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Original poster

Is it rude to leave a wedding before the end?

37 replies

ToxicChristmas · 07/06/2024 23:25

I've had mixed opinions on this, but do you think it's acceptable to leave a (full invite) wedding before the midnight end or would you stick it out? Would it be OK to leave around 10? Wedding is at 1.30pm. Would anyone even really notice?

OP posts:
AlltheFs · 07/06/2024 23:45

I think after 9pm is absolutely fine if it has been most of the day.

Absolutely not ok to leave before the meal, speeches and all that nonsense, and to wait until after any evening guests have arrived and they’ve had the evening food/band etc.

But after that it’s fine. Every wedding I have endured has had people with children that need to leave, people on early work shifts, elderly people etc that have left late evening.

I don’t think I’ve stayed later than 11 even when sleeping at the venue, usually had enough by 10 and retire to watch TV.

Morph22010 · 07/06/2024 23:45

TheOccupier · 07/06/2024 23:37

It's traditionally considered rude to leave before the bride and groom do.

But doesn’t that go back to the days when bride and groom left to go on honeymoon part way through the night (remember that as a child at weddings as we’d decorate the car they drove off in). Now a days that tends to be a few days/ weeks later

Ponderingwindow · 07/06/2024 23:42

traditionally the bride and groom are supposed to leave after the key events. That way guests have the option to stay later, but the send off isn’t supposed to be in the wee hours. The problem is that wedding couples have now decided to close out the party instead of making a polite exit themselves.

it’s perfectly acceptable to leave after the meal, cake, speeches, first dances, etc., whatever order they happen to be scheduled in

Jeezitneverends · 07/06/2024 23:41

Traditionally you shouldn’t leave before the bride and groom, but given that you’ve been unwell, as long as you say goodbye to them and slip out I don’t think anyone could hold it against you!

TheOccupier · 07/06/2024 23:37

It's traditionally considered rude to leave before the bride and groom do.

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 07/06/2024 23:35

A wedding invite is not a prison sentence so leave when you want to

UnpackingBooksFromBoxes · 07/06/2024 23:32

ToxicChristmas · 07/06/2024 23:30

This is what I was hoping. I've been quite ill recently and I'm absolutely shattered and just not up for a really late night after a long day. Some people have said its really rude and I should stick it out as the couple may have late plans like fireworks or bacon butties. I wasn't going to announce my leaving, just slip out quietly.

Show quote history

I’d always say goodbye, congratulations and thank you for the invite to the couple getting married.

Arseconono · 07/06/2024 23:32

Honestly unless it’s a super small wedding (in which case I’d assume that you could be very open) they won’t really even notice.

whike I can remember who stayed right to the very end of my wedding (it was a very late one) I would have no clue about who left when. You’ll be fine

Original poster
ToxicChristmas · 07/06/2024 23:30

Bayleaftree63 · 07/06/2024 23:27

Leave when you want. Everyone will probably be too drunk to notice anyway :)

This is what I was hoping. I've been quite ill recently and I'm absolutely shattered and just not up for a really late night after a long day. Some people have said its really rude and I should stick it out as the couple may have late plans like fireworks or bacon butties. I wasn't going to announce my leaving, just slip out quietly.

OP posts:
Lavender14 · 07/06/2024 23:28

I think that's fine. Especially if you've a long journey or young children with you or an early shift in the morning. In which case I'd likely give a heads up in advance that you can't stay as late as you'd like to. I would say anything after 10pm is fair game, anything before 10pm you'd want to have a decent excuse.

OrangeLemonLime24 · 07/06/2024 23:27

No, of course not. 10pm is fine.

Bayleaftree63 · 07/06/2024 23:27

Leave when you want. Everyone will probably be too drunk to notice anyway :)