If you think the art of sending wedding invitations is complicated now, take a peek at some ancient and cultural rituals surrounding the practice.
Beginning in the 12th century, there were no written wedding invitations, so people had to get creative. Town criers functioned as olden day news reporters, orally broadcasting the joyful news of a couple's engagement to anyone in earshot. Those in hearing range were all lucky guests - at least the bride and groom saved money on RSVP cards!

The first written wedding invitations emerged in the Middle Ages of Europe. The fancy lettering and inscriptions we now outsource to skilled calligraphers was done during this era by holy monks. Though it may seem these men might have had their mind on loftier matters, the outbreak of the Plague in Europe led to such low literacy rates that only religious figures and other elite knew how to read and write. Ergo, these men of the cloth became beautiful calligraphers and artfully inscribed the wedding invitations of noble families. After that, the invitations were "shipped off" via courier on horseback. Also due to low literacy, this was the era in which monks began crafting the gorgeous illuminations known as coat of arms, or family crests. These beautiful insignias functioned in much the same way we use wax seals now, as an aesthetic accent and identifying symbol.

The modern metal plate engraving method we use today was actually invented as far back as the 1600's! This is also when the concept of wedding invitation tissue paper came into play-delicate sheets of tissue were placed over the wedding invitation so that the ink wouldn't smudge. This important machinery is what took wedding invitations from elite to mainstream, though there were still a few developments along the way.

The wedding invitation business grew rapidly during the 18th and 19th century, as the Age of Enlightenment led to more egalitarian reading and writing practices, while the Industrial Age led to more machinery and the mass production of paper products. This was also the time when the postal system was created, making sending wedding invitations much more organized than the original word-of-mouth party train method employed in the early Middle Ages.

A few other unorthodox rituals for sending wedding invitations included printing them in the newspaper, or the Native American ritual of sending out smoke signals coupled with a birch bark inscription.

But if whittling your wedding invites doesn't sound like much fun, you might try looking at an online wedding invitation store. Infinitely easier than all these primitive methods, today's wedding invitation sites are a marvel of modern technology, offering hundreds of mix and match invites in a whole spectrum of colors, fonts and cardstock. These sites make it easy to guarantee gorgeous invitations, no town crier or monks necessary. Click here to check out a few stylish modern wedding invitations and see what we mean.

Some information taken from:

Wedding Invitations History by Karen E. Martin

Layers, layers, layers. They're not just for wedding cakes anymore! The 3-dimensional invite, as defined by contrasting layers of textures and elements, is a major trend in wedding invitations right now. In fact, the more layers your wedding invitation has, the better.

Whether you choose a simple sheer panel or a more elaborate fabric border, there are many great ways to incorporate this trend. The crown jewel of this trend however, is definitely the flower brooch.
Whether you use the silk flowers from the craft store or create your own flower from fabric, oversized roses or exotic orchid constructions pinned through your invite is one of the most current and distinctive wedding invitation looks out there right now. It's like getting an invitation and a corsage all in one! Fabulous.

If you want a three-dimensional invitation but aren't the Martha Stewart type, don't despair. Most online stores offer mix and match wedding invitations, so you can just customize the layers of the invite online and have all the pieces sent to you for easy assembly, no muss, no Martha.

The "belted" invite. Nothing breeds excitement like something wrapped in a bow, and the new wedding invitation belly bands create the same affect. In the past, few wedding invitations had belly bands, and if they did it was usually a simple ribbon. Now belly bands are getting a swanky makeover, appearing in thick luxurious grosgrain or velvet ribbon, then cinched with a sly buckle for added panache. Can't stomach the idea of buckling a hundred wedding invitations? Colorful safety pins make for equally chic closures with less effort and expense.

To really go all out, consider expanding on the belly band by doing the super-stylish invitation ribbon corset lacing up your stationery. Accessory corsets are huge right now from cell phone colors to umbrellas, so why not bring a touch of Scarlett O'Hara sass to your wedding invitation with this up-to-the-minute trend?

The Monogram Makeover. Sure, monograms and weddings go together like brides and bouquets. From wedding cake toppers to table numbers, monograms have definitely been around for awhile, but 2007 introduces monograms like you've never seen them before.

The modern monogram is so much more chic than those insignias of yore. While medieval-looking seals hold standard charm the new monograms look more like a jaunty block or stamp that can include either the couple's initials or intertwined names. For an extra special look, forgo the names in favor of an artistic symbol that has significance to your relationship.

When you want to set an event apart as something special, there's no quicker way than with a formal invitation. In this electronic age, nothing sparks a tingle of anticipation quite like receiving an actual handcrafted card, inscribed with beautiful calligraphy.

The pinnacle of this kind of anticipation is of course, the wedding invitation. Opening a beautiful wedding invitation, feeling the creamy luster of the paper and tracing your finger over words like "joyous occasion" and "reception to follow" just gets your mind racing over what to wear, what date to bring, and where your silver shoes are.

To maximize the effect of your invite, include as many specifics as possible. Including the menu, a map, and some venue highlights are all great ways to get guests excited. Sure, news of a friend's happiness is exciting enough, but topping it off with images of creme brulee and crystal chandeliers ensures an RSVP coming your way!

Also, nothing brings out the beauty of a wedding invitation quite like a picture of the couple. If you are high school sweethearts, including a prom picture in your wedding photo is a precious touch sure to get your guests in a sentimental mindset. Met on a beach vacay? How about a picture of the two of you taken with an underwater camera? Including your baby pictures is also a cute idea. However you choose to do it, including a picture in your wedding invitation is another great way to get guests in the right frame of mind for the big day!

Last but not least, including RSVP cards and pre-stamped envelopes is the most surefire way to make sure guests respond in a timely fashion. Pick out a coordinated reception card to include with your wedding invite, print out a glossy menu preview, stick in a picture, and you've got a wedding invitation sure to wow! Now you might just have to hire a bouncer to watch for wedding crashers.

Deciding who gets a wedding invitation is one of the first hurdles to face in wedding planning, and it's a formidable one. Ultimately, it's not what flowers you choose or what dress you wear that makes the biggest difference on your wedding day - it's the people you surround yourself with who make your day memorable. And who receives a wedding invitation determines whether that's memorable in a good way, or a bad way!
The first step to sending wedding invitations is for both the bride and the groom to come up with a list of everyone they would invite if money, space and availability were no object. After that, look at your budget and figure out how much money per person you would be able to allocate if you include everyone. $15 a head? It could happen. $2.50 per person? Time to start trimming the list, dear bride. To do this, try comparing lists and circle the people you both want to come - family, mutual friends, your favorite sushi chef, whomever. Those are the people who should get an invite.

Things NOT to consider when addressing wedding invitations: Who invited you to their wedding. Even if someone invited you to their wedding, they are not guaranteed a wedding invitation from you. Relationships change and chances are, even if you were close at one time, if you don't feel like inviting them, they probably don't feel like coming.

Co-workers. Sending wedding invitations to co-workers is a slippery slope. In general, an open or closed invitation is the best route, but if you must invite only a select few, confidentiality is the name of the game. No pinning the wedding invitation up in their cubicle!

Extended family. Whether or not to extend wedding invitations to every single one of your 1,800 relatives is a tricky call. In general, we recommend never letting your sense of obligation override your ability to genuinely enjoy your special day. We do however, also want you to enjoy every subsequent Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter thereafter, so use your best judgment. If you decide not to send them a wedding invitation, send a card tactfully saying that you a) opted for a small ceremony, b) didn't think they were up for the trip and didn't want to put them in the awkward position of having to refuse, and c) propose an alternate get-together at a less pivotal time.

So you've got the printed envelope, you've got the postage, and you are ready to send out your wedding invitations. Not so fast! Have you ever considered adding a little pizazz to your post? If so, wedding invitation accessories are the way to go.
Much like the accessories we wear in real life, wedding invitation accessories function as that little something extra, a stylish flounce or flourish that set your wedding invite apart from the bank statements and the bills. In short, wedding invitation accessories say "I'm special! Open me!"

Wedding invitation accessories can take many forms. A few of the most common accessories are ribbons, pressed flowers or waxed seals. Each of these charming accents is a great way to embellish your invites with minimal effort and expense. Plus, there's less chance of such a beautiful invitation getting tossed in someone's recycle bin!

If you are opting for a plain, classic wedding invitation, there's nothing like a beautiful ribbon to seal in the romantic appearance of your invite. From twinkly and sparkly to shiny satin, to the more traditional grosgrain, ribbon is a great way to add sensual texture and aesthetic appeal to your invite. Plus, the experience of untying a ribbon brings back childhood feelings of excitement and anticipation, the perfect precursor to opening a carefully crafted wedding invitation.

For a spring wedding or a more rustic affair, look no further than beautiful pressed flowers as wedding invite accessories. Available in a whole spectrum of colors and types, don't be afraid to send a little floral cheer with your beautifully printed invitations. After all, nothing brightens a person's day like getting flowers delivered! Best of all, these pretty dried flourishes won't wilt a week later. From Black-Eyed Susans to Bridal's Wreaths, enjoy browsing our garden of invitation embellishments before picking a special favorite.

To add some final fanfare to your wedding invitation, consider adding a wax seal. From monograms to fleurs-de-lis, seals lend an artistic touch while conveying a sense of formality and old-fashioned romance. Something about a beautifully calligraphed seal recalls the medieval times of brave knights and romantic maids. Luckily we no longer have to rely on town criers to bring the good news, and instead enjoy hand selecting beautiful keepsake wedding invitations and all the accessories to go along with them!