Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Hyphenating Numbers For Style And Clarity

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are a lot of things to consider, from the wording to the etiquette. One such consideration is whether to hyphenate numbers on the invitations. While it may seem like a small detail, it can be a tricky decision, especially for couples who want to ensure their invitations are both stylish and correct. Traditionally, wedding invitations were written out in full, with no numerals at all. However, in modern times, it has become more common to use numerals in place of words, especially for informal or modern weddings.

Spell out numbers

When it comes to wedding invitations, tradition dictates that no numbers would be present at all. However, this is not always practical, especially for more informal or modern weddings. If you do decide to spell out numbers on your wedding invitations, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Dates and times are typically written out in full on wedding invitations, including the day of the week, day of the month, month, and year. For example, "Saturday, the twenty-ninth of December, two thousand twelve at seven o'clock in the evening".
• When writing out the date, only capitalise the day of the week and the month, not the day of the month. For example, "Saturday, the twenty-ninth of December".
• Be consistent with your spelling of the year. While there is no clear consensus on whether to write "two thousand twelve" or "two thousand and twelve", avoid using "twenty twelve" as it is informal and may look out of place on a wedding invitation.
• When writing out the time, avoid using "o'clock" as it can sound awkward in this context. Instead, opt for phrases like "half past seven in the evening" or "half after seven in the evening".
• If your wedding is taking place at noon or midnight, there is no need to specify "noon o'clock" or "midnight o'clock". Simply writing "noon" or "midnight" is sufficient.
• For times between the hours, such as 7:30 pm, it is best to avoid using "seven-thirty o'clock". Instead, opt for phrases like "half past seven in the evening".
• Traditionally, afternoon is considered to be from noon to 6 pm, while evening begins at 6 pm. So, if your ceremony is at 5:30 pm, you would write "half past five in the afternoon" rather than "half past five in the evening".
• When writing out addresses, house numbers below twenty should be spelled out. For example, "One Hundred and Ninety-Second Street". However, very long numbers may be condensed, such as using "192nd" instead of "One Hundred and Ninety-Second".
• When it comes to titles, use "Mr.", "Mrs.", "Ms.", and "Doctor" instead of writing them out. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith".

Hyphenate compound numbers

When writing out wedding invitations, it is customary to write out numbers in full, rather than using numerals. For example, instead of "7:30 pm", you would write "half after seven in the evening".

When it comes to dates, you would write out the day of the week, the number of the month, and the month itself. For instance, "Saturday, the twenty-ninth of December". Compound numbers, such as the date "28 May", are written with a hyphen: "Saturday, the TWENTY-EIGHTH of May". The number of the month is not capitalised, but the day of the week and the month are.

The number of the year is also written out in full, such as "two thousand sixteen", and there is no "and" in the year. Nothing in the year is capitalised.

Include o'clock when writing the time

When writing the time, it is generally advised to include 'o'clock' when the time is an exact hour. For example, it is correct to say "I'm leaving at seven o'clock" or "The ceremony will begin at five o'clock". However, if the time is not an exact hour, it would be incorrect to include 'o'clock'. For instance, "The ceremony will begin at half past five o'clock" is incorrect. In this case, it is better to say "half past five" or "5:30 pm".

When writing out the time in words, it is important to include the time of day, such as "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". This is especially important for clarity when the time is close to noon or midnight, as it could otherwise be ambiguous. For example, "The ceremony will begin at 7 pm" is clear, but "The ceremony will begin at 7 am" could benefit from being written as "The ceremony will begin at 7 in the morning".

In formal writing, such as wedding invitations, it is generally best to write out the time in words and include 'o'clock' for exact hours. For example, "seven o'clock in the evening". However, for times that are not exact hours, it is better to use a combination of words and numerals, such as "half past seven in the evening" or "7:30 pm". It is also acceptable to write the time as "half after seven in the evening", especially in the UK and Australia.

When writing the time on a wedding invitation, it is important to be consistent and use the same style throughout. It is also worth considering the formality of the event. For a very formal wedding, it is generally best to write out the time in words and include the time of day. For a more casual wedding, it may be appropriate to use numerals and the abbreviations "am" and "pm", but be sure to use them in lowercase with periods, e.g. "7:00 pm".

Write out the day of the week, number of the month, and full month

When writing out the date and time for a wedding invitation, traditionally, no numerals or abbreviations are used. However, for informal or modern weddings, numerals are often used in place of words. Here is a guide on how to write out the day of the week, number of the month, and full month for a wedding invitation:

The day of the week should be written out in full, with only the first letter capitalised. For example, "Saturday". The day of the week is then followed by the date, which is written as an ordinal number. For example, "the fifth" or "the twenty-ninth". A hyphen is used if the date is written in two words, such as "twenty-seventh". The date is then followed by the preposition "of".

The month is written out in full, with only the first letter capitalised. For example, "June" or "December". The year is then written out in full as a number, followed by the word "thousand" and the last two digits of the year. For example, "two thousand twenty-three".

It is important to note that there is some controversy over how to write the year. While some sources say that "two thousand and twelve" is correct, others argue that "two thousand twelve" looks cleaner and is less wordy. Ultimately, both are acceptable, and it is a matter of personal preference.

The time of day should also be written out in full. For example, "four o'clock" or "half past four o'clock". The time of day is then followed by "in the morning", "noon", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". For example, "seven o'clock in the evening".

It is important to note that the use of "o'clock" is optional and that the time of day should be included to indicate whether it is morning, afternoon, or evening.

Write out the year

When it comes to writing out the year on wedding invitations, there are a few different ways to format it, depending on how traditional or modern you want to be. Here are some tips and examples to help you decide:

• Traditional Format: In traditional wedding invitation wording, the date and time are usually spelled out in full. This means writing out the year in numbers, such as "two thousand sixteen" or "two thousand and sixteen". The year is optional, as it is often assumed that the wedding will take place on the nearest date with those numbers. There is no "and" in the year, so avoid writing "two thousand and sixteen". Nothing in the year needs to be capitalised.
• Modern Format: On the other hand, modern invites often use numerical figures for the date and time. If you choose to do this, select a legible font to prevent any confusion (e.g., a "2" that looks like a "5"). An example of a modern invitation with the year included is: "Jack Smith & Mason Kim Would love to eat wedding cake with you on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."
• Other Considerations: It's worth noting that the British tend to use the "and" in the year, while North Americans tend to omit it. Additionally, while it may be acceptable to write "twenty twelve" for the year, it is not considered the formal way of spelling it and may not look as elegant on a formal invitation.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, and you can choose the format that best suits your wedding style and theme. Just remember to be consistent with the format you choose throughout the invitation.

Frequently asked questions