Who would have thought writing the time and date on your wedding invitation could be so tricky? Certain wedding etiquette still stands if you are having a traditional, formal wedding, including how to write the date and time.
Persnickety has gathered a few of our top tips to keep in mind so you can let your guests know when to arrive for your big day!
Elegant digital gold custom invitation with patterned pocket
1. No Abbreviations
Unless you are having a laid back, more modern or informal ceremony, you should never abbreviate the day and time on your wedding invitation. You write out dates in a formal manner with the day first, followed by the month and the year. For example:
Definitely do: Saturday, the first of September
two thousand twenty
Definitely do not do: Sat. 9/1/20
Remember that your wedding invitation is a guide for your guests to use to determine how formal or informal your wedding day will be. It may seem a little stuffy, but your guests will appreciate the hint!
Corinne and Ethan’s custom rose gold foiled invitation suite by Persnickety turned out amazing!
2. Spell Out the Time
You also do not abbreviate the time on formal wedding invitations. Even though we’re so used to writing “3 p.m.” or “4:30 p.m.”, numbers are reserved only for addresses on wedding invitations.
You will want to write out the time, starting with “at”, followed by the number and whether it’s in the morning, afternoon, or evening. The time of your wedding should always be written in lowercase. For example:
Definitely do:at three o’clock in the afternoon
at half past four in the afternoon
Definitely do not:at 3 p.m.
at 4:30 p.m.
Keep in mind that it is acceptable to write times numerically on your accommodations or details card, particularly if it has to do with any shuttle times, the brunch the following morning, or a welcome dinner.
3. Reception to Follow
If your wedding ceremony and reception are at the same location and immediately following each other, there is no need to indicate a specific time for the reception on your wedding invitations. “Reception immediately following” will suffice, but “Reception immediately following ceremony at six o’clock” becomes redundant.
If your reception takes place a few hours after your ceremony, however, it is important to indicate this time on your reception card. You will write out the time, just like you did on the invitation. For example:
co*cktails, dinner, and dancing
beginning at six o’clock in the evening
Do you need someone to help guide you through your wedding invitation wording? Persnickety is here to walk with you every step of the way! Let’s start your wedding stationery journey here.
I've spent considerable time immersed in wedding etiquette and invitation guidelines, so let me break down the nuances in the passage you provided.
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Date and Time Formatting: The article emphasizes the importance of avoiding abbreviations on formal wedding invitations. It suggests writing out the complete day (Saturday), followed by the complete month (September) and the full year (2020), rather than using shortened forms (e.g., Sat. 9/1/20). This attention to detail is crucial in setting the tone for the formality of the event.
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Time Presentation: Similar to the date, the article advises against using numerical representations for time on formal invitations. Instead, it advocates for writing the time in words, such as "at three o’clock in the afternoon" or "at half past four in the afternoon," employing lowercase letters. This practice aligns with the formality of the occasion.
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Reception Information: If the reception follows the ceremony at the same venue without a time gap, it's adequate to mention "Reception immediately following" on the invitation. However, if there's a time lag between the ceremony and reception, indicating the specific time for the reception becomes essential. This should mirror the formatting style used for the ceremony time.
The emphasis placed on these details in the article speaks to the precision required in conveying the formality and structure of the wedding day to guests through the invitation wording.
Remember, wedding invitations serve as the initial impression of the event's tone, guiding guests on what to expect. The meticulousness in how information is presented reflects the couple's attention to detail and the importance of the celebration.
For those needing guidance in crafting these crucial elements of wedding stationery, services like Persnickety offer expertise and support through the intricacies of invitation wording and formatting to ensure a beautifully curated and informative invite suite.
