Wording Wedding Invites: Single-Digit Dates, What To Write

When it comes to wedding invitations, the details matter. The way you write the date and time can set the tone for your entire celebration. The traditional way to write the date on a formal wedding invitation is to spell out the day, month, and year. Numbers are typically avoided, except in the year. For instance, Saturday, the sixteenth of May, two thousand twenty-three is preferred over Saturday, 5/16/2023. Including the day of the week is optional but recommended for clarity.

Spell out the date for formal invitations

When writing the date on a formal invitation, it is best to spell out the date, day of the week, month, and year in full. This is the traditional style for formal invitations.

• For a wedding on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, you would write: "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand twenty-four".
• For a wedding on Friday, April 1st, 2022, you could write: "Friday, the first of April, two thousand and twenty-two".
• For a wedding on Sunday, May 17th, 2025, the date would be: "Sunday, the seventeenth of May, two thousand and twenty-five".

Remember to use a comma after the day of the week and before the date, and no punctuation between the month and the year. The year is usually written on a separate line.

If your wedding date falls between the 21st and 31st of the month, use a hyphen between the tens and the ones, for example, "the twenty-ninth of June".

You can also include "o'clock" when writing the time, for example, "five o'clock in the evening".

Include the day of the week

Including the day of the week on your wedding invitation is a great way to provide clarity and ensure your guests don't get confused, especially if your wedding date falls on or near the turn of the month. For example, if your wedding is on the 5th of June, it's a good idea to specify whether that's the fifth day of the month or the sixth.

There are a few ways to include the day of the week on your wedding invitation. One option is to write out the full day, such as "Saturday, the fifth of June." This option emphasises the day of the week and makes it very clear to your guests. Alternatively, you can use the abbreviated form, such as "Sat, 5th of June." This option saves space on your invitation card while still providing the necessary information.

If you're concerned about the aesthetic of your invitations and want to keep the date line concise, you can use a single-digit date and specify the month in words. For example, "Saturday, 5 June." This way, your guests know exactly which date you're referring to, and you avoid any potential confusion.

Including the day of the week on your wedding invitation is not just practical but also adds a personal touch. It sets the tone for your upcoming nuptials and gives your guests a clear idea of when they need to save the date.

Write out the time of day

When writing the time of day on a wedding invitation, it's important to consider the formality of your wedding and invitation. Here are some guidelines and examples to help you:

Formal Invitation Wording:

For a formal or traditional wedding invitation, the time is typically written out in full, with no numerals. If your wedding begins at 3:30 p.m., you would write "half after three o'clock" or "half past three o'clock". It is considered more formal to include "o'clock" in the phrasing.

You can also indicate the time of day by specifying "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". For example, "seven o'clock in the evening". However, it is not necessary to include these phrases unless there could be confusion about whether the event is in the morning or evening, such as for times like 8, 9, or 10 o'clock.

If your wedding is at noon, simply write "noon" without adding "o'clock" or "in the afternoon". For a midnight ceremony, you can write "midnight" or "twelve o'clock at night".

Informal Invitation Wording:

For a more casual wedding, you have the option to be less formal in your wording. You can use numerals and write the time as "3:30 p.m." or "4:00 pm". Just remember to maintain consistency in the level of formality between how you write the date and the time.

Other Considerations:

• Afternoon and Evening Debate: Traditionally, afternoon is considered to be from noon to 6 p.m., and evening begins at 6 p.m. However, there is some debate, and some sources suggest that evening starts at 5 p.m. If your ceremony is at 5:30 p.m., you can choose to write "half past five in the afternoon" or "half past five in the evening", depending on your preference.
• Punctuation: Avoid using punctuation unless absolutely necessary.
• AM and PM: In formal invitations, avoid using AM or PM. Instead, indicate the time of day as mentioned above.
• Consistency: Ensure that the wording and format of the time match the overall style and tone of your invitation.

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can ultimately choose the wording that feels right for your wedding. If in doubt, working with a stationer can help you refine the wording and design of your invitations.

Use half after for half-hour times

When writing half-hour times on wedding invitations, there are a few different ways to format the time, depending on how formal your wedding is. Here are some options:

Formal or Traditional Wedding Invitations

For formal or traditional weddings, it is customary to write out the time in full, without using numerals. For example, if your wedding begins at 3:30 p.m., you would write it as "half after three o'clock". It is worth noting that formal wedding invitations traditionally use the phrase "half after" instead of "half past". Additionally, the time should be written in lowercase letters, and you should avoid using "o'clock" if the time is not on the hour.

Including the Time of Day

To indicate whether the wedding is in the morning, afternoon, or evening, you can add phrases like "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". For example, "half past four o'clock in the afternoon" or "half past four o'clock in the evening". The time of day can also be indicated using "a.m." or "p.m.", but this is less common on formal invitations.

Informal or Casual Wedding Invitations

If you are having a more casual wedding, you can be more flexible with the wording and format. You can write the time as "4:30 p.m." or "5:30 p.m." without spelling out the time in full. Just remember to maintain consistency in the format of the time and date throughout the invitation.

Afternoon or Evening?

There is some debate about when afternoon ends and evening begins. Traditionally, afternoon is considered to be from noon to 5:59 p.m., while evening starts at 6:00 p.m. However, some sources suggest that evening begins at 5:00 p.m. If your wedding is at 5:30 p.m., you can indicate the time of day as either "half past five in the afternoon" or "half past five in the evening".

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can adapt them to fit the style and tone of your wedding invitation. Working with a stationer can help you determine the best wording and format for your invitations.

Include o'clock when writing the time

When writing the time on your wedding invitations, it's important to consider the formality of your wedding and invitation. Here are some tips and guidelines for including "o'clock" when writing the time:

Traditional and Formal Invitations

For more traditional or formal wedding invitations, the time is typically written out in full with no numerals. If your wedding starts at 3:30 p.m., you would write "half after three o'clock" or "half past three o'clock". It is worth noting that formal wedding invitations traditionally use the phrase "half after" instead of "half past". The time should be written in lowercase letters, and "o'clock" is included for times on the hour, such as "three o'clock".

You don't need to specify "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening" unless there could be confusion about whether the wedding is in the morning or evening, such as for times like 8, 9, or 10 o'clock. Any time after 5 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" without adding "o'clock".

Casual and Informal Invitations

If you're having a more casual wedding, you can be more flexible with the time format. You can write the time as "4pm" or "5:30pm" without including "o'clock". Just remember that the date and time formats should match in formality. If you write out the date in full, it's best to write out the time as well.

Other Considerations

When writing the time, avoid using "a.m." or "p.m." and instead indicate the time of day using phrases like "in the morning" or "in the evening". When specifying the time of day, morning is considered up until noon, afternoon is from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and evening is from 5 p.m. onwards.

Additionally, be consistent with your time format across all enclosures in your wedding invitation suite, including response cards. For example, if you write the time as "half after three o'clock" on the invitation, use a similar format for the response card deadline, such as "Kindly respond by half after four o'clock."

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can ultimately choose to write the time in a way that fits your event and personal preferences.

Frequently asked questions