Royal Wedding Invites: What Do They Look Like?

Royal wedding invitations have been a topic of public fascination for centuries. From the town crier's loud announcements to the intricate designs of modern times, these invitations offer a glimpse into the grandeur of royal nuptials. The original invitations to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, for instance, are estimated to have cost a whopping $10,000, featuring custom letterpress and die-stamping techniques. The design included white space, restrained colours, gold embossing, and a single typeface for an understated elegant look.

Historically, royals issued handwritten announcements, with invitations written by the lady of the house, the secretary, or the butler as a mark of education. These invitations were delivered inside envelopes sealed with the family crest's wax seal. Today, royal wedding invitations continue to be a blend of tradition and contemporary style, often featuring text-only designs, elegant monograms, and luxurious printing options like gold foil and letterpress.

In this paragraph, we will explore the evolution of royal wedding invitations, from their historical roots to modern adaptations, and uncover the intricate details that make these invitations fit for royalty.

Royal wedding invitations are usually printed on thick white card

The use of white space is a key feature of royal wedding invitations, creating a sense of elegance and sophistication. This is complemented by the use of a single typeface, which prevents the design from appearing messy or chaotic. The font chosen for Harry and Meghan's invitation was similar to hand-drawn calligraphy, further enhancing the elegant and sophisticated aesthetic.

The white card also provided the perfect backdrop for the gold embossing and trim, which featured Prince Charles' crest. This combination of colours and textures added a regal touch to the invitation, reflecting the importance and grandeur of the occasion.

In addition to the card stock and colour choices, the wording and phrasing of royal wedding invitations follow specific protocols. For example, the royal participant's name will always be listed first, followed by the bride, and the joining preposition "with" is often used instead of "to". These details, along with the crest at the top of the invitation, signify who is hosting and paying for the wedding.

The text is restrained, in black ink with gold embossing

The royal wedding invitations of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are estimated to have cost US$10,000, with the use of bespoke techniques like custom letterpress and die stamping. The invitations were printed on thick, eight-by-six-inch white cards, with the text restrained in black ink and the Queen's stamp in gold. The use of white space adds an understated elegance to the design, with a restrained colour palette of black ink on an off-white card, complemented by gold embossing and trim. The invitation features Prince Charles' crest in gold at the top, signifying that he paid for the wedding.

The text is restrained, in black ink, with the couple's names and the details of the ceremony and reception printed clearly. The invitation reads:

> "with Ms. Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on Friday 12th October, 2018 at 11 a.m. followed by a Reception at Windsor Castle."

The use of "with" instead of "to" before the bride's name is a royal tradition, chosen for its less hierarchical and patriarchal connotation. The order of the names also follows royal protocol, with the royal participant named first. The text is elegant and refined, with a simple and classic font that complements the overall design of the invitation.

The restrained text, in black ink with gold embossing, creates a sense of sophistication and elegance. The use of a single typeface throughout the invitation adds to the overall sense of restraint and elegance, ensuring a cohesive and balanced design. The text is easy to read and conveys all the necessary information clearly and concisely.

Overall, the restrained text, elegant colour palette, and attention to detail in the design of the invitation reflect the importance and grandeur of the royal wedding while maintaining a sense of sophistication and refinement.

Only one typeface is used to avoid a messy look

When it comes to designing wedding invitations, one of the most important considerations is the typeface or font. The choice of typeface can significantly impact the overall look and feel of the invitation. In the case of royal wedding invitations, it is common to see an emphasis on simplicity and elegance.

Using only one typeface is a trick used by many professional designers to avoid a messy or chaotic look. This technique was notably used in the wedding invitations for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. By sticking to a single typeface, the design remains cohesive and elegant. It also allows for a clear hierarchy of information, ensuring that important details are easily noticeable.

The invitations for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were printed on thick, eight-by-six-inch white cards, featuring the Queen's stamp in gold with the text printed in black. The restrained colour palette of black ink on an off-white card, with gold embossing and trim, contributed to the understated elegance of the design.

While the typeface used for their wedding invitations is not publicly known, there are similar typefaces that can achieve a comparable look. For example, the Libre Baskerville font, used in Canva's "Navy Ornamental Invitation" template, evokes a sense of sophistication and elegance. Another option is the Pinyon Script font, which resembles hand-drawn calligraphy and is featured in the "Gold Cameo Invitation" and "Pink Royal Wedding Invitation" templates.

When creating royal wedding invitations, it's essential to consider the overall aesthetic and the level of formality desired. The choice of typeface plays a crucial role in achieving the desired look and feel, ensuring that the invitations are fit for royalty.

The crest at the top of the invitation signifies who paid for the wedding

The crest at the top of a royal wedding invitation is more than just a decorative element—it signifies who paid for the wedding. For instance, the invitations for Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding featured Queen Elizabeth's crest in gold, indicating that she hosted and paid for the wedding.

Similarly, Princess Eugenie's wedding invitations featured her father, Prince Andrew's badge, which includes the white rose of York, in blue. On the other hand, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's invitations featured a gold crest belonging to Prince Charles, indicating that he was the one who funded the event.

The placement and design of the crest are not the only aspects that follow strict protocols in royal wedding invitations. The invitations are usually printed on thick, white card stock, with elegant black or gold lettering. The use of white space and restrained colours adds to the understated elegance of the design.

In addition, royal wedding invitations follow a specific naming convention. The royal participant's name is always listed first, followed by the bride, with the joining preposition "with" used between them. For example, Prince William and Kate Middleton's invitation read, "the Marriage of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, K.G. with Miss Catherine Middleton."

The bride's title changes depending on whether it's her first or second marriage

The design of a royal wedding invitation is a careful affair, with every detail meticulously chosen to achieve an elegant and timeless look. The invitations to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, for example, featured white space, a restrained colour palette of black ink on off-white card with gold embossing and trim, and only one typeface.

The Bride's Title

The bride's title on a royal wedding invitation is particularly interesting as it changes depending on whether it is her first or second marriage. For a first marriage, the bride is traditionally addressed on the invitation as "Miss". However, for a second marriage, this would be replaced by "Mrs." or "Ms.". This was the case for Meghan Markle, whose invitation to her marriage to Prince Harry read "with Ms. Meghan Markle", acknowledging her previous divorce.

The Order of Names

In addition to the bride's title, the order of names on a royal wedding invitation is also significant. While traditional invitations often place the bride's name first, royal wedding invitations follow royal protocols, with the royal participant's name always appearing first. This is why Prince Harry's name precedes Meghan Markle's on their invitation.

The Preposition

Another subtle difference in royal wedding invitations is the use of the preposition "with" instead of "to" between the names of the bride and groom. This choice of preposition is traditional for the royal family and is sometimes favoured by modern couples as it is seen as less hierarchical or patriarchal.

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