Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Capitalizing Key Words

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are a few grammar rules to keep in mind. Proper nouns, such as names of people and places, should always be capitalised. Each new thought or sentence on an invitation should also be capitalised. While the first letter of the year used to be capitalised, this is no longer the case. Only the day of the week and the month are capitalised, and the year is written in lowercase. For example, Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon.

Proper nouns, such as names and places, are capitalized

When it comes to wedding invitations, proper nouns, such as names and places, are always capitalized. This includes the names of the couple, their parents, and the wedding and reception venues. For example, if the bride's name is "Elizabeth Lauren Bennett" and the groom's name is "Fitzwilliam Randolph Darcy", their names would be written in full with proper capitalization. The same goes for the names of the parents, such as "Mr. and Mrs. James Godfrey Bennet".

The wedding and reception venues are also capitalized, including the city and state. For instance, "Rutherford, California". It is important to note that only the city and state are capitalized, and other details like the street address are written in lower case, unless it is an avenue, street, or road, in which case they are written in full.

Additionally, the day of the week and the month are capitalized, while the year is not. For example, "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of September, two thousand twenty-three". The time of day is also written in lower case, such as "six o'clock in the evening".

Proper nouns are an important aspect of capitalization in wedding invitations, ensuring that the relevant names and places are given the appropriate emphasis and respect.

The first letter of the year is capitalized

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the rules are flexible, especially when design is the most important aspect. However, using proper formatting where necessary is commendable.

One rule to keep in mind is that only proper nouns are capitalized. This means that the first letter of the year is not typically capitalized, as it is not a proper noun.

• Spell out all words, including the day, month, year, and time. For example, "Saturday, the second of June Two thousand eighteen at half after five o'clock in the evening".
• The day of the week and the month should be capitalised, but the year should not be. For example, "Saturday, the sixteenth of September two thousand and twenty-one".
• When writing out the year, there should be no "and". For example, "two thousand twenty-three" not "two thousand and twenty-three".
• The time of day should be spelled out, such as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". Evening begins at five o'clock, and any time before that is considered afternoon.
• For formal wedding invitations, the street address of the venue is usually omitted unless the wedding is held at the host's residence.
• Zip codes are typically not included on wedding invitations as they are considered a visual distraction and are generally unnecessary.
• The request line should correspond with the type of venue. "Honor of your presence" is used for ceremonies held in a church or place of worship, while "pleasure of your company" is used for weddings outside a place of worship.
• If you wish to emphasise certain lines, it is acceptable to capitalise all words in those lines.

In summary, while the first letter of the year is not typically capitalised in wedding invitations, there are several other formatting and capitalisation rules to keep in mind to ensure your invitations are both proper and aesthetically pleasing.

The day of the week and month are capitalized

When it comes to wedding invitations, grammar and spelling are incredibly important. The invitation is the first glimpse your guests will have of your big day, and it sets the tone for the event. It's therefore essential to get it right.

One of the most common questions about wedding invitation wording is which words should be capitalized. The simple answer is that only proper nouns are capitalized. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule.

The day of the week and the month are always capitalized. For example, "Saturday, the second of June". Here, "Saturday" and "June" are capitalized, but the year is not. This is because only proper nouns and the first letter of the year are typically capitalized.

When it comes to the time of day, this should be written in full, with "o'clock" or "half after". For example, "half after five o'clock in the evening". The "o'clock" or "half after" should not be capitalized, but the time of day ("evening") should be.

It's also worth noting that the names of any houses of worship should be written in full and capitalized, for example, "St. Peter's Church".

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your wedding invitations are both grammatically correct and visually appealing.

The first word in the reception line is often capitalized

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, it's important to strike the right tone for your big day. While it's more fun to pick your wedding flowers and linens, the invitation wording is important as it sets the tone for your wedding.

The first line of a wedding invitation usually indicates who is hosting the wedding, or in other words, who is paying for it. Traditionally, the bride's parents host and pay for the wedding, but nowadays, many couples host their own weddings or host them along with their families.

The request line usually indicates where the wedding will be held. "The honour of your presence" is used when the ceremony will be held in a house of worship, while "the pleasure of your company" is used for secular locations.

The bride always precedes the groom, and if her parents are hosting, she is referred to by her first and middle names only. The groom is referred to by his first, middle, and last name.

The date and time lines follow a similar format: the day of the week usually precedes the date, and everything is written out in full, with no numbers. Traditionally, only the first letter of the year is capitalised, along with the day of the week and the month.

The street address is not usually included unless the event is at a private home or unlisted address. If it is included, "street/avenue/road" should be written out in full, and the city and state should always be written out with no abbreviations.

The reception line indicates where the reception will be held. If it is at the same location as the ceremony, you can write "and afterward at the reception" or "reception immediately following". If the reception is at a different location, it should be written on a separate line.

Now, to answer your question: yes, it is common today to capitalise the first word in the reception line, though traditionally it is not. So, if you want to stick to tradition, you wouldn't capitalise the first word of the reception line. However, if you want to emphasise the reception line or simply prefer the way it looks, go ahead and capitalise that first word! Ultimately, it's up to you and your preferences.

The first letter of the time of day is capitalized

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the rules are flexible, especially when design is the most important aspect. However, using proper formatting where necessary is commendable.

Evening weddings begin at five o'clock or after. From noon until four o'clock is considered the afternoon.

Time should always be spelled out on wedding invitations, but numerals may be used on enclosure cards. When mentioning a time on the hour, it should be followed by "o'clock." Conversely, time, not on the hour, should be stated as "half after" or "quarter after."

Time should always be followed by "in the morning," "noon," "in the afternoon," "in the evening," or "midnight." "Immediately" may be used as a substitute for time but not alongside time.

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