The Origin of Wedding Invitations
Can you remember the time when you first received a wedding invitation? Do you recall that carefully-crafted, elegant and carefully designed envelope and intricately worded invitation? While it has been the favorite choice for generations, this wedding invitation has its roots during the olden times.
At the time of old England, wedding invitations were put into public bidding and any person within striking distance participates in the bidding. The 18th century saw the publication of wedding invitations in the newspapers. In Wales, upcoming weddings were announced through the sending of bidding letters. Smoke signals, partnered by inscriptions from a birch bark, were used by Native Indians to invite guests.
Illiteracy was high during the Middle Ages so that any written document was considered difficult and a waste of time. The coat of arms was inserted to any document as a way of identifying a person much like the signatures of modern times. To this day, it remains as a symbol of class and uniqueness, and most of the time is affixed at the top of a formal wedding invitation.
The first wedding invitations were believed to have been written and designed by the monks of Europe during the Middle Ages. These monks were masters of calligraphy. Persons of royalty and belonging to the high society hired these monks to make their handwritten wedding invitations because they could afford to pay them. The 1600s, saw the birth of metal plate engraving bringing about the popularity of engraved invitations. To prevent smudging, tissue papers were placed on top of the metal engravers.
Until the middle of the 19th century, when the machine was made possible, fine stationery was anonymous. Engraved invitations were sent by the Victorians. To friends and family, notes were simply handwritten and mailed two weeks before the wedding. Double envelopes were devised because of the unsure mail system that existed at that time. Until the 20th century, all wedding invitations were hand delivered. The double envelope served as protection for the invitation being soiled while traveling to its desired recipient. Riding on horseback, messengers delivered it to the butler. The butler throws away the outer envelope and puts the inner envelope in a silver tray ensuring that the recipients hands would not accumulate the dirt of the mail. The mailing system has long advanced, and most invitations are received through mail but the double envelope is still practiced up to this day.
As we brace ourselves for the 21st century, more alternatives would be added. But our desire to announce one of the most momentous occasions in our lives will never fade and cease.
[Tags]Wedding, Getting Married, Wedding Invitations, Marriage, Starting a Family, Wedding Guests, Tying the Knot, Wedding Invitation[/Tags]