Is 5:30pm considered Afternoon or Evening?

s_hazeleyes

Our Ceremony begins at 5:30pm, cocktail hour at 6pm and reception at 7pm.

What is proper etiquette to write on an invitation? Afternoon or Evening?

HeatherR45

I think most people would say evening starts at 5pm.

Carebear62584

I would agree....evening.

banana468

PPs are incorrect.  Evening does not begin until 6 PM.  

But you don't need to put 'in the afternoon' or 'in the evening' on your invitations at all.  It isn't necessary to put anything specifying the time unless a guest would wonder if you meant AM or PM. 

Whtara10

I would say evening definitely. But if you google sample wedding invitations you can see what other people have done.

rswan412

I would put evening, I consider it "early evening".

Karebear852k3

I would say evening...I'm sure etiquette says that "evening" doesn't start until 6pm, but I say anytime after 5pm (after the standard workday's hours) is evening...

cdbishop

I agree with PP, even if etiquette says afternoon, I would think evening more. 

s_hazeleyes

I think I'm going with evening bc cocktail hour begins at 6pm. I doubt that my guests will look at my invitation in disgust bc it may not be properly considered evening! Thanks ladies!

PeachesKFG

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_is-530pm-considered-afternoon-or-evening?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:65Discussion:fc59711c-7a84-41e9-a61f-d7d9c9c5b41aPost:cd0557ca-68ee-4ff0-a161-f097583501ed">Re: Is 5:30pm considered Afternoon or Evening?</a>:
[QUOTE]PPs are incorrect.  Evening does not begin until 6 PM.   But you don't need to put 'in the afternoon' or 'in the evening' on your invitations at all.  <strong>It isn't necessary to put anything specifying the time unless a guest would wonder if you meant AM or PM.</strong> 
Posted by banana468[/QUOTE]

<div>Agreed. My schedule is exactly the same as yours (ceremony at 5:30, cocktail hour at 6, reception at 7) and I didn't indicate AM or PM on my invitation. I didn't feel it was necessary, and I had a professional stationer helping me with the wording of my invitations, so I trust her judgment. My invitation says "Friday, the twenty-ninth of June at half past five o'clock. Dinner and dancing to follow."</div><div>
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