What time to arrive?

That sounds about right, we are getting married at 2.30 and have told people to arrive for 2pm.

It does sound about right....although many will still arrive late. What is usually important is to get the guests inside the venue before you arrive. Earlier guest arrivals also help the flow of the photography.

Peter

Sh!t. Really?! I just was going to put 1pm as it's booked for then and arrive at 1pm-ish too?

That not how it's done?

If its a civil ceremony, the registrar would want you there 10 minutes at least before the ceremony time....

My venue has asked for people to arrive an hour before the ceremony time

I am planning to specify a time for guests to begin arriving on my invitations, we're tying the knot at 3pm so plan to have guests start turning up between 2:15 and 2:45 that way it means everyone can be seated and relaxed. I'd like the guests to be there and comfortable before I get there otherwise it'll stress me out and get me in a flap.... Plus, I'm a stickler for punctuality!

An hour?!

Wow...l'm clueless.

For a Catholic church wedding what's usually done?

Exactly this!!!!

Ceremony is at 13.30 but I expect guests to be taking their seats around 1pm. Luckily my venue will have someone where ceremony taking place in contact with the person that will come and get me at the 'appropriate time'. so I wont arrive when guests are still arriving!

1/2 hour is plenty of time, I've never been to a wedding that required any more, nor have I been to one with any less!

I didn't actually state an arrival time for my guests, i just put the ceremony start time. I am hoping they have the sense to arrive with plenty of time otherwise they will see me coming down the stairs before I get to the ceremony room.

My vicar said tell guests to arrive 15 mins before, and told me to arrive after 1pm (our wedding time) rather than bang on 1pm so i am aiming to be 5 mins late!

I've put on my invitation that the ceremony is at 1pm, but please be seated by 12.45pm. I don't want people seeing me arrive in my car and hauling myself out of it. I want them to see me in the church.

I'm the same as you, totally clueless.... but I've already sent my invites!!!! The ceremony is at 1:30pm and I've told the guests 1:30! Not sure what I'm going to do!

H x

I'm hoping people having the common sense and decency to arrive at least ten minutes early, if I see them scurrying in they'll get an ear bashing from me later on haha! Of all the weddings I've been to people have always arrived early, it's the done thing and I sincerely hope none of my guests are thick enough to turnip at the same time as me!

Lol@ turnip

Ours was catholic church 1pm, we put in the extra info "can guests please be seated in church by 12.45 as the bride will be arriving early for photos outside before the ceremony." It didn't work. We got a phonecall to the bridesmaids car saying there were loads of late people and loads still outside the church so we had to do 4 laps of the local golf club before I could arrive!! I would put half an hour early given my time again!

We put "10.30 for an 11 o'clock ceremony". A fair number are comiong on a coach which should arrive at 10.30.

Un fortunately, my car wouldn't pick me up later than 10am, so I will probably get there at 10.30 too!! But as the poster above said the venue coordinator will be in toyuch with my BMs so we can loiter on the drive (we get a different route in to the guests) until its time.