George Boyle
When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many elements to consider, from the wording to the formatting and, of course, the date and time. While some couples opt for traditional and formal invitations, others may prefer a more modern and casual approach. But is it okay to use p.m. in a wedding invitation, or should the time be spelled out in full?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Format | 12:30 p.m. (with a lowercase 'p' and a period after 'p') |
| Abbreviation | Yes, but only when using numerical time |
| Space | Yes, there should be a space between the time and 'p.m.' |
| Formal/informal | Formal invites spell out the time in full, informal invites use numerals |
| Examples | "Saturday, May 25 at 5:30 p.m."; "Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 4:30 p.m." |
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What You'll Learn
- The time of day should be written in lowercase with a period after each letter, e.g. 12:30 p.m
- There should always be a space between the time and a.m./p.m
- Noon and midnight can be written as twelve noon and twelve midnight
- For formal invitations, dates and times are usually spelled out, e.g. Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon
- The time of day can be spelled out as “four o'clock or half after four o'clock
The time of day should be written in lowercase with a period after each letter, e.g. 12:30 p.m
When it comes to wedding invitations, there are a few different ways to indicate the time of day. While some sources suggest that the time of day should be written in full, using "'o'clock" or "half after five o'clock", others indicate that it is acceptable to use numerical times, provided they are followed by "a.m." or "p.m.".
If you choose to use numerical times with "a.m." or "p.m.", it is recommended that you write the time followed by "a.m." or "p.m." in lowercase, with a period after each letter, and with a space between the time and "a.m." or "p.m.". For example, "12:30 p.m." or "4 p.m.". When writing "noon" or "midnight", you can also use "twelve noon" or "twelve midnight".
It is worth noting that the use of "a.m." or "p.m." can sometimes be dropped, as the time of day is typically clear. For example, a ceremony at 3 o'clock is most likely to be in the afternoon rather than the middle of the night. Ultimately, the most important thing is to create a cohesive and clear invitation that represents you and your wedding day.
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There should always be a space between the time and a.m./p.m
When it comes to writing out the time on a wedding invitation, there are a few different ways to format it. Firstly, it is recommended to write out the time in full, for example, "half after four o'clock in the afternoon". However, if you would like to use the 12-hour clock format, it is important to distinguish between AM and PM.
In this case, it is recommended to write the time followed by a.m. or p.m. in lower case with a period after each letter, for example, "4:30 p.m.". There should always be a space between the time and a.m./p.m. This is because the abbreviations are shortened versions of the Latin phrases "ante meridiem", meaning "before noon", and "post meridiem", meaning "after noon".
It is also important to note that while you may see books that recommend capitalising A.M. and P.M., this is usually too overpowering for an invitation and can disrupt the flow of your text. Additionally, it is now rare to see periods placed after these abbreviations, and the lower-case "am" and "pm" are more popular.
However, it is also correct to write the time without any punctuation or spaces, for example, "4:30pm". Ultimately, as long as you are consistent with your chosen style, there is no wrong way to format the time on your wedding invitations.
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Noon and midnight can be written as twelve noon and twelve midnight
When it comes to wedding invitations, it is recommended to write out the time of day in full, followed by a.m. or p.m. in lowercase with a period after each letter, for example, 12:30 p.m. There should always be a space between a.m. or p.m. and the time. Noon and midnight can be written as "twelve noon" or "twelve midnight". Alternatively, you can write them as 12:00 p.m. or 12:00 a.m.
On a formal wedding invitation, the date and time are typically spelled out in full. For example, if your ceremony is on September 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., the wording should read, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon." The day of the week and the month should be capitalized, and the year should be in lowercase. There is no "and" when spelling out the year. The time of day should be spelled out as “four o'clock” or “half after four o'clock." Evening begins at five o'clock. From noon until four o'clock is considered afternoon.
It is best to put the actual start time of your wedding on the invitation, rather than using "please arrive by" to prevent late guests. You can add a line such as 'Ceremony begins promptly at half after five o'clock' or 'Please arrive early to be seated by five twenty-five.' If your reception is immediately following your wedding ceremony in the same location, you can simply write "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow" at the bottom of your invitation.
Including an end time on a wedding invitation is less common, but not unheard of, especially if there is a strict end time at the venue. If you want to include an end time, it is recommended to start winding down around 15-30 minutes before the end time to ensure that guests have left by midnight.
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For formal invitations, dates and times are usually spelled out, e.g. Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon
When it comes to wedding invitations, the most important thing is to ensure that the information is clear and easy to understand. While there are some traditional rules and recommendations for formal invitations, you can ultimately choose the style that best reflects your wedding.
For formal invitations, dates and times are usually spelled out in full. For example, if your wedding ceremony is on September 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., the wording could be: "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon." Here, the day of the week and the month are capitalized, and the year is written in lowercase letters. There is no "and" when spelling out the year.
The time of day can be written as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock." Noon until 4:00 p.m. is considered the afternoon, and the evening begins at 5:00 p.m. You can also write "twelve noon" or "twelve midnight" instead of 12:00 p.m./a.m.
However, you can choose to drop the "a.m." or "p.m." if the time of day is typically clear. For example, a 3:00 p.m. ceremony will likely be understood as taking place in the afternoon rather than at night.
If you prefer a more casual or modern style for your wedding invitation, you can simplify the wording. For instance, you could write "Saturday, September 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m." or even drop the year and write "Saturday, September 15, at 4:30 p.m."
Ultimately, the choice is yours, and you can decide what style and format best reflect your wedding and your personalities.
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The time of day can be spelled out as “four o'clock or half after four o'clock
When it comes to wedding invitations, the rules are a little stricter when it comes to putting your wedding date and time on invitations. The time of day can be spelled out as “four o'clock" or “half after four o'clock”.
For a formal wedding, everything is written out in full, including the time of day. The use of a.m. or p.m. is optional. For a casual wedding, numerals are acceptable. For example, for a formal wedding, you would write "half after four o'clock" or "half past four o'clock". For a casual wedding, you could write "4:30 pm" or "four-thirty".
The time of day is typically clear, so you can drop the a.m. or p.m. if you prefer. However, if you want to include it, the recommended format is to write the time followed by a lowercase a.m. or p.m. with a period after each letter and a space between the time and a.m./p.m. For example, "12:30 p.m." or "noon" instead of "12:00 p.m.".
It's important to provide clarity for your guests, so they know when to arrive. You can add a line such as "Ceremony begins promptly at half after five o'clock" or "Please arrive early to be seated by five twenty-five".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is ok to use p.m. in a wedding invitation. It is recommended to write the time followed by a.m. or p.m. in lowercase with a period after each letter, with a space between the time and a.m. or p.m. For example, "4:00 p.m." or "4 p.m."
You can use either. The most formal way is to spell out the time in full, for example, "half after four o'clock". However, it is also acceptable to use numerals followed by a.m. or p.m., for example, "4:00 p.m."
Yes, you can leave out the a.m. or p.m. if the time of day is typically clear. For example, a ceremony at 3 o'clock will usually be assumed to be in the afternoon.
Evening begins at 5 o'clock, so you can write "5:00 p.m." or "five o'clock".
