How early should you arrive to a wedding?

How early should you arrive to a wedding? Twenty to thirty minutes before the ceremony start time is the standard, and it is what most planners quietly build the day around.

Here is why that window works:

• Ushers seat guests starting about 30 minutes out, so you get a good seat and time to find parking and the restroom.
• Arriving 10 minutes before means you may walk in behind the processional — some venues literally hold late guests at the door until the couple is at the altar.
• Earlier than 30 minutes and you are often sitting in an empty space while vendors are still setting up.

For a church wedding or a big venue with a shuttle, lean toward 30–40 minutes. For a small backyard ceremony, 15–20 is fine. When in doubt, earlier is always more polite than late.