In days of old, most people knew where the church and your home were located, so it wasn't necessary to provide a map. Today, maps and directions are extremely practical, if not crucial in some cases. 

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Although they probably won't attend, if you send a wedding invitation to the President of the United States, you will receive an acknowledgement signed by the President and First Lady. If you are Catholic, you may send an invitation to the Pope, and a lovely papal blessing will be sent to you. Such written responses can be keepsakes to cherish. 

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Today in the Australian Outback, if you hear of a wedding, you simply show up. In many parts of Africa, a family friend makes the rounds in person, inviting guests with an oral invitation, while in Bulgaria, the bride's parents often send little cakes to guests as invitations to the wedding feast. 

Most Americans and Europeans follow the time-honored tradition of formally engraved invitations; however, there are some new trends on the rise, according to Jim Josoff, President of William Ernest Brown Stationers in Beverly Hills. "Customers are looking for something new, something that sets them apart." Quite simply put, it comes down to "the new elegance as opposed to the old elegance." 

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One of the most stunning new invitations is a singular, high quality stock card, anywhere from three- to nine-ply thick, the latter specially handmade by combining three sets of three-ply stock. These invitations may have straight or rounded corners, and gilded, hand cut, beveled edges. The look is extremely elegant, and the use of an extra high or "double bump" crest, monogram, or antique letter on top not only incorporates our heritage, it creates a look befitting the Queen herself (rumor has it that the Queen of England uses six-ply). In fact, celebrities and nobility alike are opting for this unique style. 

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