Might be a daft question - what time to invite people

[itisnotacompetitionyouknow]

This will probably be a daft question!

Our ceremony is at 3.30pm, but we will be having arrival drinks. Do I invite people to turn up at 3.30pm but expect them to come earlier, or do I invite people say about 2.30pm give people chance to have a mingle and a drink before the wedding?

Invite them earlier, state it is for pre ceremony drinks which will take place at 3.30, allows for late arrivals.

I would go for the 2.30pm so people can chat and give you there best wishes. Then it will be a lovely fuss before you go in.

Make it clear that there is a pre-ceremony reception. People always show up at least 15 min before the ceremony time, so if you put 2:30 and don't specify it's for drinks, they'll think the ceremony starts at 2:30 and people will start to arrive at about 2!