In the 18th century in England, handwritten social
invitations were first used, by the aristocracy. Only kings
and queens and other members of high society received
invitations to social events. Usually the invitations were
written by a butler or secretary. Having them handwritten
was a sign of education. Even after the modern printing
press was discovered, many aristocrats continued to have
their invitations handwritten for this purpose. The
handwriting itself was a work of art. Much time and planning
was given for this process. Calligraphy pens were used,
which gave letters dimension; there were thick and thin
lines in each word.
During the last century, a less expensive version of
engraving has come along, known as thermography, which is
another form of raised-ink lettering. It produces this
effect without actually cutting the surface of the paper the
way engraving does. Instead, wet ink is applied to the paper
and then a plastic powder is applied on top, giving the
lettering the raised effect. This allows for the look of
engraving without paying the expense.
The wording of the earliest invitations was similar to
today's traditional wording, with one exception: Usually the
name of each guest was printed on the invitation. We have
gotten away from this practice today, but if you are having
a small wedding and making your own invitations, you might
consider it. Once written or printed, each invitation was
placed in a protective envelope, and sealed with wax. The
wax seal often represented the crest of the family. Wax
seals are often still used today to convey a touch of
tradition and elegance.
