Wording Times 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 time of the wedding is one such piece of information that should be communicated clearly to the invitees.

Traditionally, the time of the wedding is written out in full, with the time of day specified (e.g. half after four o'clock in the afternoon). However, modern invites often use numerical figures, and it is acceptable to use 4:00 pm or 4:30 pm in informal invitations.

It is also important to specify whether the wedding will be held in the morning, afternoon, or evening, as this will help guests understand the formality of the event and determine what kind of food will be served.

How to word the time of day

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there are many ways to indicate the time of day. Here are some examples to consider:

Traditional Wording

The traditional way to indicate the time of day on a wedding invitation is to spell out the time in full, such as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". If you want to be more specific, you can add "in the afternoon" or "in the evening". For example:

• "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon"
• "Four o'clock in the afternoon"
• "Half after four o'clock"

Modern Wording

If you prefer a more modern approach, you can use numerical figures for the time. This is often done on modern invitations. For example:

• "Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon"
• "4:30 p.m."

Creative Wording

You can also get creative with your wording to match the theme or style of your wedding. For example:

• "Just like the page out of a romance novel, a love story comes true. Please join us in celebrating the next chapter of this love story as... Corinne L. (names will show in full on the real thing) unite in marriage on Friday, the sixteenth of September, at Five o'clock in the evening"
• "Two lives, two hearts joined together in friendship, united forever in love. It is with joy that we, in a celebration of love, as we exchange our marriage vows Saturday, the seventh of June, two thousand fourteen, four o'clock in the afternoon"

Remember to choose a wording style that matches the formality of your wedding and be consistent throughout the invitation.

How to word the time of day for a formal wedding

When wording the time of day for a formal wedding, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, for a formal wedding invitation, the time should be written out in full, with no numerals. So, if your wedding begins at 3:30 p.m., you would write "half after three o'clock" or "half past three o'clock". The time should be written in all lowercase letters, and you should avoid using "o'clock" if the time is not on the hour.

Another thing to consider is whether to include "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". These are not necessary unless the wedding is scheduled for 8, 9, or 10 o'clock, where there could be confusion over whether it is morning or evening. As a general rule, any time after 5 p.m. is considered evening, and between noon and 4:30 p.m. is the afternoon. If your wedding is at 12 p.m., simply write "noon".

For a formal wedding, you may also want to specify the placement of hands on the clock for the time. For example, 12:00 p.m. would be written as "noon", and 6:00 p.m. would be "six o'clock in the evening".

• "at half after three o'clock"
• "at half past three o'clock in the afternoon"
• "at six o'clock in the evening"
• "at noon"
• "at four-thirty in the afternoon"

How to word the time of day for a casual wedding

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the goal is to provide guests with enough information about when and where the big day will take place so that they can show up on time. The wording you choose can also indicate the level of formality of your wedding. Here are some tips on how to word the time of day for a casual wedding:

Spell Out the Time or Use Numerals

For a casual wedding, you can choose to spell out the time of day or use numerals. For example, if your wedding is at 4:30 pm, you can write it as "four-thirty in the afternoon" or "4:30 pm". Using numerals is more informal, so this is a good option for a casual wedding. However, if you choose to spell out the time, be sure to use "four-thirty" instead of "four thirty" to avoid any confusion.

Specify the Time of Day

Depending on the time of your wedding, be sure to specify whether it is in the morning, afternoon, or evening. For example, if your wedding is at 11:00 am, you would specify "in the morning". If it is at 4:30 pm, you would specify "in the afternoon". This helps to ensure there is no confusion about when your guests need to arrive.

Be Consistent with the Date Formatting

It is important to be consistent with the formatting of the date and time on your wedding invitations. For example, if you write the date as "Saturday, June 21st, 2025", you can write the time as "4:30 pm". This creates a cohesive look for your invitations and makes it easy for your guests to find the information they need.

Include an Earlier Start Time

To avoid guests arriving late, you may want to consider printing an earlier start time on your invitations. For example, if your ceremony starts at 5:00 pm, you could print 4:45 pm on the invitations. However, it is recommended not to pad the time by more than 15 minutes to avoid having your on-time guests get bored waiting for the ceremony to start.

Work with a Stationer

While these guidelines can help you with the wording of your casual wedding invitations, working with a stationer can be very helpful. They can assist you in figuring out the best wording and layout for your invitations to ensure that all the necessary information is included and that it fits well with your invitation design.

How to word the time of day for a modern wedding

Modern wedding invitations can be creative and playful, but there are a few key elements to include. Here is a guide to help you word the time of day for a modern wedding invitation:

The Time

The time of day should be written out in full, using "o'clock" or "half after". For example, "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". You can also include "in the afternoon" or "in the evening" for clarity.

Date and Time

The date and time section of your invitation should include the date, start time, and location of the ceremony. It is important to be clear so that your guests arrive at the right place and time.

For a modern invitation, you may choose to use numerals for the time, but be sure to use a legible font to avoid confusion. For example, a "2" that looks like a "5" could cause issues.

Creative Wording

Feel free to get creative with your wording, especially if your wedding has a theme. You could say something like:

> "Join us as we tie the knot at half past four in the afternoon"

> "Eat, drink, and be merry with us at four o'clock"

> "Let the festivities begin at half after four o'clock"

Formality

If you are having a formal wedding, you may want to use more traditional wording and spelling. For example, "half after four o'clock in the afternoon" is more formal than "four-thirty in the afternoon".

Other Details

If there are other important details, such as a dress code or RSVP information, these can be included on a separate details card or your wedding website.

Remember, your wedding invitations should represent you and your partner and set the tone for your big day. So, feel free to add your own personal touches while ensuring your guests have all the information they need.

How to word the time of day for a creative wedding

When it comes to creative wedding invitations, you have more freedom to break with tradition and add a personal touch. Here are some ideas for wording the time of day on your creative wedding invitations:

Traditional Time Wording

Even if you're going for a creative invitation, you may still want to stick to traditional wording for the time. For a formal invitation, this means writing out the time in full, using "o'clock" or "half after" for times on the hour or half-hour, respectively. For example:

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

Informal Time Wording

If your wedding is more casual, you can be more relaxed in your wording. You could use numerals and am/pm, or a combination of words and numbers:

• "4:00 pm"
• "half-past four in the afternoon"

Creative and Whimsical Wording

If you want to inject some personality into your invitations, you could get creative with the wording while still ensuring clarity. For example:

• "Good food, good drinks, good friends—join us at 4:30 pm"
• "Let the merriment commence at half-past five in the evening"
• "The party starts at 6:00 pm sharp!"

Matching the Invitation Design

You may also want to consider the design of your invitation when wording the time. For instance, if you're using a clock motif, you could write something like:

• "Join us as the clock strikes five"
• "When the clock chimes six, let the celebrations begin!"

Adding a Quirky Request

If you're having a themed wedding or simply want to add a quirky touch, you can incorporate this into the time wording:

• "Join us for a magical evening at twilight (6:00 pm)"
• "Let the fairy tale begin at the stroke of midnight (12:00 am)"

Remember, the most important thing is to provide clear information to your guests while also reflecting your style and tone as a couple.

Frequently asked questions