Writing Your Wedding: Dates, Details, And More

There are many ways to write dates in a wedding book, but the traditional way is to spell out the entire date, including the year, rather than using numerals. For example, if your wedding is on the 26th of October 2024, you would write Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand and twenty-four. The day of the week should be capitalised, and the month is also capitalised and written in full. The year is usually written on a separate line.

How to write dates for formal wedding invitations

When writing dates for formal wedding invitations, there are a few rules to follow to ensure correct etiquette.

Firstly, it is traditional to write out numbers in full, so "four" instead of "4", and "two thousand and twenty-four" instead of "2024". The day of the week and the month are always capitalised, but the day of the month and the year are not. For example, "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand twenty-four".

The year is usually on a separate line from the day and month, with no comma between the month and year. The time of day is also written out in full, with "o'clock" included, for example, "half after four o'clock in the afternoon".

It is also important to note the difference between morning, afternoon, and evening. Morning is up until noon, afternoon is from noon until 5 pm, and evening is any time after 5 pm. You can specify the time of day without using am or pm, for example, "eleven o'clock in the morning".

For a more casual wedding, you can be more relaxed with your language. For instance, you could write "Saturday, May 17th, 2025".

How to write dates for casual wedding invitations

When writing dates for casual wedding invitations, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, the date should be written clearly and simply to ensure your guests know when to arrive. The most traditional and formal style is to write the date of the month before the month, for example, "the fourth of May" instead of "May fourth". However, for a casual wedding invitation, you can be more flexible. You can write the date as "May 4th, 2014" or "Saturday, May 17th, 2025".

When it comes to the year, there are a few different options. One suggestion is to include the "and" in the year, such as "two thousand and fifteen". Alternatively, you can write the year without the "and", such as "two thousand fifteen". The choice between these options may depend on personal preference or regional conventions.

In terms of capitalisation, you can choose to capitalise the year or follow the traditional format of only capitalising proper nouns. If you want to avoid the capitalisation debate altogether, consider using a font with all capital letters, which can also look elegant and stylish.

Remember, for a casual wedding invitation, you have more flexibility to match the style and tone of your choice. Just ensure that the date is written clearly and consistently throughout your invitation suite, including any enclosures or response cards.

How to word your wedding save-the-dates

Save-the-dates are an important part of wedding planning, especially for destination weddings. They are the first element of your wedding that friends and family will interact with, so it's important to get them right. Here are some tips on how to word your save-the-dates:

Keep it Short and Simple

Save-the-date cards should be simple and to the point, answering the who, when, and where of your wedding. You can also include the link to your wedding website for guests who want more information. It's important to note that a formal invitation will follow, so that guests don't confuse your save-the-date for the official invite.

Send Them at the Right Time

For local weddings, send your save-the-dates about six months in advance. For a destination wedding, get them out 8-12 months in advance so that guests have plenty of time to plan for time off and book travel and accommodations.

Choose a Design that Reflects Your Wedding Style

Your save-the-dates set the tone for your wedding, as they are the first piece of wedding stationery your guests will receive. Using your wedding theme colours and general style is a good idea.

Proofread!

Before you send your save-the-dates, proofread them multiple times and get someone else to check, too. Make sure nothing is misspelled and that all the necessary information is included.

What to Include

• Your names (for traditional cards, it's customary to include your full names; for same-sex couples, consider alphabetical order)
• Wedding date
• Location of the wedding (city and state; you don't need to include the venue name or address until the formal invitation)
• Wedding website link
• Note that a formal invitation will follow

What Not to Include

• The name of the venue
• Specific ceremony and reception times
• Hotel/accommodations information
• Dress code information
• Registry information

Wording Examples

Formal:

Please save the date

To celebrate the marriage of

George Miller and Kelly Brown

Https://withjoy.com/GeorgeandKelly

Formal invitation will follow

Casual:

Save the date because…

Holly Smith and Connor Williams

Are getting married in San Francisco!

Https://withjoy.com/HollyandConnor

Formal invitation to follow

Destination Wedding:

Save the Date for Merriment on the Beach

Are getting hitched!

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

Get all the travel deets at https://withjoy.com/RobertandJames

Keep an eye out for the formal invite

How to address your wedding save-the-date envelopes

Save-the-date envelopes are typically sent out 6-12 months before your wedding, and they are very different from actual wedding invitations. They are more casual, so you don't need to worry about strict rules and etiquette. The main concern is being clear about who is invited and correctly spelling their names and addresses. Here are some tips on how to address your wedding save-the-date envelopes:

Be Consistent with Titles

There is no rule that says you need to use titles such as Mr., Ms., Mrs., or Miss when addressing your save-the-dates. The level of formality is up to you. If you choose to use titles, be consistent for all adult guests throughout your save-the-dates and wedding invitations.

Spell Out Guests' Full Names

Although save-the-dates are not formal invitations, it is customary to use full names. You don't need to include initials or middle names, but it is best to avoid nicknames or shortened versions of names. However, if your friend prefers to be called by their middle name, use that instead. The goal is to make your guests feel welcome.

State Who is Invited

It is essential to clarify who is invited on your save-the-dates. This saves people from wondering whether they have a plus one and ensures you won't have unexpected guests. If you are inviting a single person with a plus one, you can add "and Guest" to indicate that they are allowed to bring someone.

Include the Names of Invited Children

Be clear about whether children are invited, especially if you are inviting families with children. Parents need to know whether to find childcare or if their children are welcome. You can address save-the-dates to the whole family or list the names of each family member. If you list all the guest names, include the children's names on the line underneath the adults' names.

Write the Full Address

Use the full versions of street names, towns, and cities, but you can abbreviate the state. Make sure to include the correct zip code. For international guests, check their country's address format in advance.

Include a Return Address

Including a return address is not essential, but it helps prevent stray invitations from getting lost in the mail. You can add the return address to the back flap of the envelope or the upper left corner of the front.

How to write times for wedding invitations

When writing the time for wedding invitations, it's important to consider the formality of your wedding. While there are fewer rules for casual, modern weddings, formal weddings have more traditional guidelines.

For formal invitations, you should write out the time in full, with no numerals. For example, for a time of 3:30 p.m., you would write "half after three o'clock" or "three-thirty o'clock". If your wedding starts at 3:00 p.m. on the dot, you would write "three o'clock". The time should be written in lowercase, and you should include "o'clock" for times on the hour and half-hour.

You should also specify whether the wedding is taking place "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". Any time after 5:00 p.m. is considered the evening, and between noon and 4:30 p.m. is the afternoon. If your wedding is at noon, simply write "noon".

For more casual weddings, you can be more relaxed with your wording. You can write the time as "3pm" or "3:30pm". Just remember to match the style and formality of the time with the date. For example, if you write out the date in full, do the same for the time.

If your wedding ceremony and reception are at the same location, you can simply write "reception immediately following" on the invitation. However, if the reception is at a different time and/or location, include a separate reception card with the details. For example, "Cocktails, dinner, and dancing beginning at six o'clock in the evening".

Finally, consider adding a buffer of 15 minutes to the start time on your invitations to ensure guests don't arrive late.

Frequently asked questions