Wedding Initations: All About Eve

by Herbert Reich

Wedding invitations have been around for almost as long as weddings, and they're still popular. Before the printing press was invented, however, weddings were usually announced by the town crier, instead of printed or written. That's because most people could neither read nor write. However, well-off families could ask skilled calligraphers to create written wedding notices that are also works of art. These wedding invitations often carried the crests of the people who were getting married, and were wax sealed. In fact, many of the more traditional looking wedding invitations still sport a real or imitation seal and a crest. After the emergence of the printing press, hand written invitations continued for a while.

This is because the printing techniques of the time produced an inadequately attractive result for most wedding celebrations. What did become common quickly was the practice of announcing weddings in the newspaper. It wasn't until the invention of mezzotint, or metal plate engraving, that high quality printed wedding invitations were available. This occurred in the mid 1600s, and was welcomed by the emerging middle class. Each engraving required an artisan to write the text in reverse onto the plate, using an engraving tool. The plate was then used to print the invitations. To keep the wedding invitations from smudging, a piece of thin paper was placed on top, which is why we still use tissue paper between invitations. Wording for invitations then was a lot more elaborate than on modern versions, with each guest's name individually printed onto the invitation.

A new process created by Alois Senefelder in 1798, called lithography, would revolutionize the printing wedding invitation. Lithography allowed printers to make clean, distinctive inked lines without the use of metal plates. That allowed real mass market wedding invitations to be created. However, despite the relatively modern printing methods, delivery was still quite old fashioned. Wedding invitations were delivered by horseback courier and by hand, since the postal system was quite unreliable. The invitations were packaged in double envelopes to protect them from damage, a tradition that remains today, despite the fact that our postal systems are much more reliable.

The process of invitation printing remained the same until shortly after WWII, when commercially printed wedding stationery became widely available. The growth of the printing industry meant ordinary people were now able to send a greater array of invitations. Thermography, an inexpensive method of making raised type, was also in wide use. It's less distinct and fine than engraving, but far less costly. It makes raised, shiny lettering without making an impression in the paper's surface. Combined with other advances, this new method of making attractive type allowed fine wedding invitations to be available to almost every couple.

Despite the development of modern printing methods and the steadfastness of modern ink, wedding invitations are often sent in double envelopes. Indeed, they are even packaged in vellum to prevent smudges. Response cards and envelopes may also be included along with the wedding invitation. However, there are many more forms to choose from in modern times. Not all wedding invitations have to look the same, and you have the latitude to be truly creative.