Writing Eleven Forty-Five In Wedding Invitations: The Correct Format

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many ways to write out the time. For a formal wedding invitation, the time is usually written out in full, with no numerals. For example, if the wedding begins at 11:45 a.m., you could write eleven forty-five in the morning or a quarter to twelve in the morning. If your wedding is more casual, you can be more relaxed with the wording and use numerals, for instance, 11:45 a.m. or 11:45am.

Write out the time in full

When writing out the time in full for an event as special as a wedding, it's important to follow certain etiquette. The traditional way to write out an invitation is to avoid using numerals, so for the time of 11:45 am, you would write this out in full as "eleven forty-five in the morning".

It is worth noting that formal wedding invitations traditionally say \"half after\" instead of "half past". For example, if your wedding is at 11:30 am, you would write "half after eleven o'clock".

If you are writing a more casual invitation, you may choose to use numerals, so 11:45 am could be written as "11:45 am" or "11:45 in the morning".

There are other ways to write this time, but it is important to remain consistent. For example, you could write "a quarter to twelve o'clock in the morning" or "a quarter before noon".

It is also worth noting that you should not write "a.m." or "p.m." on a formal invitation. Instead, specify morning, afternoon or evening. Morning includes all hours between midnight and 11:59 am, afternoon is from noon to 4:30 pm, and evening starts at 5 pm and ends at 11:59 pm.

Include the time of day

When writing out the time of day on a wedding invitation, it is important to consider the formality of the event. For a formal wedding invitation, the time should be written out in full, with no numerals. For example, if the wedding begins at 11:45 a.m., you could write "eleven forty-five in the morning" or "a quarter to twelve in the morning".

If you prefer a more traditional approach, you could use phrases like "half after" or "half past" for times on the half-hour. So, for an 11:30 a.m. ceremony, you could write "half after eleven o'clock" or "half past eleven o'clock".

It is worth noting that formal wedding invitations traditionally say "half after" instead of "half past". Additionally, the time should be written in lowercase letters, and you should avoid using abbreviations like "a.m." or "p.m.".

If your wedding is more casual, you have more flexibility in how you write the time. You can use numerals and include "a.m." or "p.m." For an 11:45 a.m. start time, you could simply write "11:45 a.m." or "11:45am".

Remember that the time of day should be specified clearly to avoid any confusion, especially for times like 8:00 or 9:00, which could be morning or evening.

Be consistent with date formatting

When writing out the time on a wedding invitation, it's important to be consistent with the date formatting. This means using the same style for both the time and date, whether it's written in numerals or spelled out completely.

For a formal wedding invitation, it's customary to write out the time in full, using phrases like "half after" or "o'clock". For example, for a wedding taking place at 11:45 am, you could write "eleven forty-five in the morning" or "half after eleven o'clock in the morning".

On the other hand, if you're having a more casual wedding, you might opt for a more relaxed approach. In this case, you could use numerals and write the time as "11:45 am".

It's worth noting that if your wedding is taking place between noon and 4:30 pm, it's considered afternoon, and you should indicate this on your invitation.

• "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand and twenty-four, at half after three o'clock in the afternoon"
• "Sunday, May 17th, 2025, at four o'clock"

Remember, the key is to maintain consistency between the way you write the date and the time on your wedding invitations. This helps to ensure a cohesive and clear message for your guests.

Include reception start time

When including the reception start time on your wedding invitations, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, consider the formality of your wedding and invitation. More formal, traditional invitations for black-tie weddings typically use more conventional language, while casual invites can be more relaxed and informal.

If you're opting for a traditional approach, write out the time in full, with no numerals. For example, if your reception starts at 6:00 p.m., you would write "six o'clock in the evening". It's worth noting that formal wedding invitations traditionally say "half after" for times on the half-hour, rather than "half past". The time should be written in lowercase letters, and you don't need to specify "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening" unless the reception falls between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. or 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., where there could be confusion over whether it's morning, afternoon, or evening.

If you're having a more casual event, you can write the time in a more informal way, such as "6:00 p.m." or "6 p.m.". Just remember to match the style of the time with the style of the date—don't write out the date fully and then use numerals for the time.

If your reception is immediately following the ceremony in the same location, you can simply write "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow" on the bottom of the invitation. However, if the reception is at a different venue or is taking place several hours later, it's best to include a separate reception card with the full details. Here's an example:

"Please join us for a reception at six o'clock in the evening.

JW Marriott Houston Downtown

806 Main Street

Houston, Texas"

You can also include additional details about the reception on the reception card, such as when cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served, followed by dinner. For example:

"Please join us after the ceremony for dinner and dancing. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

The Foundry at Herban Feast

4136 First Avenue South

Seattle, Washington"

Add an earlier start time

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the goal is to provide your guests with enough information so that they know when and where your big day will take place. While wedding invitation etiquette does come into play, you do have options when it comes to the exact wording.

If you want to add an earlier start time to your wedding invitations, it is generally recommended to call the wedding for at least 30 minutes before you want the ceremony to begin. This will allow your guests to arrive and be seated before the actual ceremony starts. However, it is important not to pad the time by more than 15 minutes, as your on-time guests may get bored and think you are running late.

• "We request the honour of your presence at the marriage of..." followed by the date and time, such as "eleven forty-five in the morning."
• "Please join us for the wedding ceremony at eleven forty-five in the morning."
• "The ceremony will take place at eleven forty-five in the morning, followed by a reception at..."

It is also important to be intentional with what you plan to have guests do during the window of time before your ceremony starts. You don't want your guests sitting and waiting too long, so consider having something ready for them to do, such as signing the guest book or enjoying a photo area.

Frequently asked questions