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Honor the Timeless Traditions of Social Invitations
In an age when communications technologies allow effortless contact with our family, friends and associates, the art of creating memorable invitations remains faithfully linked to the more stately traditions of another time. And here at LCI Paper, we’re glad it does.
The reason is simple: some things are worth preserving, and the time-honored formality of inviting special people to a special event is one of them. Without that careful personal attention, after all, some of that treasured “specialness” will be sacrificed, and your event will be correspondingly less memorable for its loss.
Beyond that, understanding and respecting the traditions behind the social invitation will help you as you plan your next event. It is in that spirit that we offer our heartfelt appreciation of the carefully written invitation, and recommend to our customers that this civilized tradition is honored and preserved in every possible way.
he key word, of course, is “written.” In 18th century
Europe
– whence we Americans derive most of our social protocols – the ability to write was a mark of education and status. More than that, the ability to write artistically was a further sign of sophistication.
It was no accident, then, that highborn Europeans in those days put a great deal of effort – that is to say, their servants’ efforts – into making a powerful impression with their invitations. The notion of mass-producing a batch of notices was decidedly déclassé; each invitation was not only handwritten, but also personalized to include the name of the invitee. (Interestingly, we latter-day Americans, while otherwise generally adhering to the traditional procedures, have been unable to replicate the fully personalized invitation until quite recently. Today, software provided by LCI Paper can even do that!)
The artistically drawn and formally worded invitation has historically been separated by tissue paper from the inserts that share the envelope. This was initially done because slow-drying printer’s inks would smear when invitations were stacked after inking. Although smudging is no longer a consideration, we still recommend including the tissue, for all the same reasons we like to see the other old-fashioned procedures preserved.
Another tidbit involves the use of inner and outer envelopes. This tradition owes its existence to European methods of mail delivery in an era before motor vehicles, paved roads and the Postal Service. Those meticulously drawn invitations had to be delivered through snow, rain and mud on horseback, so they were inserted into a larger envelope for protection from the elements. Moreover, the outer wrap provided a place to write directions to the invitee’s residence. In those days, on arrival the carrier was expected to open the outer envelope, pass its contents to its recipient (again, in most cases, the recipient’s servant), and then await an answer. Nowadays, of course, an immediate answer is no longer expected, which is probably just as well.
Clearly, following all these fussy traditions involves far more work and expense than simply firing off an e-mail to everyone on your guest list. But, to us, that’s not the point. At LCI Paper, we believe in doing things right, and we’ve found that our customers feel the same. We’re committed to the notion that your special event is very important to you, and that makes it very important to us too. Take your time making your plans, consider carefully every detail of your special occasion, and don’t hesitate to ask for help from any and all sources available.
And don’t forget, when it comes to your invitations, envelopes, and related materials and services, LCI Paper is ready, willing and able to give you a hand. Get in touch – we’re here to help! Doing everything we can to make your social occasion a smashing success is a tradition for us -- one we’re pledged to preserve!
The reason is simple: some things are worth preserving, and the time-honored formality of inviting special people to a special event is one of them. Without that careful personal attention, after all, some of that treasured “specialness” will be sacrificed, and your event will be correspondingly less memorable for its loss.
Beyond that, understanding and respecting the traditions behind the social invitation will help you as you plan your next event. It is in that spirit that we offer our heartfelt appreciation of the carefully written invitation, and recommend to our customers that this civilized tradition is honored and preserved in every possible way.
he key word, of course, is “written.” In 18th century
It was no accident, then, that highborn Europeans in those days put a great deal of effort – that is to say, their servants’ efforts – into making a powerful impression with their invitations. The notion of mass-producing a batch of notices was decidedly déclassé; each invitation was not only handwritten, but also personalized to include the name of the invitee. (Interestingly, we latter-day Americans, while otherwise generally adhering to the traditional procedures, have been unable to replicate the fully personalized invitation until quite recently. Today, software provided by LCI Paper can even do that!)
The artistically drawn and formally worded invitation has historically been separated by tissue paper from the inserts that share the envelope. This was initially done because slow-drying printer’s inks would smear when invitations were stacked after inking. Although smudging is no longer a consideration, we still recommend including the tissue, for all the same reasons we like to see the other old-fashioned procedures preserved.
Another tidbit involves the use of inner and outer envelopes. This tradition owes its existence to European methods of mail delivery in an era before motor vehicles, paved roads and the Postal Service. Those meticulously drawn invitations had to be delivered through snow, rain and mud on horseback, so they were inserted into a larger envelope for protection from the elements. Moreover, the outer wrap provided a place to write directions to the invitee’s residence. In those days, on arrival the carrier was expected to open the outer envelope, pass its contents to its recipient (again, in most cases, the recipient’s servant), and then await an answer. Nowadays, of course, an immediate answer is no longer expected, which is probably just as well.
Clearly, following all these fussy traditions involves far more work and expense than simply firing off an e-mail to everyone on your guest list. But, to us, that’s not the point. At LCI Paper, we believe in doing things right, and we’ve found that our customers feel the same. We’re committed to the notion that your special event is very important to you, and that makes it very important to us too. Take your time making your plans, consider carefully every detail of your special occasion, and don’t hesitate to ask for help from any and all sources available.
And don’t forget, when it comes to your invitations, envelopes, and related materials and services, LCI Paper is ready, willing and able to give you a hand. Get in touch – we’re here to help! Doing everything we can to make your social occasion a smashing success is a tradition for us -- one we’re pledged to preserve!
From flowers to hearts, classic cards to gold foil borders, we have hundreds of printable invitations to express your wedding's unique theme and style.
