During the Middle Ages, people were only invited to weddings if they were within hearing distance of a 'town crier' — an individual contracted to make public announcements using their voices.
National Wedding Invitation Day is observed annually on July 16 in recognition of the fact that sending out wedding invitation cards is the most effective method to generate anticipation for an upcoming wedding. The day was created to recognise wedding invitation card designers because they contribute to a wedding’s attractiveness. This special day is all about appreciating and cherishing this exquisitely crafted wedding gift.
During the Middle Ages, people were only invited to weddings if they were within hearing distance of a ‘town crier’ — an individual contracted to make public announcements using their voices. Due to the lack of a printing press and the fact that most people were illiterate, this was the next best method to publicise an upcoming wedding. Obviously, the affluent had their own traditions. Due to their affluence and education, they could afford a more refined wedding invitation. Their wedding invitations were handwritten by calligraphy-skilled local monks and embossed with the family insignia and sealed with wax to prevent tampering.
The introduction of the printing press in the 1400s did little more than demonstrate an alternate method of invitation. This method was not widely adopted because many people were still illiterate and the printing press was in its infancy. Invitations were delivered by town criers until the 1600s, when newspapers began publishing announcements.
The invention of the metal plate gave wedding invitation cards an entirely new dimension. Now, individuals were able to engrave text onto the metal plates and print invitation cards. Further advancements in printing in the 1700s facilitated the creation of wedding cards, allowing commoners to participate in this tradition; however, the unreliability of the postal service necessitated the delivery of invitations via horseback.
In the wedding world following World War II, luxury invitations were prevalent, and the proper etiquette for sending these invitations was being defined by etiquette authorities. Today, nearly every engaged couple sends out wedding invitation cards in a bewildering array of styles, some of which are inspired by the magnificent luxury of the 17th and 18th centuries, others by a unique blend of traditional and modern styles, and still others by an entirely new expression of the creativeness of the couple.
Invited to a wedding recently? How about taking a second look at the tangible card and appreciating the attention to detail that went into its creation?
Are you attending a wedding? Notify the wedding planner how much you enjoyed their invitations. A little appreciation goes a long way towards encouraging the designers of that wedding invitation to create better and more beautiful invitations for the next joyful couple, the couple after that, etc.
Perhaps it is a wedding invitation or a straightforward card. For a party you are hosting or a wedding you are planning, exercise your creativity by designing a cute invitation in the manner of a wedding card. You can utilise the available design tools for assistance.
In accordance with Post’s principles regarding the etiquette of wedding invitations, even American wedding invitations occasionally use the non-standard U.S. spelling of ‘honour’.
This originates from the invention of the metal plate in 1642, when freshly printed wedding invitations with still-wet ink required tissue paper to prevent smudging.
Due to the fact that many wedding invitations were delivered by equestrian in the eighteenth century, individuals would double-envelope them to ensure their safety; this practise is still observed by some.
Each year, the United States Postal Service issues special love stamps — stamps issued by post offices to declare love, affection, or devotion — with a face value sufficient to cover the weight of the wedding invitation and the recipient’s reply.
In season seven’s ‘The Invitations,’ George Costanza’s attempt to save money by purchasing less expensive wedding invitations proves fatal for his fiancée Susan, who dies by licking the toxic adhesive on the cards.
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | July 16 | Sunday |
| 2024 | July 16 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | July 16 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | July 16 | Thursday |
| 2027 | July 16 | Friday |
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