Wedding Bells

Old and New Traditions

Posted September 23rd, 2009 | 10:30 am | By Laura K |

There have always been traditions in weddings—from the white dress, to the wedding cake and the first dance. One of the very formal traditions was the wording on the invitations. And while I still believe in having a certain level of formality in the wording, people are breaking the traditional mold for more personal wording. The biggest change I see is that the majority of the invitations I create are written from the bride and groom instead of their parent’s. This is mostly due to the fact that many couples getting married are in their 30’s and are paying for their wedding (or most of it).

Another tradition that seems to be phased out is the double stuffed envelopes. People are more environmentally conscious and want to save the paper and realize it just isn’t necessary. This old practice stems from the household staff opening the tattered outer envelope before presenting the clean and sealed inner envelope to the homeowner.

When it comes to guests replying to an invitation, a small percentage of my clients prefer an RSVP by phone or email. The prevailing majority use the traditional mailed reply card. Replying by phone or email is more of the norm for less formal gatherings.

Occasionally I am asked to design a reception card—this is a separate card sent with the invitation about the reception location. My invitations typically include the ceremony and reception details on the same page eliminating the need for a separate reception card. As a twist on this tradition, you could include a map card showing your guests where the venues are located.

Over time traditions change and evolve so whether your preferences are more traditional or contemporary, remember that sometimes reinterpreting traditions and adding your own personality can serve to create a truly unique and memorable day.

Tags: eco-friendly, etiquette, invitations, reception card, rsvp, wording

Posted September 23rd, 2009 | 10:30 am | By Laura K |

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