Writing Out Dates On Wedding Invitations: The Correct Way

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many ways to indicate the time. The style you choose depends on the formality of your wedding. For a formal wedding, it is customary to write out the time in full, without numerals. For example, half after four o'clock or half past four o'clock in the afternoon. However, for a less formal wedding, it is also acceptable to use more abbreviated forms, such as 4:30 pm or four-thirty in the afternoon. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and you should select the style that best suits the tone and format of your invitation.

Formal invitations: write out the time in full

When writing out the time in full for a formal wedding invitation, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, the time of day should be spelled out using "o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". Formal wedding invitations traditionally use the phrase "half after" instead of "half past". The use of a.m. or p.m. is optional, but if your wedding is at 12 p.m., simply write "noon".

You do not need to write "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening" unless your wedding is scheduled for 8, 9 or 10 a.m./p.m., where there could be confusion over whether it's morning or evening. Any time after 5 p.m. is considered the evening, and between noon and 4:30 p.m. is the afternoon.

• Half after four o'clock (traditional)
• Half past four o'clock (also acceptable)
• Four-thirty in the afternoon (also acceptable)

The day and month should be spelled out in full with capital letters, and the year should be in numbers. For example, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon."

Informal invitations: use numerals for the time

When it comes to writing the time on wedding invitations, the style you choose should match the tone and formality of your wedding. If you're having a casual wedding, you can afford to be more relaxed and informal in your language.

For an informal wedding invitation, it's best to use numerals for the time. For example, if your wedding is at 4:30 pm, you could write this as "4:30 pm" or "4:30 p.m. in the afternoon". You could also write it as "four-thirty in the afternoon".

Using "half after" or "half past" is generally considered more formal, and you should avoid this phrasing for informal invitations. However, if your wedding is at 4 pm, you could write this as "4 pm" or "4 o'clock".

Remember, the key is to be consistent and to match the level of formality of the time with that of the date and the overall tone of your invitation.

Half after is more formal than half past

When writing the time on a wedding invitation, there are several different ways to convey the time, depending on the level of formality you wish to convey.

For a formal wedding invitation, it is more common to write out the time in full, using a traditional phrase such as "half after four o'clock" or "half after four in the afternoon". The phrase "half after" is considered more formal than "half past" or "four-thirty", which are more suitable for less formal invitations.

The level of formality of the invitation should match the style of the wedding. For example, a black-tie wedding would typically have a more formal invitation, whereas a casual wedding could have a more relaxed and informal style.

It is also worth noting that the time of day phrases "in the afternoon" and "in the evening" are not usually necessary. However, they can be included for clarity if desired, especially for times when there could be confusion, such as 8, 9 or 10 o'clock.

• "at half after four o'clock"
• "at half after four in the afternoon"
• "half after four"

For a more informal wedding invitation, you could simply write the time as "4:30 pm".

In the afternoon is optional

When writing the time of day on a wedding invitation, it is not necessary to include "in the afternoon" unless the wedding is scheduled for 8, 9, or 10 o'clock, where there could be confusion over whether it is morning or evening. Noon can simply be written as "noon", and any time after 5 pm is considered evening.

If you are writing the date and time more formally, you might write "4:30 in the afternoon" or "half after four o'clock in the afternoon. However, if you are hosting a more casual event, you can simply write "4:30 pm" or "4.30 pm".

The level of formality in your wedding invitation should match the level of formality of the event. For example, if you are hosting a formal wedding, you might use more traditional language in your invitations. On the other hand, if you are hosting a casual wedding, you can be more relaxed and informal in your language.

• Half after four o'clock in the afternoon
• Half past four o'clock
• Four-thirty in the afternoon
• 4:30 pm
• 4.30 pm

Be consistent with date and time formatting

When writing the time on a wedding invitation, consistency is key. The formatting of the time should match the tone and style of your invitation, as well as the level of formality of your wedding.

For a formal wedding, traditional language is typically used. In this case, the time is written out in full, with no numerals. For example, if your wedding begins at 4:30 p.m., you would write this as "half after four o'clock" or "half past four o'clock". The time should be written in lowercase, and you can specify "in the afternoon" if desired, especially if your wedding is taking place between noon and 4:30 p.m.

However, if your wedding is more casual, you have more flexibility with the wording. You can write out the time in a more informal manner, such as "4pm" or "5:30pm". Alternatively, you can use a combination of numerals and words, such as "four-thirty in the afternoon".

It's important to maintain consistency between the formatting of the date and the time. For example, if you've chosen to write out the date in full, using numerals for the time may look out of place.

Remember, the invitation is a guide for your guests, giving them an idea of the formality of your wedding. So, choose a style that suits the tone of your special day, and ensure you apply it consistently throughout your invitation.

Frequently asked questions