Tuesday, February 17, 2009

From Birch Bark to Crane's

By James Gilbert Pynn

In one of the great ironies of history, it was the case that early wedding invitations were crafted by cloistered monks. As they were skilled calligraphers, they were often commissioned by noble families to write their invitations. Though it is hard to rival the beauty of hand-drawn calligraphy, the invention of metal plate engraving made printing invitations much more affordable. Soon, engraved invitations became the most popular method of announcing social events, the most festive of which were, of course, weddings.

In medieval England, wedding announcements were just that, announcements made by a town crier. They were paid to walk the boulevards and bark the news to all that could hear. This may have also caused the first instance of a wedding crash. After all, if the whole town know about the event, whos to stop them all from coming? On the other hand, across the pond in the New World, Native Americans used smoke patterns and inscribed birch bark to announce their weddings.

Newspapers and gazettes came into being and into fashion in the 18th Century, prompting wedding announcements to be regularly featured. Hence the tradition of publishing your wedding in the local newspaper. The use of fine stationery was an invention of the Victorian Era, which was, of course, sent by means of the postal service. This necessitated a second envelope to protect the invitation.

Couples today are concerned with finding that precarious balance between invitation and affordablity. No matter how much they cost, an expensive invitation that arrives late isn't worth the $150-an-envelope gilding. Get the invitations out and get them out early. This can't be stressed enough: get them out early. If your guests don't have enough time to prepare and schedule thee time to come, what good is the ceremony? A minimum of six weeks is recommended, two months if you are sending invitations to friends or family overseas.

Of course every couple wants the most beautiful wedding invitations they can afford. Picking out the elements that go into the invitation is just the first of many joint decisions a married couple will make through their lifetime. What better way to start a life together than picking our fine papers and envelopes? A life started in beauty and refined materials can only deepen in richness and enjoyment. - 15784

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