The Proper Way To Use Commas In Wedding Invites

Wedding invitations are a chance to showcase your personality as a couple, but they also need to be clear and concise. The invitation should include the date, time, and location of the ceremony, as well as the wedding website address and any extra information about the venue. It's also important to include a host line, indicating who is issuing the invitation, and a request line, inviting the guest to the event. While the tone and style of the invitation are up to you, there are a few grammar and punctuation rules to follow. For example, do you need to put commas on wedding invitations?

Whether to use commas in dates

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's essential to provide clear and polite information to your guests. While grammar and punctuation may not be the most glamorous aspects of your wedding plans, they are important to get right. Here are some guidelines on whether to use commas in dates:

Using Commas in Dates:

The use of commas in dates depends on the date format and the context of the sentence. Here are some key points to consider:

American Date Format:

The American date format is written as month-date-year. In this format, a comma is typically placed after the date and before the year. For example:

June 15, 1991.

However, if you are only stating the month and year, no comma is needed:

June 1990.

If you include the day of the week in this format, place a comma after the day and before the date:

Saturday, June 15, 1991.

British Date Format:

The British date format follows the structure date-month-year. In this format, no commas are used between the date and the month. For example:

15 June 1991.

Similarly, when stating only the month and year, no comma is necessary:

June 1990.

If you include the day of the week, place a comma after the day but not between the date and month:

Saturday, 15 June 1991.

Dates at the Beginning or Middle of Sentences:

When a date falls at the beginning of a sentence, the same comma rules apply as above, with an additional comma after the year. For example, in the American format:

June 15, 1991, was a special day.

In the British format, no comma is needed between the date and month:

15 June 1991, was a memorable day.

When dates appear in the middle of sentences, the comma rules can vary depending on the context. In both American and British formats, if you are using a month-date-year format, a comma is placed after the year. For example:

Our anniversary is April 15, 2022, and we will celebrate it in style.

However, if you are using a day-month-year format, no comma is needed after the year:

Our anniversary falls on 15 April 2022, a date we'll always cherish.

Ordinal Numbers in Dates:

When using ordinal numbers in dates (such as "15th" instead of "15"), the comma rules remain the same as outlined above. However, if you use the phrase "the 15th of June," avoid using a comma regardless of the date format. For example:

The 15th of June 1991.

It is generally best to avoid ordinal numbers in formal writing.

Day-Month-Year Format:

In the day-month-year format, no comma is typically used to separate the day from the year. This format is common in countries like the United States. For example:

5 October 2023.

Providing Clear Information:

Remember, the most important aspect of your wedding invitations is ensuring your guests have all the information they need. While proper comma usage is important, don't get too caught up in the technicalities. Focus on providing clear and concise details about your special day.

Now that you've mastered the art of commas in dates, you can confidently apply this knowledge to your wedding invitations and ensure your guests have all the information they need. Happy planning!

Using 'and' or 'to' between names

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are a few different ways to address the names of the couple. The choice of wording depends on the type of wedding and the couple's religious affiliation.

Using "And" Between Names

The word "and" between the names of the couple is typically used to indicate a Jewish wedding. It is also used on invitations issued by the couple themselves and on wedding reception invitations.

Using "To" Between Names

The word "to" between the names of the couple is used to indicate a Christian wedding.

Other Considerations

When addressing the names of the couple, it is important to consider their preferred names and any relevant etiquette. If one or both individuals have a title (e.g., Doctor, Reverend), this should be spelled out fully. For unmarried couples living at the same address, both names are included on the same line, with the person you are closest to listed first. For married couples with the same last name, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. and Mrs. [Husband's Full Name]", while the inner envelope can use the couple's first names or the husband's first name and the wife's first name followed by her last name.

In general, wedding invitation wording should match the tone of the wedding ceremony. If the wedding is traditional or formal, full names and titles are typically used. However, if the wedding is casual or laid-back, it may be more appropriate to use nicknames or first names only. Ultimately, the choice of wording and punctuation (including commas) on wedding invitations is a matter of personal preference and should reflect the style and formality of the event.

Capitalisation rules

Capitalisation is an important aspect of wedding invitation wording. Here are the key rules to follow:

• Capitalise the first word of the invitation and all proper nouns.
• Do not capitalise the first word of each line, except when it would be the start of a new sentence. For example, if a line stands alone, such as the date or location, capitalise the first letter.
• Names of people and places should always be capitalised.
• When spelling out the year, capitalise the "t" in "Two": "Two thousand and twenty-one".
• When indicating the time of day, use phrases like "in the afternoon" or "in the evening" rather than just "PM" or "AM". Only capitalise the first letter if the phrase starts a new sentence or line.
• The "ou" in "honour" and "favour" is a matter of personal style preference. The British spellings of these words are considered more formal and dignified by some. Consistency is key; whichever style you choose, maintain it throughout the invitation.

Abbreviations and acronyms

It is acceptable to abbreviate titles such as "Mr.", "Mrs.", "Miss", "Ms.", and "Dr." on wedding invitations. The title "Doctor" should be spelled out in full, while "Esq." can be abbreviated. For unmarried women, "Miss" is used for those under 21, and "Ms." for those 21 or older. If you wish to be less formal, titles can be omitted altogether.

Names

Initials are not recommended; for instance, write "William" instead of "W". Middle names can be omitted if you do not know them.

Dates and Times

For formal invitations, it is customary to spell out dates and times in words rather than using numbers. For example, write "the first of December, two thousand eighteen" instead of "December 1, 2018". Similarly, indicate the time as "three o'clock in the afternoon" instead of "3 p.m.".

Addresses

All street names, addresses, and states should be written out in full. For instance, write "Pennsylvania" instead of "PA", and "Street" instead of "St.". Spell out directions such as "North", "South", "East", and "West". Street types like "Road", "Avenue", "Boulevard", and "Lane" should also be written out. However, zip codes and house numbers can be written in figures. Numbered streets can be written out or presented numerically (e.g., "Fourteenth Street" or "14th Street").

Punctuation and grammar

The wording of your wedding invitation should match the tone of your wedding ceremony. If your wedding is traditional, formal, religious, or secular, your invitation wording should reflect this.

Punctuation

• Generally, punctuation such as commas and periods are not included.
• Commas can be used to separate information in the middle of a line.
• An exclamation point is fine for less formal invitations if it suits your wedding style.
• If you are using a specific design, ampersands between the names of the couple are acceptable.
• Apostrophes should be used to indicate possession, not plural names. For example, "The Smiths invite you..." not "The Smith's invite you..."
• When writing out the time, use “o'clock” for the hour, “half after” or “quarter after” for times not on the hour, and “in the morning”, “noon”, “in the afternoon”, “in the evening”, or “midnight” to indicate the time of day.
• If you are including the year, write it as "two thousand twenty" without an "and" or any other punctuation.
• If you are writing out the date, use a comma to separate the day and the month (e.g. Saturday, the sixth of May).
• If you are writing out the date and time, use a comma to separate the day, month, and year from the time (e.g. Friday, the twenty-ninth of April, at four o'clock in the afternoon).
• If you are using numerals for the date and time, use numerals for the month and day as well (e.g. 4:00 p.m. on 4/29).
• If you are including an RSVP deadline, write it as "please reply by [date]" or "kindly respond by [date]".

Grammar

• All words should be spelled out, including the names of streets and states (e.g. "Road" instead of "Rd." and "South Carolina" instead of "SC").
• Abbreviate courtesy titles (Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.) but spell out all other words.
• Capitalize proper nouns and the beginnings of sentences.
• Capitalize the "t" in "two" when writing out dates (e.g. "two thousand eighteen" not "thee thousand eighteen").
• Only capitalize the first word in phrases like "black tie".
• Be consistent with date and time formats.
• If the bride and groom's parents are hosting, use "and" between their names, not "to". This also applies to Jewish weddings. If only one set of parents is hosting, use "to".
• If the bride shares her parents' last name, only use her first and middle names.
• If the groom's parents' names are mentioned, use his full name and a title (e.g. Mr. Robert Grant Thompson).
• Do not use capital letters at the beginning of each line, only at the beginning of sentences.
• Do not crowd the card with too much information or design.

Frequently asked questions