Wording Dates On Wedding Invites: A Simple Guide For Couples

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They set the tone for the wedding and convey critical information. The date and time of the wedding is one such piece of critical information.

The traditional way to write the date on your wedding invitations is to spell it out completely, rather than use numerals. For example, if your wedding will take place on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, you would write: Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four.

However, if you're hosting a more casual wedding, you can write out your wedding date more informally. For example, if your wedding will take place on Sunday, May 17th, 2025, you could say: Saturday, May 17th, 2025.

As with the date, there are several different ways to write the time of day on your invitations. For more traditional wedding invitations, you would write out the time fully, with no numerals. So if your wedding begins at 3:30 p.m., you would write: at half after three o'clock.

Spell out the date for formal invitations

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many ways to word the date, depending on the style and tone you wish to convey. Here are some guidelines to help you spell out the date for formal invitations:

Spell Out the Date

For formal wedding invitations, it is customary to spell out the date rather than using numerical figures. This adds a touch of elegance and ensures clarity for your guests. Here is an example:

> Friday, the twenty-ninth of April

Format for Formal Invitations

When spelling out the date, start with the day of the week, followed by a comma. Then, specify the day of the month and add "of" before the month. Here's how it looks:

> Friday, the twenty-ninth of April

Including the Year

If you wish to include the year, spell it out rather than using numerals. For example:

> Friday, the twenty-ninth of April, two thousand and eighteen

Capitalization

As for capitalization, it is standard to use upper-case letters for the proper names of days and months, while keeping numbers in lower case. This helps to visually distinguish the different elements of the date.

Punctuation

In terms of punctuation, a formal invitation typically includes a comma between the day of the week and the date of the month. For example:

> Friday, the twenty-ninth of April

However, feel free to include periods if that suits your style better. Ultimately, the invitation text should flow like poetry with minimal punctuation.

Flexibility

While these guidelines provide a traditional framework, feel free to adapt them to fit your unique style. For instance, you could use an all-caps font or write out the date and time information in lowercase letters to create a modern or whimsical look.

Remember, the most important aspect is to communicate the date clearly and simply, ensuring your guests have all the information they need to share in your special day.

Use numerals for casual invites

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the level of formality of your event will dictate the style. Casual invites are an opportunity to be more relaxed and informal.

Numerals for Dates

It is acceptable to use numerals when writing the date on a casual wedding invitation. For example, if your wedding is on the 15th of August 2026, you could write this as "Saturday, 8/15/2026". Alternatively, you could write out the month and use numerals for the day and year: "Saturday, August 15th, 2026".

Numerals for Times

You can also use numerals for the time of day on a casual invite. So, 4:30 pm can be written as "4:30 pm" or "4.30 pm". However, do be careful to avoid potential confusion. For example, a "2" that is mistaken for a "5" could cause your guests to arrive an hour late!

Dates and Times Together

When writing out the date and time together, be sure to use a format that is easy to read and understand. For example, "Saturday, 8/15/2026, 4:30 pm".

Spelling Out Dates and Times

If you wish, you can also spell out the date and time on a casual invite. For example, "Saturday, August fifteenth, two thousand and twenty-six, at half past four in the afternoon". However, this is more typical of formal invites.

Other Tips

• Be concise: Avoid overloading your invites with text, as this can result in guests missing important information.
• Include an insert card: Certain pieces of information don't belong on the invite itself, such as registry details. Instead, provide guests with a link to your wedding website on a separate insert card.
• Proofread: Check your invites carefully for any spelling or grammatical errors. Ask friends and family to check, too.
• Capitalisation: Use upper-case letters for the proper names of days and months, but lower-case letters for numbers.

Include the day of the week

When wording your wedding invitations, it's important to include the day of the week. This is especially important for formal invitations, where the date and time are usually written out in full.

Formal Invitation Wording Examples

Hosted by one set of parents:

> Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Lively request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Blake Ellender to Ryan Rodney on Saturday, the ninth of September two thousand twelve at noon.

> Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Dinner and merriment to follow.

Hosted by both sets of parents:

> Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Adams and Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Victoria Caroline and David Robert Joseph on Saturday, the fourth of July nineteen ninety-nine at half past seven in the evening.

> Luttrellstown Castle, Clonsilla, Ireland. Reception to follow.

Hosted by the couple:

> Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage on Saturday, the twenty-seventh of September two thousand fourteen at noon.

> Aman Canal Grande Hotel in Venice, Italy. Festivities to follow.

Hosted by divorced parents:

> Ms. Pamela Jacobsen and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen invite you to share in their wedding festivities at the marriage of their daughter Jordan to Paige on Saturday, the tenth of April two thousand and twenty-one at half past six in the evening.

> Hotel Chantelle, New York City, NY. Dress as you wish, dine as you like, dance as you please.

Hosted by parent, including a deceased parent:

> Mrs. and Mr. Michael Francis Middleton request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter Catherine Elizabeth Middleton to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, on Friday, the twenty-ninth of April two thousand and eleven at eleven o'clock in the morning.

> Westminster Abbey, London, England. Reception to follow.

Informal Invitation Wording Examples

Hosted by one set of parents:

> Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Simon Peter Blunt invite you to the marriage of Emily Olivia Leah and John Burke on Saturday, July 10, 2010, at half past six in the evening.

> Via Regina Teodolinda, 35 Como, Italy. Food, wine, and merriment to follow.

Hosted by both sets of parents:

> With great pleasure, Kimberly and Jonathan Biel and Lynn Bomar Harless and Randall Timberlake invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children Jessica and Justin on Saturday, October 19, 2012, at four o'clock in the afternoon.

> Borgo Egnazia Resort, 72015 Savelletri di Fasano BR, Italy. Dress as you wish, dine as you like, dance as you please.

Hosted by the couple:

> Miss Beyonce Knowles and Shawn "Jay Z" Carter are getting married on Friday, April 4th, 2018, at four o'clock in the afternoon.

> Join us for dinner and drinks.

Hosted by divorced parents:

> Ms. Pamela Jacobsen and Mr. Fred Jacobsen invite you to share in their wedding festivities at the marriage of their daughter Jordan to Paige on Saturday, the tenth of April two thousand and twenty-one, at half past six in the evening.

> Hotel Chantelle, New York City, NY. Dress as you wish, dine as you like, dance as you please.

Hosted by same-sex parents:

> Ms. Jane and Ms. Courtney Lowe invite you to attend the marriage of their daughter Madison to Colton on Saturday, April 10th, 2021, at half past six in the evening.

> Allan House, 1104 San Antonio Street, New York City, NY. Party to follow.

Write the time of day in full

When writing the time of day on a wedding invitation, it is important to consider the formality of the event. For a formal wedding, the time should be written in full, with no numerals. For example, if the wedding begins at 3:30 p.m., you would write "half after three o'clock" or "three-thirty o'clock".

• Use "half after" instead of "half past".
• Use "o'clock" when writing the time, but it is okay to drop it for half hours.
• Use specific time frames like "morning" for times before 12 noon, "afternoon" for times from 12 noon to 5 p.m., and "evening" for times after 5 p.m. Some people consider 6 p.m. the start of the evening.
• Do not write "twelve o'clock", instead, refer to 12:00 pm as "noon".
• Do not use "a.m." or "p.m." when indicating the time of day.
• Time should be written in lowercase letters.
• Be consistent with the time formatting on any enclosures in your wedding invitation suite, such as the response card.

Remember, these guidelines are suggestions for a traditional and formal wedding invitation. If you are having a more casual wedding, you can be more flexible with the wording and format.

Include the address

The location of the ceremony is an essential part of any wedding invitation. Here are some tips on how to include the address:

The Address Itself

The venue's street address is usually only included for out-of-town guests or if the venue is a private residence. If the wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well. Zip codes are generally not included.

Formatting

The location should be written as follows: "Venue Name" on one line, "City, State" on the following line. For formal weddings, the state name is usually spelled out in full.

Reception Details

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply say "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different location, include the full address on a separate card for formal invitations. If going for a less formal approach, include it on the invitation after the ceremony location.

When to Include the Address

If the wedding is taking place at the host's home, the address should be included. Otherwise, the street address of a venue is not usually needed unless omitting it would lead to confusion.

Multiple Venues

If there are additional events at different venues, such as an after-party, it's necessary to include more than one address on the wedding stationery. If the event is on the same day as the ceremony and there's space, add the details beneath the reception information. If the event is the following day or part of a wedding weekend, include a separate details card outlining the timeline.

Adults-Only Weddings

To convey that your wedding is adults-only, address your invitations carefully. If using formal invitations with an outer and inner envelope, only list the names of the invited adult guests on both envelopes. If using outer envelopes only, again, only list the names of the invited adults. You can also write the names of each invited guest on the response card.

Frequently asked questions