Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

Original post by GlitterBox24

Jun 18, 2010 11:45 AM

This is a question for non Hispanic, and maybe it doesn't apply to all Hispanics, but definitely my nationality.

Is everyone putting in there EXACT time on their wedding invitations?

I ask becuase every time we have an event, and give people a time, we always say the real time and the Hispanic (dominican) time.

Like if im doing something at 8 i have to tell them at 6 to be there by 8... For my cousins wedding 3 weeks ago at jericho terrece she wrote on the Invite 6:00pm for a 7:30pm coctail hour and most people still didn't arrive til 8.. She also had to put the church starting time an hour before.

So im thinking i definitely have to put in everything 1 hour and half earlier on my invite, but then im worried for the other people who will arrive on time ughhhh but i know for sure if i put in the correct time, i will have an empty ceremony.

For weddings im always on time, but i am just as guilty as the rest of my family/friends when it comes to showing up late, and its not even considered rude to us, because its just the norm already...

angelatp Posted: Jun 18, 2010 09:16 PM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

haha... my family go by the 'west indian' time so this is what I'm doing. Ok, I putting on the invite a half early and the people who I know are always on time, I'll let them know personally. My hands are tied, I have no choice in this one.

Ang9483 Posted: Jun 18, 2010 09:47 PM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

UGHHHHHHH I am having the same problem My hubbys family is always late to everything they are ecuadorian. They show up late to their own parties sometimes. It drives me nuts.

April_Luv Posted: Jun 18, 2010 11:18 PM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

My family is west indian and YES i will put 1 hour ahead on my invites. Even Father Murphy recommended it!
At my sisters wedding she put 1 hr before the actual time and everyone was fine. some people were outside of the church talking and some where inside. but i tell u what, once we arrived-the house was packed!!!!!!!!!!!! every seat was full and thats how i want it....

I know my family and thats why im doing it!

angelscri Posted: Jun 18, 2010 11:35 PM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

FH and I families are both on Caribbean time, so we will be putting 30 minutes before on the invites.

dbs244 Posted: Jun 19, 2010 12:06 AM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

My family is arabic and they tend to be late alot too. For my sister's wedding, I felt bad for the white people that showed up half an hour early because not only did they wait that half hour, they waited an additional half hour because the wedding started late....
If you tend to run late on time usually, maybe you can assume that the wedding might start late also? so you don't have to worry about your guests being late and you can relax and take your time too

SoonToBeMrsONeill Posted: Jun 19, 2010 09:16 AM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

Posted by dbs244

My family is arabic and they tend to be late alot too. For my sister's wedding, I felt bad for the white people that showed up half an hour early because not only did they wait that half hour, they waited an additional half hour because the wedding started late....
If you tend to run late on time usually, maybe you can assume that the wedding might start late also? so you don't have to worry about your guests being late and you can relax and take your time too

My family is arabic too ... but regardless, we're putting an earlier time, only by 30 mins because we have so little time in between the ceremony and CH that we want to make sure we start on time!

sandybeaches115 Posted: Jun 19, 2010 11:09 AM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

Definitely a cultural thing!! FH's family is Puerto Rican...I know that they are travelling from PR but even with the fact that they will be in NY at the time, I guarantee most of them will still be late. I'm putting 30 min before and we are starting at 3:30 no matter what!! The good thing is a lot of the fam is in the BP and the pics are before the ceremony soooo everyone should be there.

I think 1.5hr early is a bit much but 30 min should suffice.

Kuklitsa143 Posted: Jun 19, 2010 11:22 AM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

Posted by allornil

I'd be careful bc people who are on time will be standing around doing nothing and mad that your time was incorrect.

and yes, FH (columbian/panamanian) and I are always arguing bc he's always late! I'm always saying, 'and that's white people time Anthony!'

LMFAOOOOOO

cateydee Posted: Jun 19, 2010 03:17 PM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

this thread is making me stressed cuz i put the actual time on my invite. my nightmare is having ppl show up as im getting out of the limo.

Notwedyet08 Posted: Jun 19, 2010 08:31 PM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

My best friend is at a wedding RIGHT NOW; and texting me that the ceremony that was supposed to start at 5:30 (per the invite; started 1 1/2 hours late!! It didn't start until 7pm! She said the bride was held up getting her hair done...

she's on the way to the cocktail hour now; which makes me think that the bride planned the time frame all along if the ceremony starting late hasn't altered any cocktail hour/reception activities!

ksugar44 Posted: Jun 20, 2010 04:20 PM

Re: Is this a cultural thing or what? Lateness

My FH's family operates on 'Haitian Time' and my family is always on time or early! I have the same concern, if I put an early time on the invite my family will be there even earlier and be annoyed they had to wait so long, but if I don't the FH's side will be late and miss the ceremony completely. Is it crazy to do 2 invites?