Wording Wedding Invites: Dates And Numbers

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many ways to format the date and time. While there is no one right way to write out the numbers, there are some traditional guidelines and modern variations to consider. The chosen format often depends on the level of formality of the wedding and the invitation design.

Spell out numbers, e.g. four instead of 4

When writing out numbers for wedding invitations, it is best to stick to the traditional format. This means spelling out numbers, such as writing "four" instead of "4". This is because numerals (numbers) are not traditionally used on invitations at all.

• Spell out the date in this format: the day of the week, followed by a comma, the day of the month, and then the month, preceded by the word "of". For example, "Friday, the twenty-ninth of April".
• Always spell out the numbers, including the year. For example, write "two thousand sixteen" instead of "2016".
• Do not include an "and" in the year. For instance, write "two thousand twelve" instead of "two thousand and twelve".
• The day of the week and the month should be capitalised, but the day of the month and the year should be in lower-case letters.
• For compound numbers, such as May 28th, use a hyphen and write it as "twenty-eighth".
• While it is less traditional, you can also write the date as "Saturday, May twenty-eighth".

Spelling out numbers can add a touch of formality and elegance to your wedding invitations. It also ensures that your guests have zero confusion about the date and helps to avoid any potential errors or misreads.

Write half after four, not four thirty

When writing out the time on a wedding invitation, it is important to stick to certain conventions to ensure clarity and formality. While it is becoming more common to use numerals and abbreviations in informal or modern wedding invitations, traditional invitations use a very specific format.

Firstly, it is considered incorrect to use "four thirty" when spelling out the time. Instead, it is more appropriate to use "half after four" or "half past four". The use of "half after" is the most traditional way to indicate time, while "half past" is also acceptable, especially in less formal invitations.

The inclusion of "o'clock" is also a matter of preference. Some sources suggest that it is necessary to include it when writing out the time, such as "half after four o'clock". However, others argue that it is acceptable to drop the "o'clock", especially for half-hour times, as in "half after four". This creates a smoother and more elegant phrasing.

It is also important to specify the time of day by including "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". For a time like half-past four, it would be appropriate to write "half after four in the afternoon" or "half past four in the evening". The distinction between afternoon and evening is a point of contention, with some sources considering 5 pm the start of the evening, while others argue for 6 pm.

In summary, when writing out "half after four" on a wedding invitation, it is best to use the traditional phrasing of "half after four o'clock in the afternoon" or "half past four o'clock in the evening". However, variations such as dropping the "o'clock" or choosing between afternoon and evening based on the wedding's vibe are also acceptable, especially for less formal events.

Include o'clock, e.g. half after four o'clock

When writing out the time on a wedding invitation, it is important to be consistent with the tone and formality of the rest of the invitation. For example, if you are having a formal wedding, you may want to use more traditional language, whereas a casual wedding can be more relaxed and informal.

If you are writing a formal wedding invitation, it is customary to write out the time in full, including "o'clock". For example, if your wedding begins at 4:30 p.m., you would write "half after four o'clock". It is also worth noting that formal wedding invitations traditionally say "half after" (not "half past") for times on the half-hour. The time should be written in lowercase letters, and you should not include "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening" unless there could be confusion about whether the event is in the morning or evening. For example, for a wedding at 5:30 p.m., you could write "half after five o'clock" or "half after five o'clock in the evening".

However, some sources suggest that it is acceptable to drop the "o'clock" for half-hour times. For example, you could write "half after four" or "half past four". This is more common in the UK, Australia, and other places.

If you are writing a more casual or modern wedding invitation, you may choose to use numerals and write the time as "4:30 p.m." or "5:30 p.m.". Just remember to be consistent with the tone and formality of the date and time on your invitation.

Write half after, not half past

When writing out the time on a wedding invitation, it is important to stick to the traditional format of writing out numbers in dates. This means avoiding numerals and spelling out the time in full. For instance, instead of writing "4:30 pm", you would write "half after four o'clock" or "half past four o'clock".

The traditional way to write out the time on a wedding invitation is to use "half after" rather than "half past". For example, for a wedding taking place at 4:30 pm, you would write "half after four o'clock in the afternoon" or "half after four o'clock in the evening". The choice between afternoon and evening depends on whether your wedding is more of an afternoon or evening event. While some sources state that evening begins at 6 pm, others state that it begins at 5 pm.

It is also worth noting that o'clock can be dropped when referring to half hours. So, for a wedding at 4:30 pm, you could write "half after four in the afternoon" or "half after four in the evening". This phrasing maintains the formality of the invitation while keeping the wording concise and avoiding the use of "o'clock".

While it is important to follow traditional etiquette when writing out the time on a wedding invitation, it is ultimately a matter of personal preference. If you feel that the traditional phrasing does not fit your event, you can choose to write out the time using numerals or a more informal phrasing. For example, you could simply write "4:30 pm" or "four-thirty in the afternoon/evening". Ultimately, the most important thing is to ensure that your guests have all the information they need to arrive at your wedding on time.

Write morning until noon, afternoon from noon-5pm, and evening after 5pm

When writing out the time on wedding invitations, it is important to consider the formality of the event and the invitation style. While traditional invitations use no numerals and write out times in full, more casual invitations can use numerals and be more relaxed in their wording. Here is some guidance on how to write out times for a wedding invitation, specifically for morning until noon, afternoon from noon to 5 pm, and evening after 5 pm.

Morning until Noon

Morning times can be written in full without numerals, for example, "half after eight o'clock" or "eight-thirty o'clock". Alternatively, you can include "in the morning" after the time, such as "eight o'clock in the morning". If your wedding is at 12 pm, simply write "noon". It is not necessary to include "noon o'clock" or "noon in the afternoon".

Afternoon from Noon to 5 pm

As with morning times, you can write out the time in full without numerals, for example, "half after three o'clock" or "three-thirty o'clock". You can also include "in the afternoon" after the time, such as "three o'clock in the afternoon".

Evening after 5 pm

Evening times can also be written in full without numerals, such as "half after six o'clock" or "six-thirty o'clock". You can include "in the evening" after the time, for example, "six o'clock in the evening". It is important to note that any time after 5 pm is considered evening, so this phrasing can be used starting at 5 pm.

Remember that the level of formality of your invitation should match that of your wedding. If you are having a casual wedding, you may opt to use numerals and a more relaxed style, such as "4:00 pm" or "5:30 pm". However, if you are having a formal wedding, traditional wording and the avoidance of numerals are more appropriate.

Frequently asked questions