Wording The Year On Your Wedding Invitation: A Guide

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many different ways to write out the date and time. The traditional way to write the date is to spell it out completely, rather than use numerals. For example, if your wedding is on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, you would write Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four. The day of the week should be capitalized, and there should be a comma between the day of the week and the date. The year is usually on a separate line from the day and month, with no comma between the two.

Spell out the year, don't use numerals

When writing the year on a wedding invitation, it is best to spell out the year rather than using numerals. This is because spelling out the year is the traditional approach and using numerals is considered more informal. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you spell out the year correctly:

• The traditional way to write the year is to use the format "two thousand [and] twenty-three" or "two thousand twenty-three", depending on your preference. The "and" is typically used in British-English, while its omission is more common in North American English.
• Capitalisation is not necessary for the year. For example, "two thousand twenty-three" is preferred over "Two Thousand Twenty-Three".
• Avoid using "and" in the year, especially in American English. So, instead of "two thousand and twenty-three", opt for "two thousand twenty-three".
• Be consistent with the format you choose throughout the invitation, including any enclosures or response cards.
• If you decide to include the day of the week and the month, they should be capitalised. For example, "Saturday, the Tenth of May, two thousand twenty-three".
• The year is usually written on a separate line from the day and month. There is no comma between the month and year, and no hyphen between "two thousand".
• While it is recommended to include the year, it is not mandatory. You may choose to omit it if you prefer a more concise invitation design.

No and in the year

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the goal is to provide guests with clear information about when and where the wedding will take place. While there is room for creativity, certain conventions are considered standard for formal invitations.

No "and" in the year

Traditionally, the year on a wedding invitation is written out in full, with no "and". For example, "two thousand twenty-four" or "two thousand and twenty-four" for the year 2024. The "and" is considered British English, while American English omits it. This is especially important for formal invitations, where correct grammar and spelling are essential.

Spelling out the year

Spelling out the year is part of the traditional format for wedding invitations, which also includes spelling out the date and time in full. For example, "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four" for October 26th, 2024. This format is recommended for formal weddings, while casual weddings can be more relaxed in their wording.

Formality and consistency

The level of formality of the wedding invitation should match that of the wedding itself. For a black-tie wedding, a traditional and formal invitation is appropriate. For a casual wedding, a more relaxed and informal style can be used. However, it is important to maintain consistency within the invitation. For example, if the date is written out in full, the time should be as well, rather than using numerals.

Capitalization and punctuation

In terms of capitalization, only the day of the week and the month are capitalized, while the day of the month and the year are not. For example, "Saturday, the Tenth of May two thousand sixteen". Punctuation is generally avoided, except for commas after the day of the week and between the day and month. There is no comma between the month and year.

Additional considerations

It is worth noting that the day of the week and the year are not strictly necessary, although they are recommended. The time of day should also be included, such as "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". The specific phrasing, such as "half after" instead of "half past", can vary but should be chosen carefully to ensure clarity and elegance.

Don't capitalise the year

When writing the year on a wedding invitation, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is recommended to write out the number of the year in full rather than using numerals, so "two thousand twenty-three" instead of "2023". This follows traditional etiquette for wedding invitations.

While it is customary to capitalise the day of the week and the month, the year should not be capitalised. For example, the correct format would be:

> Saturday, the thirtieth of March, two thousand and twenty-three

It is also important to note that there should be no "and" in the year, so it should be written as "two thousand twenty-three" instead of "two thousand and twenty-three". This is the standard format for American English, whereas British English does include the "and".

If you are hosting a more casual wedding, you may choose to write the date more informally, including using numerals for the year. For example:

> Saturday, May 17th, 2025

However, it is important to maintain consistency in the formatting of the date and time on your invitation.

Hyphenate the year for 2010-2019

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many different ways to format the date and time. The traditional way to write the date is to spell it out completely, rather than using numerals. For example, if your wedding is taking place on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, you would write:

> Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand twenty-four.

The day of the week should be capitalized, and there should be a comma between the day of the week and the date. If your wedding takes place between the 21st and 31st of the month, there should be a hyphen between the tens and the ones place in the date. The month is capitalized and written out in full, without any abbreviations.

The year is usually written on a separate line from the day of the week and the month, and there is no hyphen between "two thousand". However, there is a hyphen between the tens and ones digits in the year, so "two thousand and ten" becomes "two thousand-ten". This rule applies to all years in the 2010s decade.

It is worth noting that the use of "and" in the year is considered British English. While it is acceptable to write "two thousand and twelve" in British English, the American English equivalent would be "two thousand twelve".

Write the year in the format two thousand [and] twenty-three

When writing the year on a wedding invitation, it is important to be clear and consistent with your formatting. The traditional way to write the year is to spell it out in full, rather than using numerals. For example, for a wedding in 2023, you would write "two thousand twenty-three".

There is some variation in how the year is written, and it is worth noting that there is no definitive right or wrong way. The British tend to use the "and" in the year, so "two thousand and twenty-three", whereas in North America, the "and" is usually omitted. Both are correct, but the "and" is not considered proper for formal invitations in the US.

The year is usually written on a separate line from the day and month, and there is no comma between the month and the year. There is no hyphen between "two thousand", but there is a hyphen between the tens and ones digits in the year, so "two thousand twenty-three".

It is also worth noting that the year is not capitalised. The day of the week and the month are capitalised, but the year is written in lowercase.

> Saturday, the twenty-eighth of May, two thousand twenty-three

This format ensures clarity and follows traditional wedding invitation etiquette.

Frequently asked questions