The Perfect Way To Display The Year On Wedding Invitations

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the goal is to provide guests with enough information so that they know when and where the wedding will take place. While there are different ways to spell out the date and time, wedding invitation etiquette and tradition play a role. For formal invitations, traditional language is used, while casual invites can be more relaxed and informal. Here's how to put the year on your wedding invitations.

Spell out the year in full, e.g. two thousand twenty-three

When it comes to wedding invitations, tradition dictates that all words are spelled out in full, including the year. This means that the year 2023 would be written as "two thousand twenty-three".

> Saturday, the twenty-ninth of December, two thousand twelve, at seven o'clock in the evening

Note that the day of the week and the month are capitalised, but the day of the month and the year are not. Also, there is no "and" in the year, so it is "two thousand twenty-three" and not "two thousand and twenty-three".

While this is the traditional way to write the date, you can also break with tradition and write the year in numerals, especially if your wedding is more casual or modern. For example:

> Saturday, 29.12.2023, 7:00 pm

However, if you want to stick with tradition, it is important to get these details right!

Write the year on a separate line from the day and month

When writing a wedding invitation, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that the date and time are clear and easy for your guests to understand. Here are some tips and guidelines for writing the year on a separate line from the day and month:

Capitalization and Punctuation:

Start by capitalizing the day of the week and the month. For example, "Saturday, the tenth of May". The day of the week should be capitalized (unless your wedding invitation's font is all uppercase or lowercase), and there should be a comma after the day of the week. The year, on the other hand, should not be capitalized. For example, "two thousand sixteen" instead of "Two Thousand Sixteen". Additionally, there should be no "and" in the year. It should be written as "two thousand sixteen" rather than "two thousand and sixteen".

Formatting the Date:

When writing out the date, it is traditional to spell out the numbers instead of using numerals. For example, write "five" instead of "5". The day of the week, the date, the month, and the year should all be spelled out. So, if your wedding is on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, you would write: "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand twenty-four". The year is usually on a separate line from the day and month. However, if your invitation style requires a different format, you can adjust accordingly.

Compound Dates:

When writing compound dates (dates that include both the day and the year), use a hyphen. For example, write "twenty-ninth of June" for the date and "two thousand twenty-three" for the year. This format adds a nice touch of elegance to your invitation.

Flexibility and Creativity:

While it is important to provide clear and accurate information, don't be afraid to add your own creative flair. You can break tradition and choose to write your wedding date in a unique way. Play around with different fonts, such as all capital letters or lowercase letters, to see what suits your invitation design best. Remember, the most important thing is to communicate the details of your special day clearly and beautifully.

Omit the word and in the year, e.g. two thousand twenty-three not two thousand and twenty-three

When writing the year on a wedding invitation, it is best to omit the word "and". For example, write "two thousand twenty-three" instead of "two thousand and twenty-three". This rule applies whether you are writing the year in full or using numerals.

The traditional way to write the date on a wedding invitation is to spell out the date completely, rather than using numerals. For example, for a wedding taking place on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, you would write: "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four".

If you are hosting a more casual wedding, you can write the date more informally. For example, for a wedding taking place on Sunday, May 17th, 2025, you could write: "Saturday, May 17th, 2025".

The year is usually written on a separate line from the day of the week and the month. Your invitation style may, however, require a different format. There should be no comma between the month and the year, and no hyphen between "two thousand".

Capitalise the t in Two when spelling out the year, e.g. Two thousand and twenty-three

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the goal is to provide your guests with all the information they need to know when and where your wedding will take place. This includes the date, time, and year, which should be clearly printed on the invitation.

The traditional way to write the year on a wedding invitation is to spell it out in full, for example, "two thousand and twenty-three". When doing so, it is customary to capitalise the "t" in "Two". This is because the year is treated as a proper noun, naming a unique year. This format is also used in legal documents, where the year is often written in lowercase, but may also be capitalised for added pomp.

While there is no strict rule requiring the capitalisation of the "t" in "Two", it is a common convention that adds a polished look to your invitations. It is worth noting that some etiquette authorities, such as Emily Post, specifically prohibit this capitalisation, stating that only the names of weeks and months should be capitalised. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and you can choose to follow tradition or go with a more modern approach.

In addition to the year, there are other important elements to include on your wedding invitation. These include the request to come to the wedding, the names of the couple, and reception information. The invitation should also follow a clear format, with consistent capitalisation and punctuation, to ensure it looks elegant and easy to read.

The year is optional and can be omitted

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the goal is to provide guests with enough information so that they know when and where the wedding will take place. While there are certain conventions to follow, ultimately, you can choose to break with tradition and write your wedding invitations however you like.

The year is usually included on a separate line from the day of the week and the month. However, it is not essential to include the year, and it can be omitted if desired. If you are hosting a casual wedding, for example, you may prefer to leave it out.

If you are following a traditional format, the year should be written in full, with no numerals. For example, "two thousand twenty-four". It is also best to include "and" in the year, e.g. "two thousand and twenty-four". The "t" in "two" should be capitalised.

If you are writing the date in a more informal way, you can include the year in a more casual format, such as "Saturday, May 17th, 2025". Alternatively, you could use numerals as a design choice, such as "Saturday, 8/15/2026".

The date and time should match in formality—don't write out the date fully and then use numerals for the year, for example.

Frequently asked questions