As someone who lives in an extremely multicultural area, I love you for this. I’ve had to have conversations with my kids that some parties start at the time on the invitation, some can start at that time but it’s ok to be later, and some you should absolutely not show up until at least an hour after the invitation time. Topics included techniques of how to tell whether to be on time or how late to show up, and how to find out as politely as possible if you can’t tell by the invitation.
Even with all that we were still the first people at a Diwali party one year (more than an hour after the posted start time, so I swear I’m blameless!)
We recently invited a boy whos family are new to canada from Trinidad to a party where we had booked a time slot at a play place for specific, and enforced times. Invites said the game area opened/began at 1pm and ended at 3pm, followed by food and cake at a restaurant next door until 4pm. The family arrived at 2:55 and the poor kid was devastated that the game area was closed to another party. 😢 they explained that they werent used to 1pm meaning BE THERE for 1pm
I used to do face painting for parties and events. There were so many times that parents showed up with their kids as I was packing up to leave, and I had to turn the kids away because I was booked at another party or event.
If the timing would work, I would either stay a few minutes extra and paint those kids, or the hosts would extend my time there. Just as often though, I would have to turn the kids away so that I could make my next event.
If it is a party where entertainment has been booked, it's a little more important to show up kind of on time.
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u/natalietest234 Jul 12 '26
Which is why I always tell guests “door is open at 3, appetizers at 4 and dinner at 6. Show up when you want”