Wedding Cards - The Culture Of Invitation

Wedding Card

Culture of Invitation 

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ORIGIN

Weddings have been a large part of Each and Every culture for a very long time. The History of wedding cards begins from English- Speaking Culture. Before the invention of the moveable-type printing press in 1447, weddings were announced by the town crier (a person employed to make public announcements). Anyone who heard the announcement was welcome to attend the ceremony. 

People were largely illiterate in the 1400s, so this was the most efficient way to announce a wedding. Written wedding invitations were only used by England’s nobility during this time. The noble class would hire monks that were skilled in the art of calligraphy to hand-craft their wedding invitations. The invitations would be closed with a wax seal and delivered to specific invitees.

It was quite a while before the printing press would be able to print quality documents, but newspapers were regularly printed by the 1600s. It was around this time that people started to announce their weddings in the paper. Metal plate engraving was invented in 1642, by Ludwig von Siegen. He brought higher-quality wedding invitations within the reach of the emerging middle class. 

Early Stages

The history of wedding invitations transformed the turn of the 18th century when reading and writing was a sign of education. The 18th century marked the beginning of the  social etiquette of sending invitations but this was limited to the elite class only as the access to the formal education to read and write was limited only to them. The invite was often closed with a wax seal of the family crest which is another sign of the status of the invite families.Calligraphy was mainly used for invitation as it was considered a royal gesture.

 In the early 1800s, wedding invitations took another leap forward with the invention of lithography. It was no longer necessary to engrave anything for printing, and this simpler, faster method was widely adopted by the middle class. Printed wedding invitations were generally very accessible at this time. Mail was delivered by horseback, and the outside envelope was usually damaged and stained in the process of delivery. Thus, people used double envelopes to protect the beautiful invitation and inner envelope. This is yet another traditional practice that is still used for formal weddings today.

The later part of the 18th century witnessed the growth in the fame of the Telegram wedding invitations which soon became the sensation of the world. The Telegram was considered an ideal invite to send special and personal messages because of its respected past. It was one of the vintage beauties from the entire wedding scenes.

Modern Culture 

During the 19th century the growth was tremendous with new ideas and  introducing the photo thermography was also a great help to the invitations.  Adding, most wedding invitations began to be printed this way, though some were still hand-crafted. Invitations were mailed two weeks before the wedding, in double envelopes.

After World War II, fine wedding stationery was made commercially available and almost all engaged couples began sending formal wedding invitations. No longer were beautiful wedding invitations reserved only for society’s elite. Today, letterpress printing is often used on formal wedding stationery. Although letterpress printing was originally designed to barely kiss the paper and leave the print flat, people now seek a deep engraved letterpress print to add to the look and feel of their wedding invitations.

The 20th Century marked the era of colourful invitations. The fonts became more fashioned and the colours became brighter. Initially the designs and contents were decided by the family that hosted but now it was the printing press that became a great player in decision making.

In India

The culture of sending our marriage invitation cards in India shaped up only on the 19th century and this idea was borrowed from the British. The idea of printing wedding invitation cards was enthusiastically adopted by the Indian royalty, merchants and landlords of that time, eager to share colonial practices and etiquette. Wedding cards in India were thus a clone of the Victorian wedding cards.

Now, when we talk about the Wedding Cards, a lot of changes have taken place in terms of creativity, varieties and designs. More often the Invites are designed in such a colour that it matches the general colour theme of the wedding. The continuous upgrades in the technology is bringing in more upgradation in the wedding invitations. The wedding invitation designs keep changing in pace with the time.

Conclusion 

The history of wedding cards is a beautiful reflection of the enduring human desire to celebrate love and union. From hand-delivered scrolls in ancient civilizations to today's meticulously designed invitations, wedding cards have evolved across cultures and eras, mirroring societal changes and technological advancements. These cherished pieces of correspondence have always served as more than mere invitations; they symbolize joy, tradition, and the bonds between families and friends. 

As we look to the future, the tradition of wedding cards continues to adapt, blending timeless elegance with modern innovation. Through each card, the spirit of togetherness and celebration remains, reminding us of the universal and timeless nature of love.

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