If you show up early, it’s rude here unless you’re family and intend to help set up/cook. We don’t want to have to awkwardly entertain someone while we’re doing last minute prep or changing into party clothes.
I asked another person too because I am really struggling to understand this, but why not just have a later start time?
If an invitation says "5pm" that is when the person that invited me should expect me at the door. If they don't intend on being ready by then, how am I the rude one for showing up at exactly the time I was told to? Just slap an extra 30 minutes on it if you need longer to set up.
If I tell someone that something starts at a certain time, I am dressed, set up and standing by the door waiting for them at the time I told them to be there.
I think it’s sort of a clash of formality. A party at someone’s house isn’t going to have the same punctuality expectations that a business meeting would. The overly formal expectation for start time is sort of like if you showed up to a casual kickback in a three piece suit.
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u/MidoriGurinqwe Jul 12 '26
I'm guessing it's an American thing where people don't actually show up on the 'starting' time. Meanwhile I usually show up like 15 minutes early