Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Capitalization Rules For Formal Events

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there are a few grammar rules to keep in mind. While it may be tempting to capitalise Guest on wedding invitations, it is not correct to do so, as it is not the person's name. Only proper nouns, such as names and places, should be capitalised, along with the day of the week and the month. The year is not capitalised, and neither is the first letter of the year. The time of day should be written out in full, using o'clock or half after. The street address is usually omitted unless the event is at a private home, and zip codes are never included.

Capitalizing the Day, Month, and Year

When it comes to wedding invitations, grammar and spelling are incredibly important. The invitation sets the tone for the big day and indicates to guests what kind of event to expect.

The day of the week, month, and first letter of the year should always be capitalized. For example, "Saturday, the second of June Two thousand eighteen".

Here, "Saturday" and "June" are capitalized as they are the day of the week and the month. Only the first letter of the year is capitalized as it is not a proper noun. The time of day is also spelled out, for instance, "half after five o'clock in the evening".

It is worth noting that the use of "and" between the day and year is incorrect. For instance, "Saturday, the sixth of May, and two thousand eighteen" is not the correct format. The correct format would be "Saturday, the sixth of May two thousand eighteen".

Additionally, the use of "and" between the time and year is also incorrect. For example, "half after five o'clock in the evening, and two thousand eighteen" is not the correct phrasing. Instead, it should be written as "half after five o'clock in the evening two thousand eighteen".

In summary, when writing out the date and year on a wedding invitation, remember to capitalize the day of the week and the month, as well as the first letter of the year. Ensure that you spell out the day, date, and time in full and avoid using "and" between the day and year, or between the time and year.

Capitalizing Proper Nouns

When it comes to wedding invitations, proper nouns are the only type of noun that should be capitalised. This includes the names of people and places. For example, if the bride's parents are hosting, their names are listed formally: "Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter".

Other than proper nouns, only the day of the week, month, and first letter of the year should be capitalised. For example, "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of September at six o'clock in the evening".

It is also worth noting that "guest" should not be capitalised on wedding invitations, as it is not the name of the person being invited. Instead, it is a placeholder in case the host doesn't know the guest's name. For example, "Mr. Robert Smith and guest". If the host does know the guest's name, it is more appropriate to address the invitation to them by name.

Capitalizing the First Word in the Reception Line

When it comes to the reception line on a wedding invitation, there are a few different approaches you can take. The traditional approach is to only capitalise proper nouns, such as the names of people and places. However, it has become increasingly common to also capitalise the first word of the reception line, for example:

> "And afterward at the Reception"

Or

> "Reception immediately following".

This is a stylistic choice and is not considered incorrect, despite not being traditional. If you choose to capitalise the first word of the reception line, it is important to maintain consistency with the rest of the invitation.

In addition, only the day of the week, month, and first letter of the year should be capitalised. For example:

> "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of September at six o'clock in the evening".

Here, "Saturday" and "September" are capitalised as they are the name of the day and month, and "Sixth" is capitalised as it is the first letter of the year. The time of day is also written out using "o'clock" or "half after".

It is also worth noting that the street address is usually omitted unless the event is taking place at a private home or unlisted address. If it is included, "street", "avenue", and "road" should be written out in full. The city and state should always be written out in full as well, with no abbreviations.

Capitalizing the First Letter of Attire Instructions

When it comes to attire instructions on a wedding invitation, only the first letter of the first word is capitalized. For example, "Black tie," not "Black Tie." This is because, traditionally, only proper nouns are capitalized on wedding invitations.

• "Black tie"
• "Formal/Black tie optional"
• "Semi-formal"
• "Cocktail attire"
• "Resort casual or beach chic"
• "Garden party attire"

It's worth noting that the rules for capitalization on wedding invitations are flexible, especially when design is a key consideration. However, using proper formatting where necessary is commendable, and good grammar is considered good manners.

In addition to attire instructions, there are a few other key things to keep in mind regarding capitalization on wedding invitations:

• The day of the week and the month are capitalized, but the year is not. For example: "Saturday, the sixth of May, two thousand twenty-two."
• Proper nouns, such as names of people and places, are always capitalized.
• Sentences or each new thought on an invitation should start with a capital letter.

Capitalizing Guest

When addressing wedding invitations, it is important to remember that only proper nouns are capitalized. This means that the names of people and places are always capitalized, but common nouns like "guest" are not.

For example, if you are inviting "Mr. Robert Smith" and they are bringing a guest whose name you do not know, you would write "Mr. Robert Smith and guest" on the envelope. The "guest" is not capitalized because it is not a name; it is simply a placeholder. If you do know the guest's name, it is more appropriate to address the invitation to them by name rather than using "and guest". This makes the guest feel more included and welcome at the wedding.

It is also important to note that the wording you choose for your invitations denotes exactly who is and isn't invited. If you invite "Mr. Robert Smith and guest", you are stating that Mr. Smith is invited and may bring any guest of his choosing. However, if you invite "Mr. Robert Smith and Ms. Sally Parker", you are specifically inviting both Robert and Sally by name.

In addition to proper nouns, there are a few other things to keep in mind when it comes to capitalization on wedding invitations. The day of the week and the month should always be capitalized, but the year should not be. For example, "Saturday, the sixth of May, two thousand twenty-two". The "t" in "two" should be capitalized, but the rest of the year should be in lower case.

When it comes to attire, only the first word is capitalized. For example, "Black tie" or "Semi-formal".

Frequently asked questions