What time should evening guests arrive at a wedding reception?

Most UK weddings invite evening guests to arrive between 7pm and 7.30pm. By that point, the wedding breakfast and speeches are usually finished, and the room has been rearranged for the evening party. This lets evening guests join without missing the formal parts of the day.

When you send evening invitations, state the arrival time clearly, for example "Evening reception from 7pm". This tells guests when to arrive and when to expect food and dancing. Many couples also mention the dress code on the evening invitation, so guests know whether to dress formally or more casually.

On the day, have someone ready to greet evening guests, such as a member of the bridal party or a venue host. You might also have a separate guestbook or a welcome sign for evening guests. Evening food, often a buffet or a late-night snack, is usually served from around 8pm or 9pm.

The first dance often happens shortly after evening guests arrive, around 7.30pm or 8pm, so they can watch. After that, the dance floor opens to everyone. If you want evening guests to see the speeches, you would need to time those later, but most couples keep speeches to the daytime guests only.

Check with your venue about their evening schedule, especially if you have a band or DJ. They will need time to set up, and you should confirm when the evening food will be served.