Oregon Armories

Should I Use AM and PM on My Invitations?

How should you write the time in the wording on your invitation?

Here are a few things to consider:

• Could the time on your invitation be confusing? If your party starts at 4p.m., the “p.m.” is not needed. Only a crazy person would start a party at 4 a.m. (and if you do start a party at 4 a.m., please put the “a.m.” on your invitation).
  If the party starts at 9 p.m. and it is a breakfast party, then please use the P.M. designation. You don’t want people showing up in their pajamas at 9 a.m. for your pancake fiesta.

• Are you having a formal celebration? (wedding, shower, rehearsal,…) Don’t use A.M. or P.M. Don’t use these abbreviations. And state 1/2 hour starting times as “half past” – for instance, if the wedding starts at 4:30 p.m., your wedding invitation should say “half past four o’clock“. Correct formal invitations don’t even use numerals – proper formal invitations spell out the time using words instead of digits (use “six“, not “6“). If there is any doubt about whether the time is in the morning or the evening, use the words “in the morning” and “in the evening“

• Does the party start or end at 12:00? Use “noon” or “midnight” so that your guests will not be confused. In the United States, 12 noon is usually written 12:00 p.m., and 12 midnight is written as 12:00 a.m., but noon and midnight leave no room for confusion.

• Is your celebration informal? Sure, use A.M. or P.M. if you want.

• Is this a military celebration? Use military time. Can’t remember how to convert to military time?  If the time is after noon, add 12 to it. For example, 9 p.m. is 21:00 in military time (9 plus 12). 11:00 p.m. Is 23:00 (11 plus 12).  Midnight is 24:00.  Start over at 00:00 after midnight. A party starting at 12:30 a.m. (half an hour after midnight) starts at 00:30 using a 24 hour clock.

If you’ve decided to use A.M. or P.M. on your invitations, the experts say to use both the letters and the periods (a.m. and p.m.). But at Poly Graphics we will print your invitations any way you would like them. Part of learning and knowing the rules is to know when they can be broken. It is perfectly acceptable to use just the letters with no periods if you like them that way.

About the Author

Bob Poliachik is co-owner with his wife Darian of Poly Graphics, which sells custom printed invitations and started in 1995 after the birth of their 2nd child. Darian started selling announcements at local craft shows, then Bob built a web site, and they have been blessed ever since. http://www.PolyGraphics.com

Wedding Invitations : How to Address Wedding Invitations to Military Personnel

Customized Wedding Invitations and RSVP Cards – Military/Flag/Hero Theme $1.15

50 Wedding Invitations & RSVP Military GP #1 $69.99

Wedding Invitations & Reception Cards Military Army $74.98

Wedding Invitations & Reception Cards Military Army $78.98

Wedding Invitations & Reception Cards Military Army $82.98

Wedding Invitations & Reception Cards Military Army $84.98

Wedding Invitations & Reception Cards Military Marines $92.48

Wedding Invitations & Reception Cards Military Marines $103.48

Wedding Invitations & Reception Cards Military Marines $110.98

Wedding Invitations & Reception Cards Military Marines $119.97

Wedding Scroll Invitations Patriotic Military Theme $72.99

Wedding Scroll Invitations Patriotic Military Theme $73.99

Wedding Scroll Invitations Patriotic Military Theme $74.99

Wedding Scroll Invitations Patriotic Military Theme $79.99

50 Wedding Invitations Package Lot Military GP #1 $149.99

Cindy Thorrington Haggerty Angels Fairies – Military Prayer Fairy – Greeting Cards-6 Greeting Cards with envelopes $10.49 Military Prayer Fairy Greeting Card is measuring 5.5w x 5.5h. Greeting Cards are sold in sets of 6 or 12. Give these fun cards to your friends and family as gift cards, thank you notes, invitations or for any other occasion. Greeting Cards are blank inside and come with white envelopes….

US Navy – US Navy Officer Crest – Greeting Cards-6 Greeting Cards with envelopes $10.49 US Navy Officer Crest Greeting Card is measuring 5.5w x 5.5h. Greeting Cards are sold in sets of 6 or 12. Give these fun cards to your friends and family as gift cards, thank you notes, invitations or for any other occasion. Greeting Cards are blank inside and come with white envelopes….

Be in my Military Wedding ? Special Call to Duty Invitation Card 5 x 7 inch premium quality folded paper greeting card. Find Wedding Attendants / Bridal Party invitations for your special event at Greeting Card Universe. Wedding Attendants / Bridal Party invitations are always more memorable when they are sent the old-fashioned way. Turn to Greeting Card Universe for all your Wedding Attendants / Bridal Party invitation needs. This paper card includes the follo…

Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette $10.90 What makes a perfect wedding? “[The bride] and the groom both look as though there were sunlight behind their eyes, as though their mouths irresistibly turned to smiles,” wrote Emily Post in 1922′s Etiquette. Great-granddaughter-in-law Peggy Post, author of the fourth edition of Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette, absolutely agrees with Miss Emily. To ensure those bright eyes and smiles, she impar…

The Army Wife Handbook: A Complete Social Guide $23.95 price change cost now $16.76…