Emma's answers to Ending the evening

Question

My fiance and I would like to leave our reception at around 9pm. I was just wondering whether printing 'carriages 9pm' in the invitations was a polite way of telling people what time the reception will end. I've seen this printed on another invitation, and had never heard of it before.

Answer

'Carriages at xx' is indeed a formal way of telling people what time the party will end. It stems from the Regency, I believe, when smart people would be dropped off at their ball for the evening by their personal carriage, and the carriage would return at a given time to pick them up.

I certainly think that if you are intending to end your reception any earlier than usual licensing hours its polite to tell your guests, and 'Carriages at 9' is a neat way of doing this.

Alternatively, you might decide to put something like 'The bride and groom will be leaving the reception at 9pm.. The bar closes at xx' - traditionally the party would continue after the bride and groom had left for their honeymoon.

Emma x