30 and we're going to put 2pm on the invitation. Then again I have a family who is habitually late so I'm nervous that they won't get there on time if I put 2:30.
MrsCM
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Re: Ceremony start time
We put 11am but we are unsure whether we want to start at 11, 11:15 or 11:30 still.
cavvento
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I'm a punctual person and hate that the punctual people are the ones punished if you don't put the true time on there. People should not be late to this occasion - it's rude on their part if they are. I personally feel that it would be rude on your part to make your guests wait a half hour for being 'on time'
Celeste617
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Re: Ceremony start time
I put the actual ceremony start time on the invitation. I am extremely punctual and if I were to go to a wedding on time (or early as I usually am) to find that I had to sit around waiting for the actual start time, I'd be peeved. But that's me - I'm easily irritated
IrishBride1109
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Re: Ceremony start time
Please don't make the majority of the people who will be on time wait for over a half hour. It's just rude to the people who arrive on time. I am always punctual so maybe I'm oversensitive to this, but it irks me that I arrive on time and then wait at least a half hour for the wedding to start 'on time'. I know people may disagree but that's just my opinion.
SummerBride10
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You can always do 15 mins before. Then people dont have to wait too long if they're on time and it allows anyone who may have hit traffic to still egt there.
Just Cindy
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My ceremony starts at 11:30 but I am putting 11:15 on the invites.
bulldoglover
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Posted by Julesg1230
My reception hall recommended putting 1/2 hour earlier on the invite.
mine did too
queensbride2010
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Re: Ceremony start time
Posted by Julesg1230
My reception hall recommended putting 1/2 hour earlier on the invite.
So did mine. I think I may put 1/2 hour earlier on the invite and just tell the people I know who are always early the actual start time. I have family members who are always late, and since my wedding is on Friday night and most of my guests are coming from the city, I'm sure people will end up being late anyway because of traffic.
SusiBtoM
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Write the actual start time. People should be smart enough to know that 2pm means 2pm start time for any event.
aryana0611
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Posted by Just Cindy
My ceremony starts at 11:30 but I am putting 11:15 on the invites.
MINE IS AT 4:30 AND I PUT 4:15 ON THE INVITE. EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS LATE AND THE LAST THING I WANT IS TO BE WATCHING PEOPLE RUNNING IN WHILE WE ARE TAKING OUR VOWS.
YOU DONT KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING BEFORE THE WEDDING SO YOU ARE BETTER OFF PUTING 15 OR 30 MINUTES BEFORE. PLUS THE BRIDE IS NEVER ON TIME LOL.
consulgirl
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Re: Ceremony start time
I think both ideas to make the time a few minutes ahead of the actual ceremony or making it the actual time work. No matter what you do, unfortunately, someone will probably be late.
I sent my invites out two months before the wedding.
But again this also depends on how many OOT guests you have and if you sent STD's.
rebekahlw164
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Re: Ceremony start time
Aaah! I didn't mean to start such a controversy! And on top of that I'm still kind of torn.
I am a very punctual person, and while there are times that I am annoyed that I have to wait around because others are late, at a wedding this has never bothered me. When everyone is amongst family and friends, I've always been happy to mingle and just anticipate what is to come. At the same time, most of our families will be there with plenty of time and I don't want to make them wait excessively.
I guess I I will probably make the time just 15 minutes earlier, if at all. Hopefully this will keep most of my guests happy! Thanks for all the input.
