If a party starts at 8, what time do you show up?

8:30–8:45

8:15–8:30

I arrive at 8:00. I figure if the host/hostess wanted guests to arrive at 8:30, they’ve have made the start time 8:30.

I don’t agree with the concept of “fashionably late.” Being late is rude, not fashionable.

Depends on the party. If it is a dinner party 8PM. If it is a drinking and wake up in a strangers bed party it would be around 9:30.

What kind of party? If it’s dinner party, definitely show up on time.

I agree with 8:00. The party starts at 8, be there at 8. Unless you are a movie star and want to make a grand entrance, then show up at 10.

Yes I agree if it is a dinner party, on time is expected. I assumed you meant drinking party..shouldn’t have assumed.

Most parties I attend at friends’ houses are given an approximate time to attend, so 8:00 really means any time between then and maybe a half hour after. I do usually try to be on time, especially if dinner is being served at a certain time.

If it is a dinner party I show up on time. Such scheduled events require that a person be punctual.

Depends on the party.

Dinner Party: Right on Time
Child’s Party: Right on Time
Social Party: 8:15 and not a moment earlier

It really depends on what type of party it is. I am personally the type of person the is always on time and if not I call and let the person know. However I don’t think it would be poor etiquette to show up pretty much anytime if this is just a dance party/halloween bash. That is kinda the nature of those parties, people come and go. If it is a formal party however I would be on time and no later than 15 minutes late without calling.

@SuperMouse Could you be more specific? :)

thanks everyone :)

Depends on how long its taken me to get ready, if I’m super organised I arrive on time, if not I may arrive late, but always with an apology and a gift for the host :)

Probably around 830–845.

So to all you people who don’t show up at the requested time… why not? I honestly can’t think of a decent reason… Even for a purely social drinks & dancing type party… What’s the point of arriving late?

@chyna, here goes:

Dinner party with food that will not taste good if it cools to room temperature: Right on time.
Dinner party with food that actually tastes better at room temperature: 15 minutes late
Dinner party where the dessert will taste better than the meal: An hour late
Child’s birthday party with a magician: Right on time
Child’s birthday party at Chuck E Cheese’s: At least an hour and a half late
Child’s birthday party with a Star Wars theme: Whenever the Force moves me to arrive.
Social party with travel slides: When my friends call me on the way home to tell me it is over, I will call and give my regrets.
Social party without travel slides: A half hour late

That should cover most situations!

@SuperMouse LOL!

@derekfnord : that’s a good question… I’m curious too!

I don’t think most people are late on purpose. Like I said I’m not a person who runs late so I can only guess. But I would say that when people are late it is taking them too long to get ready. Or perhaps they forgot to buy a gift for the hostess so they have to stop off at the store.

Another reason would be that you happen to know this host/ess and that (s)he will not be ready on time and you want to allow them time to get their crud together.

And when it comes to a general party/bash there is no reason to arrive ‘on time’ as the nature is to have people coming and going at will. I would guess many people don’t even know what time the party “starts”. But I quite going to these type of parties a few years back.

@derekfnord Maybe parties ask you to come around the specified time, instead of to come at the specified time, because it’s fun to observe when each person/group will arrive, which adds fun to the party.

It depends on where the party is being held and who is holding it. In Venezuela I would show up at 9 pm. In Texas I would show up at 8 pm. In Chile, when my father was a boy, guests would have shown up at 10 pm for a party listed as starting at 8 pm. If it is a party at my brother’s house I would show up at 6 pm to help out, but I wouldn’t expect to eat until sometime after midnight.

7:50

8:00

9

Well, how about 7:55? Or, how ever long it takes to actually reach your destination. I’d go with 8.

I usually arrive at 7:45. amd sit out in my truck and have a smoke and work up the gumption to socialize. Then I hit the doorbell just a few minutes before 8.

fashionably late is a sorry excuse to be non-punctual.

That’s typically what I do @Psychedelic_Zebra. Not smoking, but yeah sitting in my car waiting a few minutes.

8:30.

I heard a while ago that the etiquette for when you should show up at a party varies depending on which part of the U.S. you live in. If a party is called for 8 p.m. in the South and you show up at 8:30, you are very rude. If a party is called for 8 p.m. in New York and you show up at 8, your hosts will probably still be in the shower!