Afternoon Delight: Planning A 4:30 Pm Wedding Ceremony

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. The format you choose depends on the formality of your wedding. For a formal wedding invitation, you should write out the time in full, with no numerals, for example, at half after three o'clock. If your wedding is at 4:30 pm, you could write at half past four o'clock in the afternoon or at half past four o'clock in the evening. For a more casual wedding, it is also acceptable to write the time numerically as 4:30 pm.

Spell out the time

When it comes to wedding invitations, spelling out the time is often considered more formal and traditional. Here are some guidelines to help you spell out a 4:30 pm wedding time elegantly and clearly:

It is considered more formal and traditional to spell out the time on wedding invitations rather than using numerals. For a 4:30 pm wedding, you could write it as "half after four o'clock" or "four-thirty in the afternoon". The phrase "half after" is preferred over "half past" or "four-thirty". Including "in the afternoon" or "in the evening" can provide clarity, especially if your wedding is at a time when it could be either. For example, "half past four o'clock in the afternoon" or "half past four o'clock in the evening".

Consistency and Formality

It is essential to maintain consistency in the level of formality between how you write the date and the time. If you choose to write out the date in full, it is best to spell out the time as well. For example, "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four, at half after four o'clock" has a consistent level of formality.

Abbreviations and Capitalisation

In formal invitations, avoid abbreviating the time as "4:30 p.m." or "4.30 p.m.". The time should always be written in lowercase, and "o'clock" should only be used for times on the hour, such as "four o'clock".

Additional Tips

• If your wedding is at 4:00 pm, it is recommended to write "four o'clock" instead of "fourteen hundred hours", which may be confusing for guests.
• For a less formal wedding, you can be more flexible and use numerals for the time, such as "4:30 pm".
• If your wedding ceremony and reception are at the same location and one after the other, a phrase like "reception immediately following" is sufficient, and including a specific time for the reception is unnecessary.

Remember, the goal is to provide your guests with clear and consistent information about your wedding while maintaining the desired level of formality and tradition.

Write the time of day

When writing the time of day on your wedding invitations, it's important to consider the formality of your event. Here are some guidelines to help you write the time elegantly and accurately:

Formal Wedding Invitations

For a formal wedding invitation, it is customary to write out the time in full, using words instead of numerals. So, for a wedding taking place at 4:30 pm, you could write:

> "at half past four o'clock" or "at half after four o'clock"

The use of "half after" is preferred over "half past" or "four-thirty" for formal invitations. You can also specify the time of day, such as:

> "at half past four o'clock in the afternoon" or "at half past four o'clock in the evening"

Note that "in the afternoon" is typically used for times between 12:00 pm and 4:30 pm, while "in the evening" is used for times after 5:00 pm. If your wedding is at 4:30 pm, you have the flexibility to choose afternoon or evening, depending on the vibe of your event.

Informal Wedding Invitations

If your wedding is more casual, you have the option to be less formal in your wording. You can use numerals and write the time as "4:30 pm". This approach may be especially suitable if you're aiming for a modern or graphic design style for your invitations.

General Tips

• Consistency is key. Ensure that the formatting of the time matches the formatting of the date on your invitation.
• Avoid redundancy. If your reception follows immediately after the ceremony, simply write "reception immediately following" instead of specifying the reception time.
• Avoid abbreviations. Spell out the time of day in full (e.g., "in the afternoon" instead of "p.m.").
• Avoid capitalization. The time of day should always be written in lowercase letters.

Include the date

When writing the date and time of your wedding, it's important to consider the formality of your event. Formal invitations for black-tie weddings tend to use more traditional language, while casual invites can be more relaxed and informal. Here are some tips and suggestions for including the date on your wedding invitations:

Spell Out the Date

For a formal wedding invitation, it is customary to spell out the date completely rather than using 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". Here are some specific guidelines to follow:

• Capitalize the day of the week (unless your invitation font is all uppercase or lowercase) and separate it from the date with a comma: "Saturday, October 26th, 2024".
• Use a hyphen between the tens and the ones place for dates from the 21st to the 31st: "the twenty-sixth".
• Capitalize and write out the full month without abbreviations: "October".
• Place the year on a separate line from the day and month, and omit the comma between the month and year: "two thousand twenty-four".
• If your wedding is more casual, you can write the date more informally, such as "Saturday, May 17th, 2025".

Consistency in Formatting

Maintain consistency in date formatting across your invitation suite, including any enclosures or response cards. For example, if you use the traditional wording for the wedding invitation, carry that over to the RSVP card: "Kindly respond by the seventeenth of April". Alternatively, you can be more informal: "Please reply by April 17th".

Including the Day of the Week and Year

Including the day of the week and the year is recommended but not mandatory. If you choose to omit them, your invitation might read: "the twenty-sixth of October".

Formal vs. Casual Wording

While formal invitations call for traditional and spelled-out dates, casual weddings allow for more flexibility. You can use numerals for a modern or informal ceremony: "Saturday, 8/15/2026".

Formal invitation wording

When it comes to formal wedding invitation wording, tradition and etiquette play a significant role. Here are some guidelines to help you craft elegant and instructive paragraphs for your wedding invitations:

Host Information:

The host's full name(s) are typically included in a formal invitation, along with their middle names and titles such as Mr. and Mrs. If the hosts are the parents of the bride or groom, you can write:

> Mr. and Mrs. Parents invite you to join in the celebration of their son/daughter [Partner 1's name] and [Partner 2's name]...

Date and Time:

For a 4:30 pm wedding, you have a few options to indicate the time elegantly:

• "at half past four o'clock in the afternoon"
• "at half after four o'clock" (preferred over "half past" or "four-thirty")
• "at four o'clock in the evening"

The date should be spelled out rather than using numerals. For example, "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 and the date. The year is usually on a separate line and can be omitted if desired.

Location:

Provide the full address of the wedding location, including the city and state. You can omit the state if all guests are local. For example:

> First Methodist Church

> 260 East Market Street

> [City, State]

Reception Information:

If your wedding reception follows immediately in the same location, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." However, if the reception is at a different time or venue, include a separate reception card with the details.

RSVP Details:

"RSVP" is commonly used to request a response from your guests. It can be included on the lower left of the invitation or on a separate response card. Provide the address or email/phone number where you would like to receive the replies.

Additional Tips:

• Proofread your invitations carefully and consider having someone else review them as well.
• Avoid abbreviations and symbols, except for courtesy titles like Mr., Mrs., and Dr.
• Capitalize proper names and titles, but keep the rest of the text in lowercase.
• Ensure your invitation is easy to read and not overly crowded with information or designs.

Etiquette and advice

The wording of your wedding invitations is important as it gives your guests an idea of how formal or informal your wedding will be. If you are having a traditional, formal wedding, certain etiquette should be followed. However, if your wedding is more modern or casual, you can be more relaxed and creative with the wording.

When writing the time on your wedding invitations, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, avoid using abbreviations for the day and time. Write out the date formally, with the day first, followed by the month and the year. For example, "Saturday, the first of September two thousand twenty" is preferable to "Sat. 9/1/20".

When it comes to the time, you should also avoid using abbreviations on formal wedding invitations. Write out the time, starting with ""at,", followed by the number, and whether it is in the morning, afternoon, or evening. For instance, "at three o'clock in the afternoon" or "at half past four in the afternoon" are better options than "at 3 p.m." or "at 4:30 p.m.". Remember, the time of your wedding should always be written in lowercase.

If your wedding ceremony and reception are at the same location and following each other immediately, a simple "reception immediately following" is sufficient. However, if there is a significant time gap or a change of location, include a separate reception card with the details. Write out the time just as you did on the invitation, for example, "Cocktails, dinner, and dancing beginning at six o'clock in the evening".

It is considered good etiquette to write out the time for formal invitations rather than using numerals. Write the time as the placement of hands on a clock. For instance, refer to 12:00 pm as "noon" and avoid writing "twelve o'clock". Spell out the time of day rather than using a.m. or p.m., indicating whether it is ""in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". For a 4:30 pm wedding, you could write "at half past four o'clock in the afternoon" or "at half after four o'clock".

While it is important to follow general guidelines, don't be afraid to add your personal touch and make your invitations unique to you.

Frequently asked questions